A RealFamilies RealFun Blog

Oct 10 2008

Put the ranch dressing down!

Category: Come and Get It

Nathan and Lucie wanted hot dogs for lunch. Usually, I heat and slice them up. Using forks, the kids dip the pieces in the ketchup. But Nathan had a different plan. First, he asked for me to take some "soft bread" (what he calls white bread) to use as the buns. I thought that was a clever idea and wondered where he picked the idea up.

Then he asked me to put ranch dressing on the hot dogs.

Ranch dressing?!? Ewwwwwwww! Not only did that seem kind of disgusting, but really off the wall for a dedicated ketchup imbiber. Still I went along with his (and Lucie's) lunchtime request. Yet I insisted that he eat both hot dogs (he asked for two) no matter what. After all, it was his choice to act uncivilized and be a bad culinary influence on his sister.

When I mentioned the lunch time gross out to Paul, he was just as shocked as I. Then we asked Nathan where he got the idea for the bread and ranch dressing.

"Oh, from Joey's mom," he said.

Joey's mom is my friend Julie who occasionally takes care of the kids. She's a terrific care provider and very patient and kind. She gets Lucie to use the potty and even does crafts with the kids. I have full confidence in her ability to take care of my two monkeys. Until now.

Per the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council's website, "Don't use ketchup on your hot dog after the age of 18. Mustard, relish, onions, cheese and chili are acceptable." Ranch dressing must be a Minnesota thing (that's where she's from). I've really got to explain proper hot dog etiquette -- and its New York and Chicago nuances -- to her.