Hot Dog! It's Time to Spark Up the Grill

Americans will enjoy 150 million hot dogs on July Fourth. For a visual think of enough hot dogs to strech from our great nation's capital to Los Angeles over five times.

That little tidbit comes from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council. The organization also reports that last year we spent more than $1.6 billion on hot dogs at supermarkets alone, not including all those ballpark or concert hot dogs that we buy or those late night trips to Wienerschnitzel.

Wondering who consumes the most hot dogs? It is not New Yorkers. It is our neighbors to the North. Los Angeles is the top hot dog consuming city in the nation.

The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has dozens of recipes. La Jolla Patch selected this meat on meat concoction for your Fourth of July:

All Star Chili Dogs

Ingredients:

- Chili Sauce
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 8 hot dogs, cooked according to package directions
- 8 hot dog buns, split and lightly toasted
- Cheddar cheese, shredded, optional

Directions:

1. In a medium skillet, over medium heat, brown beef and onions, breaking up beef into small pieces. Drain fat from skillet. Reduce heat to low.
2. Stir in tomato, Worcestershire and hot pepper sauces, chili powder, salt and pepper and sugar. Simmer for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Place cooked hot dogs into toasted buns. Ladle 1/4 cup chili sauce over each hot dog. If desired, top with cheese.