(Family Features) Sunshine and summer evenings often elicit a certain craving for warm-weather favorites, but many families don’t always have time to light a grill or wait for the charcoal to heat up. On those busy days when summer fare calls your name but time is of the essence, opt for a family-friendly recipe that offers seasonal taste from the cool comforts of the kitchen.

Hot dogs provide a versatile option that bring the kids running and can be used in a wide variety of dishes. These Corn Muffin Hot Dog Sliders, ready in just 30 minutes, offer a tasty twist on tradition by combining a summertime favorite with a comfort food classic.

In addition to the feel-good flavors, they’re made with all-beef Coleman Natural uncured hot dogs, sourced from American family farms that never use antibiotics or added hormones, meaning you can feel confident about the ingredients you’re feeding your family.

For more recipe ideas, visit ColemanNatural.com/Recipes.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Corn Muffin Hot Dog Sliders

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6 (2 sliders per serving)

•             Nonstick cooking spray
• 1          cup all-purpose flour
• 1          cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2       teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4       teaspoon salt
• 1          cup buttermilk
• 1/2       cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3       cup sugar
• 2          large eggs
• 6          Coleman Natural Beef Hot Dogs, cut into coins or sliced on bias, 1/2-inch thick
• 1          cup baby arugula
• mustard, for garnish (optional)
• ketchup, for garnish (optional)
• relish, for garnish (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly coat 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2. In large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, baking soda and salt. In separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, butter, sugar and eggs. Pour wet mixture over dry ingredients and stir until moist.
3. Scoop batter into each muffin tin cup until halfway full. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
4. Remove pan from oven and cool on wire rack 10-15 minutes before removing muffins from pan.
5. In large skillet over medium heat, cook hotdog slices, turning occasionally with fork until slightly browned.
6. Slice each muffin in half horizontally, add arugula and hot dog slices then garnish with mustard, ketchup and relish, if desired.

Substitution: Use store-bought corn muffin mix rather than making corn muffins from scratch, if desired.

Source: Coleman Natural Foods

(Family Features) Casual and diehard sports fans alike can all agree one of the best parts of game day is the tailgate. Whether you’re heading to the game to take part in the action or tuning in on the big screen, you can light up the scoreboard this season with these tips for a fun, easy and downright tasty tailgate (or home-gate).

Start early. There’s likely no easier way to send a tailgate spiraling out of control than to get a late start, which puts the party in a rush ahead of game time. Prepare early, and if you’re heading to the stadium, leave yourself plenty of time to find the ultimate parking spot, light the grill and enjoy the atmosphere.

Keep it simple. A true tailgate experience starts with flavorful foods fit for a crowd, which calls for ready-to-go ingredients like Eckrich Smoked Sausage, crafted with just the right blend of spices for a rich, savory and smoky taste. Because it’s pre-cooked, just heat it up and pair with other simple ingredients, such as a hoagie bun and some peppers for an easy Grilled Smoked Sausage and Pepper Hoagies.

Share the responsibility. Preparing shouldn’t fall on one person’s shoulders. Instead, ask each attendee to bring something useful for the entire group, such as plasticware, trash bags, napkins, cups, drinks and games.

Make it customizable. Especially if you’re bringing a large group, creating a spread that allows for personalization can help ensure everyone leaves happy. These Deluxe Nacho Dogs call for an abundance of topping options, giving guests full freedom to concoct their own creations, and they pair perfectly with Nathan’s Famous Beef Franks – made with 100% premium beef, no artificial flavors or colors and no fillers or by-products. 

Ensure an easy cleanup. When the tailgate is winding down and the game is about to start, it’s almost inevitable there’ll be a rush to pack up and head to the stadium (or the couch). Make things simpler and quicker by using disposable plasticware, plates and cups, and strategically placing trash bags in easily visible areas for everyone to clean up as the party continues, rather than scrambling to pick everything up at once.

For more recipe ideas and tailgating inspiration, visit nathansfamous.com and eckrich.com.

Grilled Smoked Sausage and Pepper Hoagies

Cook time: 22 minutes
Servings: 4

• 1          package Eckrich Smoked Sausage
• 1          red or green bell pepper, halved and seeded
• 4          slices (1/2-inch thick) large red onion
• 1/4       cup bottled hickory or spicy barbecue sauce
• 4          hoagie rolls or 8-inch French bread rolls, split

1. Heat grill to medium-high heat and oil cooking grates. Cut each sausage link in half crosswise.
2. Grill sausage, peppers and onions, covered, 5 minutes. Turn; continue grilling, covered, 5 minutes, or until sausage is heated through and vegetables are crisp-tender.
3. Brush barbecue sauce over both sides of sausage and vegetables. Arrange rolls, cut-sides down, around edges of grill. Continue grilling, covered, 2 minutes, or until rolls are lightly toasted. Cut bell peppers into strips; separate onion slices into rings.
4. Serve sausage and vegetables in rolls.

