Saturday, August 02, 2014

Hotdogs, Relish, and Remembering



The other day my sister and I were revisiting wonderful memories from past summer days when she and the aunties would take her three young children swimming to one of the delightfully quaint pools in the city where I lived.

The days would be hot and sizzling. And, because I worked full-time, we'd often go late in the afternoon, packing up kids, towels, and floating toys. The pool, delightfully nestled in the city's river valley surrounded by lots of trees, was a cozy spot where the shrills of shrieking kids all added to the mix of summer fun.

Of course, after a few hours of frolicking in the pool -- when sunlight would now be slicing its long silvery beams through tree branches and glimmering off the water -- we'd all find ourselves starving by that time, aunties included.  So we'd head to my house, where we'd roast hotdogs over the fire pit in our backyard, complete with s'mores or roasted banana boats, as long evening shadows began to gather in corners. 

And that's when Sis remembered the yummy recipe for the Fried Onion Relish I used to make for our hotdogs. Rummaging through my old recipes, I found the aging slip of paper, clipped from the newspaper so long ago. Oh joy, oh bliss! Now I want to make it the next time we have hotdogs (which just may have to be for tomorrow's lunch).

Should you be on the look out for a delightfully different way to dress your 'dogs next time, here is the recipe, just for you:


Fried Onion Relish (enough for 6 hotdogs)

1 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp butter
2 large sweet onions, chopped
1 large apple, peeled and chopped
1/8 tsp each, cinnamon and allspice
1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil and butter in large frying pan. Add onions and apple. Saute till soft (I did over medium heat). Add rest of ingredients and simmer a couple more minutes.


Happy Summering,
Brenda
xox
 




9 comments:

  1. Ah, what great memories!! Those were awesome days, we didn't really know it then, but what a treasure to look back to and remember! Was that the summer we all made fire pits in our backyards? I remember eating that relish every time we made hotdogs, kinda got tired of it by the end of that summer, but looking forward to having a taste of it again now. Thanks, Sis, for the trip down memory lane. :)

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  2. The apple make a surprising addition. I think John would find this very good. Thank you for the recipe. Happy summertime family memories. I imagine that your sisters children remember them all.

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  3. I enjoyed walking along with you down Memory Lane. I am not a big fan of hot dogs, but this relish just might be the ticket!

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  4. Once you do fry the onion, don't forget to fry fish for kitty as well.
    You have to know your duty !
    Kitty eat fish, and human eat onion...tee..heh..SO FAIR !
    xoxo

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  5. It was never the same after you left. Your backyard was so beautiful and we loved sitting around your fire pit making banana boats. The people who bought your house after never kept it up and when we left, it was just not as beautiful. Those were good times. Loved the smell of the sweet peas wafting through the fence.

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    Replies
    1. Melanie... Wonderful to see you here! I went past the old neighbourhood a couple of times and you are right, it's just not the same. Sweet peas... aren't they just the prettiest scent!?

      Those were such good times. Remember the time you were embroidering something for the new baby (who is all grown up now) and Gilbert (the black kitty) kept wanting to chew on your embroidery thread?

      Glad we have memories like that.... Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I clicked over from Facebook to read this. Sounds like a delicious addition to hot dogs, or hamburgers!

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  7. Bren: I will make this. My husband loves any type of relish - I think we would love it on a hamburger or to go along with pork. Thanks for sharing !

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo