Italian Hot Dogs

Food & Other Things I Love: More than 100 Italian American Recipes from My Family to Yours by Caroline Manzo

From her star turn on the hit series The Real Housewives of New Jersey to her family spin-off Manzo’d with Children, Caroline Manzo has long been a fan favourite. Here, for the very first time, Caroline shares her kitchen secrets in an abundant cookbook filled with over 100 recipes, including:

Ready-in-a-snap breakfasts like Baking Dish Frittata and Crab Cake Benedict
Lazy summertime lunches like her tried-and-true Down the Shore Smothered Corn Cobs
Warm and cozy meal staples like Roasted Red Peppers and Italian Wedding Soup
Late-night munchies such as Homemade Truffle Popcorn and Adult Root Beer Floats
Italian American classics done Caroline’s way, like her famous Taylor Ham (not to be confused with pork roll) & Cheese Sandwich, Slow-Braised Braciole, Deep Dark Chocolate Pudding Cake, and, of course, Sunday Gravy

Along the way, Caroline shares entertaining behind-the-scenes stories and helpful tips and tricks to making your kitchen, and home, a place for getting the most from what’s on hand, embracing the messy side of life, and celebrating all things big and small.

Full of wisdom, humour, and hard-earned lessons in the kitchen, Food & Other Things I Love encourages you to share this food with those you love and build your own memories, meals, and magic.

HIGHLY COOKABLE RECIPES: The recipes in this book are like a warm hug from a loving relative. Caroline’s tips, tricks, and encouraging voice make the already simple, belly-filling recipes easy enough for even novice cooks.

AUTHENTIC VOICE IN ITALIAN COOKING: Caroline’s motherly aura and strong moral compass have made her a favourite amongst the Bravo audience with an ever-growing fan base. Caroline wears multiple hats as a wife, mother, sister, friend, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and food and lifestyle expert, all while staying grounded in her values and putting her family first. She has become a go-to for advice and inspiration on everything from pets to parenting and, most of all, cooking.

TIME-TESTED ADVICE: In between the delicious, comforting recipes are lots of homespun tips and tricks that Caroline has learned over the years, like how to cook for a crowd, how to set a beautiful table, and the importance of celebrating every occasion and every moment with love.

Perfect for:

Fans of Caroline Manzo and the Real Housewives series
Anyone interested in Italian and Italian American cooking
Beginner cooks looking for easy homestyle recipes and practical cooking advice
Lovers of big, comforting cookbooks with a whole lot of heart
Watchers of Food Network, HGTV, Today, and Magnolia Network
Gift-giving for house-warming, graduation, wedding, birthday, and holidays

Food & Other Things I Love: More than 100 Italian American Recipes from My Family to Yours by Caroline Manzo is available at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Indigo.ca.

Serves 6

Al and I used to go to a spot in Newark, just a guy with a street corner hot dog cart, to get these. They were so good that I started making them for us at home whenever we got a craving. Inspired by the classic Italian sausage and pepper sandwich, they’re messy, oily, robust, colourful, delicious, filling, and bursting with flavour. Can you tell how much I love them?

In a medium saucepan, combine the potatoes and enough cold salted water to cover. Set over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and rinse under cold water. Cut the potatoes into cubes.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. When the oil shimmers, add the peppers, onion, and potatoes. Sauté until the peppers and onion are soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the oregano and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Push the veggies to one side and lay the hot dogs in the skillet. Sear for about 4 minutes on each side until warmed through, letting the veggies char slightly.

Split the hot dog buns and spread a little mustard on both sides. Use tongs to set a hot dog in the centre, then top with the veggie mixture. Serve hot.

Note: These dogs can also be made on the grill. After the potatoes are cooked, prepare the grill for medium heat (about 350°F [180°C]). Set an oven-safe skillet on one side of the grill and follow the directions for cooking the vegetables. The hot dogs can either sear in the skillet or go directly on the grill to char.

Recipe published with permission from Chronicle Books.