It seems like only yesterday that we were all excited about the new Robert Pattinson album, [WILD], which was released back in February. But once the band members started touring in support of the album, they quickly realised that things had changed. So while on the road, they had to figure out a way to feed the hordes of fans waiting to hear their new songs. Enter the hot dog!
A quick trip to the supermarket and the band were able to source some essential ingredients. These included sausages (we’re going to use frankfurters here), mustard, tomatoes and relish. Of course, this wasn’t enough to satisfy the ravenous masses, so the next thing they did was research online and came across a recipe for mini hot dogs that was exactly what they were looking for. This recipe would make it easier for the band to tour on a permanent basis, as well as providing them with a more nutritious option for when they were on the road. The finished product tasted just like a normal-sized hot dog, but without the unhealthy ingredients that normally come along with it.
The Anatomy Of A Hot Dog
Now, if you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you might not know what a hot dog is. And if you do know what it is, you might not feel too confident about trying to make one at home. So let’s run down the basics. A hot dog is a type of sausage that is battered and fried. Though the name comes from its American origins, it was originally created in Germany. Today, you’ll find hot dogs served in a variety of ways worldwide. Some people love them freshly sliced and served on a bun, while others prefer them in a chopped or crumbled form. But no matter how you choose to eat it, the main ingredients remain the same: a wiener (or bratwurst) cooked in pork fat and sometimes onions or peppers as well as a beef version known as a hamburger. Let’s take a quick look at how these various sausages are made.
How To Make A Basic Hot Dog
The key to making the perfect hot dog is in the sourcing of your raw materials. Though you might find some recipes that call for all sorts of strange ingredients, such as lamp scales, you should stick to very basic recipes when making sausages at home. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the many options available when you’re not dealing with a recipe, but the simpler the better. Using the same ingredients every time you make a dog will result in consistent flavour and texture.
The next step is to cook your sausage. This step varies depending on what type of sausage you’re making. For example, with bratwurst you’ll need to simmer it gently in a covered pot for about 20 minutes. You don’t want to rush this step or you might end up with sausages that are either too dry or liquid. When the cooking is done, you should take the sausage out of the pot and leave it to cool enough to handle. This step is very important because once the meat has cooled down, you can shape it into patties or whatever form you desire. The cooling down process prevents the proteins from clumping together and becoming inedible lumps.
The Benefits Of Making Your Own Hot Dogs
Apart from the fact that you know exactly what goes into your food, homemade sausages have several other advantages. One is that you can control the quantity of meat you use. If you’re trying to cut down on your carbs, you can use less meat and still get the same effect. Another advantage is that you can add whatever flavour you desire to your hot dogs. Though it might take some trial and error to get it right, you can ensure that each and every bite is as unique as you want it to be. And finally, making your own sausages means you can tailor the ingredients to your personal preferences. If you have a dietary restriction, such as a pesco-vegetarian diet, you can ensure that all the meats you use are suitable for you.
On The Road To Greatness
When the band members tried out the mini hot dog recipe, they were able to source most of the ingredients from supermarkets. But as you might imagine, on the road this posed a bit of a challenge. Being on the move requires a bit of improvisation, and though they had a bit of a system, they still needed to find a way to make the process more streamlined. To ensure that this would happen, they needed to think of ways for the ingredients to match the constraints of their on-the-road lifestyle. This meant that they had to shop for the best and most practical options available, given the food waste guidelines that apply on the move.
The Solution: Buy In Bulk
To start with, the best way to make sure you get the ingredients you need on the road is to buy them in bulk. This is especially beneficial if you’re going to be travelling anywhere near the countryside, where the supermarkets might not be too plentiful. Buying large quantities of each individual ingredient will also save you money, as well as reduce the food waste that occurs when you buy small amounts of individual products.
Food Waste
When we think about the environment, the first thing that usually comes to mind is food waste. The amount of food that is wasted globally is outrageous. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 80% of the food produced around the world is wasted. Though this percentage might vary depending on the source, studies have consistently shown that food wastage happens for a variety of reasons, including improper storage and post-processing food losses. Some of the world’s major food producers have made alarming amounts of wastage deliberately, in an effort to maximise their profits. For example, a 2017 report from the New York Times revealed that Tyson, the world’s third largest meat producer, had wasted as much as 1.2 million pounds of food, including 5,000 chickens, over a three-year period. Though these numbers are alarming, they might not reflect the situation closer to you. When you’re on the road, there might not be lots of opportunities to fill your belly with the food you crave. So you need to find ways to prevent food waste as much as you can. While it’s always great to indulge your tastes, you have to keep in mind that you’re travelling and that your body needs to function at its best. This means that you should eat what you need when you need it. Trying to plan your meals in advance might also be a recipe for disaster. One of the easiest ways to avoid food waste is by shopping at the supermarket for what you need rather than buying more than you need. When you do this, you ensure that you’ll get the best price and that the items will still be available when you arrive at your destination. Thinking ahead and being strategic about your eating habits saves you both time and money, as well as helps you to avoid dietary restrictions. These are just some of the ways that food waste happens, but it’s essential that you’re mindful about what you put into your body while you’re travelling. This way, you’ll enjoy the food you make without worrying about whether or not it’s appropriate for your personal dietary needs.
The Importance Of Being Flexible
To adapt to the changes that come with touring, you need to be flexible. Though you might have your sights set on a certain type of food, when you’re on the road, this might not be something that’s readily available. For example, in a country like Germany you’d most likely find a wide variety of delicious sausages and other kinds of German cuisine. However, in the UK you might run into problems finding food that suits your needs. Though this might not bother some people, being on the move requires people to be flexible and prepare the food they need at the location they’re at. Being mobile also means you have to be adaptable with where you stay. This might be a problem if you have a very specific idea about what kind of accommodation you want, when you want it and where you want to stay. But being flexible and creative often leads you to finding a way to make the most out of wherever you happen to be. In some cases, this might mean you have to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights, until you find a suitable place to sleep..
Touring As A Band
One of the biggest changes that the band members noticed once they started touring was the difference in how they ate. Back at home, they would all eat together as a family; however, on the road this was not possible. This presented the band with the challenge of how to eat as a group and enjoy the food whilst on the move. They did this by preparing and serving food individually. Though this made it more expensive, it was still a way of life that the band members grew to enjoy.