Use Up Those Buns

I love it when I can use up leftovers in ways that others may not ever think of. Hot dog buns are great for this as well. Yes of course use for hot dogs but oh so much more. No need to save for when you cook more hot dogs now you will have more ideas in your arsenal as well.

The first recipe I share is one that I learned when volunteering at bible school. Every year we cook lunch for all the kids, workers and parents that attend. One meal you will find on our menu is hotdogs and yet another is spaghetti. What do they have in common?? They both use up hotdog buns. For one meal how they were meant to be served. Hotdog buns are also used to make Garlic Cheese Bread.

Garlic Cheese Bread

4 hot dog buns
4 tablespoons butter (softened)
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup shredded Mozzarella

Mix together butter, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
Tear each hot dog bun in half (longways) so you’re left with 8 individual pieces.
Spread the butter mixture over the tops of each half.
Top evenly with Mozzarella and put in the broiler for about 2-4 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown.

This next one you may just love a sloppy recipe made more manageable.

Not-So Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
6 hot dog buns

Place ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a pan and saute until ground beef is no longer pink.  Drain fat.
Mix in garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar.
Allow meat and sauce to simmer for 20 minutes.
Dish up your sloppy joes.  About 1/2 cup of sloppy joe meat per bun.

French Toast Sticks
Ever bought the French Toast Sticks in the freezer section of the grocery store?  Well these homemade French Toast Sticks are so much better than those frozen ones!

4 hot dog buns
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon in a shallow dish.  (I like to use pie plates)
Tear each hot dog bun in half (longways) so you’re left with 8 individual pieces.
Dunk each half in the egg mixture.  Coat both sides.
Place on hot a griddle or frying pan with butter.  Flip as needed.  Serve with maple syrup.

Mini Meatball Sub
No idea what to make for lunch?  How about a meatball sub?  What I like about this recipe is that I almost always have all the ingredients in my house, including one of my favorite freezer staples, frozen meatballs.
Ingredients:
1 hot dog bun
4-5 frozen meatballs
1/4 cup spaghetti sauce
1 slice deli-style Provolone cheese
1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Place meatballs in a microwavable bowl and cook for about 1-2 minutes on high.
Pour sauce into bowl, coat meatballs, and heat for another minute.
Align meatballs in the hot dog bun, add extra sauce if desired.
Sprinkle Parmesan and top with Provolone cheese.
Place on a cookie sheet and into the broiler for about 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted.


Give these recipes a try. Let me know if you have any more uses for hot dog buns

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Simple Saturday