No matter how you like to top your dog, the key ingredient is still the hot dog itself. Wild Idea’s skinless Buffalo Hot Dogs are made from our 100% premium grass-fed buffalo meat and organic seasonings. We also recently introduced a dairy free option, for those with special dietary requirements. So fire up the grill and spread out your favorite toppings. Below are a few of our favorites. Pizza Dog Topping: Pizza Sauce & melted Mozzarella. You might also want to add some Wild Idea’s Buffalo Pepperoni! HLT: Hot Dog, Lettuce & Tomato with Mayo. Wild Idea Buffalo Bacon might be an additional tasty topping too! Relish & Onion Dog: Pickled Relish & Chopped Onions. Keep it Simple: Ketchup & Mustard. Pickled Dog: Peperoncini, Pickled Jalapeños and Red Onions. Chili Cheese Dog: Hot Dog smothered in Chili & Cheese! Other favorite toppings: Coleslaw, Sauerkraut, & B.B.Q Sauce. Wild Idea Buffalo Hot Dogs are featured in the months MONTHLY SPECIAL, which ships for free during the month of August!
Saying goodbye to summer…..
This August has found me at the Wild Idea office on more of a fulltime bases. I have really enjoyed working with the plant crew (more on that in September’s newsletter), but it has also made me really appreciate my weekends. I try to get out in the buffalo at least once on the weekend. Sitting amongst them, centers me and also gives an occasional opportunity to capture “the photo”. I didn’t capture it this month, but here are a few that I thought were worthy of sharing. The growing calves are really playful and fun to watch, and seem so big compared to the new late calves. Dan is enjoying his new falcon “Clarence”. He is flying free and has had some successful hunts. We are looking forward to the shared duck, grouse & pheasant meals! ____________________ We currently have a smokin’ hot special on our Wild Idea Ground Buffalo sampler. So when I received a call from “ a soccer mom / football mom” who is on a tight budget, asking what I would recommend when feeding a bunch of hungry 11 year olds and teenagers, I gave her my recipe for “Buffalo Sloppy Joe’s”. To confirm it would satisfy, I made a batch for the plant crew at Wild Idea. It was a hit and fed 12. Wild Idea Buffalo Sloppy Joe’s (Serves 12) Ingredients: 2 tsp. olive oil 1 onion, diced fine 2 lbs. Wild Idea Ground Buffalo 2 tsp. each: black pepper, cumin, mustard 1 tsp. each: salt, chili powder 2 Tb. brown sugar 1 Tb. garlic, chopped ¾ cup ketchup ¾ cup water 12 hamburger buns Instructions: In heavy skillet over medium high heat, heat oil. Add chopped onion and sauté for 4 minutes. Crumble ground buffalo into pan, stirring together and breaking into smaller pieces. Add spices while meat is browning and stir in. When meat is browned, add ketchup and water, stir to incorporate and let come to full heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve on hamburger buns or smaller slider size buns for smaller kids. Great for casual dinner, after the game or tailgate parties! ___________________________________________________ I’ve had a couple of requests for updates on the puppies, and since it is the dog days of summer it seems only appropriate. Below are brother’s (Henry Dog’s children), Shiner, and Huckleberry, taking a break from their fierce battle that I interrupted. And Fargo, who is in training for this year’s hunting season. Then there are the birds, which are starting to gather and slowly vacate, leaving the ranch a little quieter with each passing day. I caught two songbirds at the bird feeder the other day sharing a meal; a baby Chickadee and Gold Finch. I remain obsessed with photographing Jilian and Colton’s chickens and guinea’s. They are such characters and their colors are so intense! While driving around in the cottonwood pasture and along the river, I started noticing wooden animals everywhere. Here are a few of my favorites – named in what I feel is obviously appropriate. Do you see anything else? Would love to hear your thoughts. As we start to say goodbye to summer, we are taking in as much of the outdoors as possible, and are really looking forward to the Labor Day weekend. We plan to take in a PowWow on the Cheyenne River Reservation. A couple of the Wild Idea artisan butchers have their children participating in dance competitions, and they are also going to be setting up a food stand, selling delicious Wild Idea Buffalo Burgers! Definitely not to …
Hot Dogs for the Dog Days of Summer
It really is the “Dog Days of Summer” at Wild Idea Buffalo Co. A few months ago we got a nifty new smoker so we could make smoked, and ready to eat products in house. We recently launched a few items, and one of them was the Hot Dog. Our Buffalo Hot Dogs are handmade, by our in-house butchers and seasoned with organic spices. Although they may not be perfect in shape (they are handmade), there are no hidden ingredients. But, the best part is the taste! As I grow older, the foods I eat are often determined by what likes me, and not by what I like. What Dan and I have really noticed is that non grass-fed products, or other chemically enhanced foods truly change the way we feel. So when we sat down to put our hot dogs to the test, after years of not being able to eat them, we were delightfully surprised! Adults will love them, kids will love them, and yes, even your dog will love them. This month’s recipe is for “Chili Dogs”, as August seems to be a month were we break the rules of etiquette and often eat food with our hands. Perhaps it’s influenced by the fairs, carnivals and ball games we attend, squeezing in all the summer possible with every hand held bite. Or, the delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables that we pick and stuff into our mouths! Wishing you a deliciously HAPPY August! Cheers! Jill Buffalo Chili Dogs (Serves 6) Ingredients: 1 – pkg. Wild IdeaBuffaloHot Dogs 2 – cups Wild Idea Buffalo Chili, heated (recipe below) 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded 6 hot dog buns (whole wheat or whole grain, best) 1 Tb. Olive oil *optional toppings: pickled jalapeno’s, raw onion or your favorite extra Instructions: Preheat inside gas grill to 550*. (Half of grill set on high and other half set on low). Place hot dogs over hot side of grill and grill for 2 minutes each side, closing grill during cooking time. While hot dogs are grilling brush inside of buns with olive oil and place inside down over low heat side of the grill, and brown. About two minutes. Remove browned buns and place hot dogs on buns. Top each hot dog with 1/3 cup of heated chili and sprinkle each with ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese. (Cheese will melt on its own, or use small torch if you would like to lightly brown cheese). Serve with optional toppings and a lot of napkins! 4 Bean Bison Chili Makes 10 to 12 entrée servings. Chili freezes nicely. Portion out and freeze for a quick meal at a later date. Ingredients: 2 pounds ground bison 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons cumin 2½ tablespoons chili powder ½ tablespoon oregano ½ tablespoon thyme 2 teaspoons coriander ½ teaspoon each smoked paprika and cayenne 1 tablespoon black pepper 2 teaspoons salt 1 quart stewed tomatoes 1 quart tomato sauce 8 golden peperoncini, diced + juices 1 15oz can each: butter beans, black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans, (drained – but not rinsed) 1 lemon, juiced 2 cups water Mix all dry spices together. In heavy stew pot, over medium high heat, heat olive oil. Add Wild Idea bison meat, crumbling into small pieces. Lightly brown, stirring constantly for 4 minutes. Add onion, garlic and seasonings. Continue to brown, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for ½ to 1 hour, or until desired thickness …