Hot Dog on a Stick

Hot Dog on a Stick is a company originating in Long Beach, California originally founded by Dave Barham. Their first store opened at Muscle Beach, Santa Monica, California in 1946. They started serving lemonade and "corn dogs" to people on the beach. They soon expanded and became a food chain. Their trademark foods are hot dogs on a stick (commonly referred to as corn dogs) and lemonade. They serve a variety of types of each including limeade, strawberry lemonade and cheese on a stick. They usually have small stands with lots of mirrors and are located in mall food courts. The founder, Dave Barham, passed away in 1991. After his death the company became an employee owned corporation (ESOP). Today Hot Dog on a Stick is present in 17 United States with 103 stores.

The recipe

Hot Dog on a Stick (makes 10 corn dogs)

2 cups flour 3/4 cup corn meal 1/2 cup sugar 1 3/4 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 3/4 cups fat-free milk 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten 10 turkey hot dogs 8–10 cups of vegetable oil 5 pairs of chopsticks

1. Preheat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 375 degrees.

2. Combine the flour, corn meal, sugar, salt and baking soda in a large bowl.

3. Combine the milk and egg yolks to the dry ingredients and mix with an electric mixer on high speed until batter is smooth.

4. Dry off the hot dogs with a paper towel. Jab the thin end of a single chopstick about halfway into the end of each hot dog.

5. When the oil is hot, tip the bowl of batter so that you can completely coat each hot dog. Roll the hot dog in the batter until it is entirely covered with batter.

6. Hold the hot dog up by the stick and let some of the batter drip off. Quickly submerge the hot dog in the oil and spin it slowly so that the coating cooks evenly. After about 20 seconds you can use a lid to the deep fryer or pan to put weight on the stick, keeping the hot dog fully immersed in the oil. You can cook a couple dogs at a time this way. Cook for 5–6 minutes or until coating is dark brown. Turn them once or twice as they cook. Drain on paper towels while cooling, and repeat with remaining hot dogs.