A HOT DOG BAR – Great Idea for your next BBQ!

Hey KS Fans,

I know that July 4th just was, and we are all probably just a tad BBQ’ed out. But in my house a BBQ is regular dinner and I happen to be  helping a friend throw a family BBQ Birthday Party for her 12 year old twins (girl & boy) next Sunday. While looking for great new ideas for a BBQ party , I came across this terrific idea from www.hostesswiththemostess.com and wanted to share it with all of you.

Even if your not throwing an official party – I love the idea of having a Hot Dog Bar, Hamburger Bar or even a Make Your Own Shishkabob station at my next BBQ – I just don’ have to pretty it up so much LOL!

I particularly love the corn of the cob display on sticks. What a great idea!

I am including some of my favorite BBQ toppings and Condiment recipe and picks below. I have also copied the HOW TO guide posted on www.hostesswiththemostess.com so you can copy this great idea at your own next BBQ Themed Party!

Happy BBQ!

Sarah

Great topping options for your next Hot Dog or Hamburger Bar:

Saurkraut, coleslaw, baked beans, gaucaomole, chummas, fried onions, sauteed mushrooms, sliced tomatoes, grilled onions

pickled relish, spicy olives in tomato dip, spicy tomato matbucha dip, grilled pineapple slices, home-made chili, Asian mustard slaw, sliced jalapenos, sun-dried tomatoes, and fried breaded eggplant that has been cut into long strips

Some Great Condiment Toppings:

mustard, ketchup, Russian Dressing, spicy dijonaise, honey mustard, Teriyaki sauce, favorite BBQ sauce, home-made Asian Ginger Sauce, Mayo, brand and we personally recommend the Bone Sucking brand – mustard.

Asian Ginger Sauce Recipe:

This  condiment topping works great as a marinade and a brush on marinade for your hamburgers, chicken or steaks while they are grilling.

1/4 cup mayo

1/4 cup favorite Teriyaki

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. garlic powder

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and serve.

Tangy Island Marinade  Recipe: (also works great as condiment)

1/4 cup favorite Thousand Island Dressing

1/4 cup Teriyaki Sauce

1 tsp. spicy brown mustard

2 pickles diced fine

Mix everything together in a bowl and serve.

How To Throw Your Next BBQ Party:

Keep things fun and casual! Set up a make-it-yourself Hot Dog station complete with your favorite Kosher Frank , hot dog buns, and lots of different toppings and spreads. Then let guests have fun choosing their own toppings and making their own gourmet dogs.

Make sure the toppings are easy to find by serving them in white or clear dishes. This will help give your spread a clean, modern look. Add labels to each dish. You can download blank versions of the tent card labels pictured above right here and customize them with your own toppings! Use the free font “Varsity” for a similar look & feel.

Dress up retro ketchup and mustard squeeze bottles with a checkered picnic cloth pattern to give them a fun look. We used checkered paper napkins to dress up the bottles pictured here. You can find both items online or at party supply stores like Party City.

Red and Yellow plastic baskets are always great for an outdoor BBQ! These add a fun, casual feel to the table, are easy for guests to carry, and eliminate the worry of broken glass dishes. ($3.99/set of 6 at Party City)

Frame a few recipe ideas and display them along the bar as creative suggestions for hot dogs. You can download the themed printable for each of these recipes right here (for free!).

*****

HOT DOG STATION CENTERPIECE

You’ll need:
– Printable Hot Dogs Sign (download free here)
– Rectangular Ceramic vase
– 1.5 Floral Foam Bricks
– Corn Chips for filler
– Small Wooden Dowel Rods (available at craft stores)
– tape or hot glue
– red & white checkered “picnic tablecloth” pattern (paper or material)

Directions:
Cut the foam down to fit into the vase. Wedge extra pieces in any gaps to ensure a snug fit. (The foam will be completely covered, so it doesn’t have to look perfect!)

Decorate the outside of the vase with the “picnic tablecloth” pattern. You can use paper, fabric, or do what we did here and cut a strip from an inexpensive plastic picnic tablecloth found in the camping aisle at Target. (The tablecloth was only $7 and we used it to embellish this entire party, with plenty of material leftover!)

Attach 2 wooden dowels to the back of the printable Hot Dogs sign, one on either side. Secure the dowels with tape or hot glue.

Insert the dowels + sign into the foam-filled vase.

Cover the foam with corn chips.

Done… and ready to display on your Hot Dog Station!