Do “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet” really go together in the “good old United States”? You can think of it based on the Chevrolet commercial jingle from the 1970s.
But now Chevrolet has brought the iconic 1970s jingle back to life by teaming up with celebrity chef Guy Fieri, mayor of Flavortown and car enthusiast, to create the Apple Pie Hot Dog.
Yep, that’s just how it sounds. It’s a hot dog. And it’s nestled between two rectangles of pie crusts, with hints of sweet and savory.
And that’s right on time and in the spirit of Thursday’s MLB at the Field of Dreams game (more on that later) in Dyersville, Iowa. This is where the Oscar nominated film “Field of Dreams” in 1989 was filmed.
Fieri fans know he opens his popular Food Network show “Diners, Drive-in and Dives” in his red 1968 Chevy Camaro.
Field of Dreams spectators will be able to purchase the Apple Pie Hot Dog on Thursday. Chevrolet is a sponsor of the game.
But those who do not attend the match can make one in advance.
The concoction looks like a handmade hot dog pie.
I had the opportunity to try making the Apple Pie Hot Dog thanks to receiving a kit with all the ingredients to assemble two Apple Pie Hot Dogs.
This is how it’s done:
- You need two 3×5-inch pie crust rectangles for each hot dog. For convenience, use store-bought crusts.
- Spread your favorite apple filling in the center and top it with bacon jam – a mixture of cooked crumbled bacon that is again cooked with sugar, honey, vinegar and pepper until syrupy. Isn’t everything better with bacon?
- Then add the hot dog, leaving about half an inch beyond one end. Brush all exposed edges with egg wash (a mixture of egg and water). Place another rectangle of pie crust on top and crimp to seal the edges. Brush the top with egg wash. Sprinkle the top with apple pie spice and a little demerara or raw sugar.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and drizzle with a mixture of equal parts apple pie filling and yellow mustard.
- Top with crumbled bacon.
And There you go. The apple pie hot dog.
How does it taste?
Well, not bad. Not great. I like hot dogs. But I especially like them served in the traditional way with savory ingredients or as a coney. That means in a bun, with mustard, chopped onions and, yes, ketchup – but not always. I also had hot dogs with other toppings including cheese, Chicago style with sport peppers, pickles, tomato slices, celery relish and salt and one with celery. avocado and spicy relish. Chevy’s version is sweet and salty and has the flavor of apple pie. And the pie crust is a bit overwhelming. The best part is the bacon jam and the bacon crumbles on top.
About this game and this movie
There is a lot of hype and talk about this Thursday’s game. The game pits the Chicago White Sox against the New York Yankees, both featured in the 1989 film. Players will wear new uniforms designed by and by teams that played in the early 20th century, according to MLB.com.
The match was initially scheduled for August 2020 but postponed to this Thursday due to the coronavirus pandemic. A temporary 8,000-seat baseball stadium was built near where the film was shot.
If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, it stars Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, and Amy Madigan. Burt Lancaster and Timothy Busfield, from Michigan, are also in the film.
The spoiler for the film is below.
Costner plays Ray Kinsella, an Iowa corn farmer who reflects on his relationship with his father at the time of his death. His father was a baseball fan and player.
Kinsella is plowing under some of his corn crops to build a baseball field after hearing voices from his cornfield say, “If you build it, they will come.” Only Kinsella, at first, hears the voices and builds the baseball field. Several baseball players from the past represented in the film as “ghosts” come to visit Kinsella, including Shoeless Joe Jackson played by Ray Liotta. Shoeless Joe was part of the main White Sox cheating scandal of yesteryear.
In the end, it’s Kinsella playing wrestling with her dead father, then the camera turns to a shot of cars lining up to go onto the field.
Contact Detroit Free Press Culinary Editor Sue Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: 313-222-6872 or [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
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