Root Beer Stands

 As children, going to one of several root beer stands was a huge treat.  Frosty mugs of root beer and sometimes a coney dog was nearly the definition of "summertime" in Lafayette.  In addition to the excitement of going out, we ate in the car!  Nearly magical!  

Of the root beer stands, there was one called Mom's that we could go to on our bicycles.  Though I am certain she had some sort of sandwiches, we generally went there for ice cream or floats.  It was a tiny place with a very small parking area.  I seem to recall that she had one picnic table and that was about it.  As a family, we did not drive to Mom's.  It was a bicycle with friends type of thing.

My favorite root beer stand was called "Pop's."  He had the best coney sauce and also had a sauce that he called "Spanish sauce."  I've never been able to find his "Spanish sauce" recipe, but was able to obtain what is said to be his coney dog sauce.  It's really simple to make and freezes pretty well.  With Pop's sauce, you dump everything into a pan and simmer it for an hour.  That's it.  So what do you simmer?  Here is the list:

• 1 pound of lean ground beef
• 2 Tablespoons onion, finely diced
• 1 cup of Hunt's ketchup
• 6 Tablespoons. of water
• 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons of chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

Dump it in the pan and simmer for an hour.  Easy.

Starting to simmer.  No, the onions are not diced.  I got lazy.

Dogs-N-Suds was the third root beer stand where we would go.  Mom loved their fried mushrooms and Dad enjoyed their hotdogs.  We loved getting footlong hotdogs because they were FOOTLONG hotdogs.  (Cannot get those at home!)  We have gone to other Dogs-N-Suds as it is a chain, but the coney sauce never tasted the same.  Again, after asking around, I was given this recipe that is more like what we would get as children.

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon tabasco sauce
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
• Ketchup....a few squeezes or plops 

Brown ground beef with onion over medium heat breaking up the meat with a fork to crumble it fine.  Drain off fat.  Add everything but the ketchup.  Mix well.  Add enough ketchup to keep the mixture loose.  Simmer partially covered for 1 hour, adding ketchup as needed.  Makes enough sauce for 6-8 regular hot dogs.

Which is better?  You tell me!  You must have a root beer to go with your dogs in either case.  Dogs-N-Suds had A&W root beer.  Not sure about the other two but they certainly were terrific.  

I like mine with mustard and onion!