Question...

[telophase]

...in the 1950s, did frankfurters come pre-cooked, like they are today, or raw? Because coming raw is the only way I can justify COOKING THEM TO DEATH in this recipe, from the 1955 book I mentioned in the previous post:

Cheese Frankburgers
Serves 4

4 frankfurters
2 T cheese, grated or cut fine
2 c. boiling water
4 long rolls
Mustard
Relish

Boil 2 c. water and gently drop the frankfuters in. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes.

Slit rolls lengthwise on one side and spread with prepared mustard.

Place frankfurters in roll, top with cheese, fasten with toothpicks, and broil 3 to 5 minutes in the oven.

Serve hot with relish.

It's also a rather elaborate process for what is, basically, cheese dogs. Presumably one stuffs the cheese into the slit, or why make it, only to immediately fasten them back together with toothpicks? You know, I even typed that in and still misread it as slitting the franks. XD

Comments

[readsalot]

But why would you need to fasten them with toothpicks before broiling? Did they have a pathological fear of the rolls coming open, to go along with the pathological fear of meat that might not be cooked to a crisp?

[telophase]

THE HORROR

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

Well, you've got to have some means of getting the weiner into the bun, and the toothpicks keep the rolls from toasting in the open position, then falling apart when you go to eat it.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I think you may not be answering the exact question I asked, which is about the slit in the frank...

[badnoodles.livejournal.com]

The recipe says to slit the roll, not the frank.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I even typed that in and misread it. XD Hee! TIME TO GO THE HELL HOME

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

We used to eat them raw in the fifties. (Ecccch)

[telophase.livejournal.com]

THAT MAY EXPLAIN A LOT

[tprjones.livejournal.com]

You can still get them raw if you go to a local butcher shop that makes their own franks. They are often much yummier, but do require more care and cooking.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

They were always raw when I was a kid in the 1970s (in rural Massachusetts, US). We used to buy them at the deli counter and they were raw, raw, raw.

To be honest, I didn't know that they came cooked now, because I don't think I've ever bought hotdogs as an adult.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

The normal ones like Ekrich, Ballpark, etc. are already cooked - you can eat them straight out of the package if the thought of cold hot dogs appeals to you. :D

[maxineofarc.livejournal.com]

Not sure, but my dad still prepares hot dogs by boiling them if there's no grill handy.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that seems to be a standard method of heating sausages - my mom (and thus I) cook rope sausage by heating it in boiling water in a skillet. I tend to nuke hot dogs, the very very few times I prepare them at home (usually in the context of chili dogs). Of course, slashing them and wrapping them in paper towels is necessary to prevent the inevitable steam-explosion if you heat them a wee bit too long. :D