July (Luglio) brings on a once-in-a-year craving for me . . . hot  dogs!

Come July 4th, I am as patriotic as Paul Revere and I demand a hot dog to celebrate my freedom!

Now, let me be clear: I never eat hot dogs except on July 4th.  It's a once-a-year craving for me that only lasts for the day.

Now when I was a child my mother made pork sausage links with fennel to celebrate Independence Day but she also went to the Broadway Market in Buffalo NY to buy Shelligowski all beef, all natural hot dogs.  It's too bad they went out of business because they made the tastiest  hot dogs.

My mom had a special way of making hot dogs.  First, first she would slit them open down the middle but not all the way through.  Then she would put strips of Velveeta cheese into the slit.  Then she would wrap strips of bacon around each dog and place them on the grill.

While they cooked, hot dog buns were toasted.  When the whole operation was complete, they were topped with chopped pickle, mustard, and ketchup and served with a side of coleslaw.

My mouth is watering just thinking about them!  I figure once a year it won't kill me to have this treat from childhood.  So I am planning on it on July 4th.  On July 5th, it’s back to the Mediterranean diet because all bad things have their day and must come to an end.

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