Authentic Route 66 Recipes

Chicago-Style Hot Dog

Chicago Dog Ingredients

• Vienna all-beef hot dog
• Poppy seed hot dog bun
• 1 Tbsp Yellow mustard
• 1 Tbsp Sweet pickle relish
• 1 Tbsp Diced onion
• 2 Tomato wedges
• 1 Dill pickle spear
• 2 Sport peppers
• Dash of celery salt

Chicago Dog Instructions

1. Traditionally boiled! Bring water to boil in a pot, then turn heat to low. Add the hot dog(s) and cook until warmed through — about 5 minutes. Then, remove the hot dog(s) and set aside.
2. Place a steamer basket on top of the pot, and steam the poppy seed hot dog bun(s) until warmed — about 2 minutes.
3. Put a hot dog in a steamed bun. Then, add the toppings in this order:
   • mustard
   • relish
   • onion
   • Tomato wedges (between the hot dog and the top of the bun)
   • Pickle spear (between the hot dog and the bottom of the bun)
   • Peppers
   • Celery salt
4. No ketchup!

St. Louis-Style Thin Crust Pizza

Cracker-Thin Crust

• 2 cups + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 tsp dark corn syrup
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp water

Mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined into a stiff dough. Ready to use immediately, no need to rise or kneed.

Pizza Sauce

• 8 oz canned whole tomatoes, finely diced
• 3 oz tomato paste
• 3/4 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp crushed basil
• 1⁄4 tsp salt
• 1⁄8 tsp thyme

Mix ingredients together and set aside (no need to cook or heat the sauce)

Provel Cheese

• 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1⁄2 cup swiss cheese, shredded
• 1⁄2 cup provolone cheese, shredded
• 1 teaspoon liquid hickory liquid smoke

Toss until cheeses are mixed and liquid smoke is incorporated

St. Louis Style Pizza Instructions

1. Divide dough into two equal dough balls, then roll each out into a paper thin 12″ circle, then transfer to a pizza stone or thin baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.
2. Spread half the sauce on each pizza crust.
3. Spread half the cheese on each pizza crust.
4. Add your favorite pizza toppings. Some authentic options include: sausage (pre-cooked), hamburger (pre-cooked), bacon (pre-cooked), pepperoni, Canadian bacon, onion, green pepper, anchovy, black olive, mushroom, jalapenos, pineapple, banana peppers, and tomatoes.
5. Bake at 450 on the lowest rack possible for 10-12 minutes or until the underside of the crust is a dark golden brown.
6. Cut the pizza into squares and serve.

Santa Fe Frito Pie

Frito Pie Ingredients

• Fritos in snack-sized bags
• Your favorite chile (try our gourmet chipotle chili, recipe below)
• Shredded cheese
• Onion, diced
• Tomato, diced (optional)
• Iceberg lettuce, shredded (optional)

Frito Pie Instructions

1. Slice open the long side of a snack-sized bag of Fritos.
2. Layer in a generous scoop of chili over the chips.
3. Sprinkle in shredded cheese and diced onion.
4. Optionally, add diced tomato, shredded iceberg lettuce or both.
5. Eat directly from the bag with a plastic spoon or spork, perfect to munch outside, cross-legged on the grass or while strolling through the city.

Chipotle Chili Ingredients

• 6 slices Thick cut applewood smoked bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 medium onions, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 7 oz. can of chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 cup beer, or beef broth
• One 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
• One 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• One 24 ounce can crushed tomatoes
• One 24 ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice
• Lime wedges, for garnish
• Sour cream, for garnish
• Shredded cheese, for garnish
• Sliced Scallions, for garnish

Chipotle Chili Instructions

1. Heat a large heavy bottomed dutch oven.
2. Cook the bacon over medium heat until lightly crisp, stirring occasionally until browned.
3. Add the garlic, onions, bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of the chipotle peppers sauce and 1-3 peppers according to your level of spiciness preference.
4. Cook these items until the vegetables are tender and seasonings are aromatic.
5. Add the beef and break it up with a wooden spoon, then cook until beginning to brown.
6. Add the pork and break up with wooden spoon, then brown until no longer pink, roughly 4 minutes.
7. Stir in the beer (or beef broth), beans, crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes.
8. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
9. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if necessary.

Santa Monica Pier Churro with Dipping Sauce

Churro Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 ½ tablespoons white sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 quarts oil for frying
• ½ cup white sugar, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Churro Instructions

1. Combine water, sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
2. Stir in flour, stirring until mixture forms a ball.
3. Heat oil for frying in a deep fryer or deep pot to 375 degrees F.
4. Transfer dough to a sturdy pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip.
5. Carefully pipe a few 5- to 6-inch strips of dough into the hot oil. Work in batches so you don’t crowd the fryer.
6. Cook until golden, then use a spider or slotted spoon to transfer churros to paper towels to drain.
7. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll drained churros in cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Chocolate Dipping Sauce Ingredients

• 3/4 c. dark chocolate chips
• 3/4 c. heavy cream
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Chocolate Dipping Sauce Instructions

1. Place chocolate chips in a medium heatproof bowl.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring cream to a simmer. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips and let sit 2 minutes.
3. Add cinnamon and salt and whisk until combined and smooth.

Root 66 Cocktail

Root 66 Ingredients

• 2 oz. bourbon, such as Evan Williams Bottled in Bond
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 3 oz. high-quality root beer
• Garnish: lime wheel

Root 66 Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a Collins glass.
2. Add ice.
3. Give a quick stir.
4. Garnish with lime wheel.