Deluxe Nacho Dogs

Prep time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

• 1          head lettuce
• 1          tomato
• 1          red onion
• 2          jalapeno peppers
• chives
• 1          package (8 hot dogs) Nathan’s Famous Skinless Beef Franks
• cheese sauce
• 1          package hot dog buns
• sour cream

1. Heat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Wash and dry lettuce, tomato, red onion, jalapeno peppers and chives. Chop lettuce. Dice tomato and red onion. Remove jalapeno stems then slice. Chop chives.
3. Grill hot dogs 4 minutes, turning once halfway to warm through.
4. Heat cheese sauce according to package directions.
5. Personalize hot dogs with desired toppings. Spoon cheese sauce over entire dog then layer lettuce, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos. Add sour cream and garnish with chives.

Tip: To add heat, slice jalapenos and fry in skillet over medium heat with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cook until slices begin to blacken.

Source: Nathan’s Famous Eckrich

(Family Features) Rally the family together to make and eat these bite-sized versions of corn dogs for an enjoyable, kid-friendly activity and snack.  Parents will enjoy them, too, because they’re easy to make, easy to eat and clean up is a snap.

Find more family-friendly recipes at culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this delicious recipe!

Mini Corn Dog Bites

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1              package all-beef bun-length hot dogs
• 1              cup flour
• 1              cup yellow cornmeal
• 2              tablespoons sugar
• 1              teaspoon salt
• 1/2         teaspoon baking powder
• 1              stick butter, melted
• 1              cup milk
• 1/4         cup sour cream
• 2              eggs

Dipping Sauce:

• 2/3         cup sour cream
• 3              tablespoons Dijon Mustard
• 2              tablespoons honey

1. Heat oven 375°F.
2. Prepare muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Cut each hot dog into six pieces.
4. In large bowl, whisk flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder.
5. In medium bowl, whisk melted butter, milk, sour cream and eggs. Combine butter mixture with flour mixture.
6. Fill each muffin cavity halfway with batter. Place one hot dog piece in center of each cavity.
7. Bake 14-16 minutes. Cool completely.
8. To make dipping sauce: In small bowl, stir sour cream, mustard and honey. Serve with corn dogs.

Recipe adapted from Wilton.

Source: Culinary.net

(Family Features) Celebrating the holidays with family meals and activities is what the season is all about, and when those moments and at-home projects are kid-friendly, you can get the whole gang involved.

A simple weeknight at home during the holiday season can turn into family fun time starting with a recipe like these Reindeer Hot Dogs, a dish that requires little prep time and allows for help from little ones. Made with Gwaltney Hot Dogs, a tasty, kid-friendly dinner solution requires just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients.

Once everyone is finished eating and all have pitched in to help with cleanup, turn your attention to a family activity that transforms everyday supplies into this Wooden Snowman Ornament for seasonal decor to hang on a tree or elsewhere in the house.

Find more kid-friendly recipes to involve the whole family at gwaltneyfoods.com.

Reindeer Hot Dogs

Prep time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10

• 1          can refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1          package Gwaltney Hot Dogs
• 1          slice white cheese
• black olives
• ketchup

1. Heat oven according to crescent roll package directions.
2. Cut hot dogs into three equal sections.
3. Lay out crescent rolls and wrap around middle sections of hot dog pieces.
4. Cut triangles out of end sections to look like antlers.
5. Cut two slits at top of dough; press end hot dog pieces into slits.
6. Bake according to crescent roll package directions. Cut out small circles from sliced cheese for reindeer eyes. Cover cheese pieces with small slices of black olives for pupils. Add ketchup to hot dogs for red noses.

Wooden Snowman Ornament

Craft courtesy of Gwaltney

• 7ice pop sticks
• Hot glue gun
• Foam paintbrush
• Black paint
• Glitter
• White paint
• Googly eyes
• Colored craft foam
• Sequins
• Buttons
• String

1. Line up six ice pop sticks next to each other vertically.
2. Place line of hot glue horizontally across sticks, about one-third of the way down, and adhere seventh stick to create brim of snowman’s hat.
3. Using black paint, brush top third (brim to top of hat) and let dry.
4. Mix glitter into white paint and brush lower two-thirds of sticks, creating snowman’s face.
5. Use googly eyes, colored craft foam, sequins and buttons to create details of face and hat, such as mouth, nose and hat decor.
6. Glue piece of string to backside to hang ornament.

Source: Gwaltney