Drunken Pups

My mom's recipe. I am making these tomorrow for the SuperBowl. I love snacks you can just throw together and forget. Hooray for crockpots!

2 pkgs Lil Smokies
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup bourbon
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 onion, chopped

Mix ketchup, bourbon, water and sugar together. Place Lil Smokies in the crockpot and pour sauce over top. Stir in onions. Cook on low 4-6 hours.

You can also do this with cut up hot dogs. Then they'd be Drunken Dogs. :o)

Cheesedog

I saw Rachael Ray make this about five years ago and it quickly became a Sawyer family favorite. I make it at least 2-3 times a month. And like any of the recipes I find, I've adapted it to my family's taste. The original recipe calls for onions, beer and spicy mustard, but I've found the version below works best for us.

1 lb. elbow macaroni
Salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 package hot dogs

(chopped into 1-inch pieces)
1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
Pepper
1 rounded tablespoon mustard
2 rounded tablespoons ketchup
4 cups sharp Cheddar cheese

Boil a large pot of water for macaroni. Salt water and under cook macaroni, cook about 7-8 minutes until just under al dente in doneness.

Preheat broiler and set rack 12 inches from heat.

While pasta works, heat a large deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, then add hot dogs and brown on both sides, 4 minutes total.

Remove the dogs with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan, and the butter. When butter melts, add flour and cook another minute. Whisk in milk and bring to a bubble, then season the sauce with salt and pepper and stir in the mustard and ketchup.

Lower heat and add 2 cups of the cheese. Stir to melt, 1 minute. Adjust mustard, ketchup, and salt and pepper, to your taste.

Drain pasta well. Combine pasta and hot dogs with sauce and coat evenly then pour into a large, sprayed casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.

Melt and brown cheese under broiler, 2 minutes.