Choosing Chaos & Joy

As a family, we love hot dogs. I know, I know. It’s not the healthiest choice, and certainly not a weekly go-to… but for as long as I can remember we have given into this awesome craving. We’ve done grilled, baked, chili, cheese, etc., but typically we just throw them into a bun and add mustard, ketchup and maybe some relish! So when the boys suggested hot dogs this week for dinner, I sent them on their way to the neighborhood store for the obligatory Nathan dogs, buns of their choosing (I usually pick brioche, but they always come home with Ballpark) and a new bottle of ketchup. But when they got home and unpacked the backpack, what I didn’t expect to see was the teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds, and onion as additional toppings! I then proceeded to watch my 16 year old mix the teriyaki with mayo for a Japanese inspired aioli, sauté the onions with more teriyaki, chop up seaweed that we had in the pantry, and layer this all with his hot dog on a bun, topped with sesame seeds! And before I knew it, my 14 year old son and my husband had matching dogs ready to eat! I must admit I was not feeling quite as creative and fed my craving for my usual dog with mustard, ketchup and relish, but I did try a bite and it was FANTASTIC! But what was even more fantastic was that my 16 year old took creative control of what would have otherwise been a rather mundane weekday dinner. Apparently while he was at the mall recently with friends he had almost this exact same hot dog and was itching to recreate it! I have no doubt this will become a new staple for hot dog nights, and next time I will join in on the fun!