Published May 1, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.
When my parents were first married, they lived in Oklahoma and Texas. But nothing felt like home except Vermont, where my father had lived for several years as a child, and where my mother had lived since her early teens. They made the decision to move back north for good when I was about a year old. My mother's father had passed away, and my grandmother was living in my mother's childhood home in South Hero with ample room, so that's where we went. I often think of my grandmother, accustomed to living alone, more or less, suddenly faced with her daughter's gaggle of four young children, disrupting her peaceful life in the woods. Then I remember that my grandmother had five younger brothers and realize it probably wasn't that disruptive after all.
Growing up in a multigenerational home had its benefits. One of those was learning some of Grandma's recipes. She wasn't as adventurous in the kitchen as my father and mother, but she taught us all a lot. My sister remembers learning how to make scrambled eggs by Grandma's side. After she caught me trying to bake dollops of peanut butter with a carrot stick in the middle of each when I was 5 years old, Grandma taught me how to make real cookies, using a recipe as a guide. But perhaps the most memorable dish she taught all of us to make was her maple-glazed apples and hot dogs.
Grandma came up with this recipe when my mother was young, after they had moved to Vermont from Pennsylvania. I think all of us kids cook it now. It's quick, comforting and oh-so-Vermont.
I recommend using quality hot dogs or even a good kielbasa. And perhaps it goes without saying, but if you aren't going to use real maple syrup, don't bother with this recipe.
The dish is wonderful served with baked beans and fresh corn bread drizzled with butter and honey. I hope that it becomes a family favorite in your house, too.
This article was originally published in Seven Days' monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.
Comments are closed.
Since 2014, Seven Days has allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we’ve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down — at least temporarily.
While we champion free speech, facts are a matter of life and death during the coronavirus pandemic, and right now Seven Days is prioritizing the production of responsible journalism over moderating online debates between readers.
To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor. Or send us a tip. We’ll check it out and report the results.
Online comments may return when we have better tech tools for managing them. Thanks for reading.