Michigan Memories

When we started researching about Michigan for our next Staycation dish, I found it difficult to decide on just one.  I have many memories of growing up in West Bloomfield, Michigan and lots of them center around food - imagine that!  Every Fall, Mom would take us to visit the cider mill for fresh apple cider and hot donuts.  Dad would take us to Greene's Hamburgers, for their burgers and fries. Family dinners would not be complete if we did not stop at Sander's for ice cream on the way home.  I also remember walking across the street a time or two to visit the Hostess factory, and having PB&J's on soft, chewy, Wonder Bread!

If I went back to visit today, I think I would get something totally different!  We all know that Detroit has some famous sports teams: the Red Wings, Lions, Pistons, and Dad's favorite...the Tigers!  How wonderful would it be to sit behind home plate enjoying a hot dog? Well, we are in the right state for  the special Michigan Hot Dog Sauce.  It looks like chili but tastes more like a sloppy joe.  That would be Chad's pick while I chose the Michigan Salad - complete with maple syrup and apple cider dressing.  I'm getting hungry and I haven't even started the prep work!

Michigan Sauce:

1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons onion flakes (minced onion)
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cumin
2-3 dashes of hot sauce
salt and pepper to taste
hot dogs and buns

In a cast iron pan, brown the ground beef.

Add the tomato sauce,

Barbeque sauce,

Onion Flakes,

Spices.

Bring to a boil, and then turn down the heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 20 minutes.  Take off the lid and cook for another 10 minutes.  

Cook the hot dogs.  We baked ours  in the oven, but you could easily throw them on the grill.  

Warm the buns.

Cover the hot dogs with the Michigan Sauce and enjoy!  

 

 

Michigan Salad:

 

For the dressing, you will need your blender.  Combine the mayo,

Maple syrup and vinegar,

Sugar. 

 

Cover and blend on low speed. 

 

Here is what it looks like.

Gradually pour in the vegetable oil while mixing until fully incorporated. Taste and season accordingly with salt and pepper. 

Refrigerate for at least an hour.

 

Now it's time to prepare the salad.

Get out your cherries, 

Chop them until you have about 1/2 cup.

 

Take your apple and slice it into matchsticks.

If you are doing this early in the day, cover them in Sprite to keep them from turning brown.

 

Next, put the pecans on a cutting board.

 

Chop them.

Finally, crumble the goat cheese.

Add all the ingredients into a large salad bowl one at a time.  First the lettuce,

Cherries,

 

Apple,

 

Goat cheese,

 

Pecans.

 

Toss with just enough of the dressing to coat,

 

Serve with the remaining dressing on the side.

 

This was WONDERFUL!  Maybe one of my favorite recipes so far on our Staycation!

 

 

 

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