We do a themed barbeque party every July. This year, it was the “Wiggly Wiener Wonderland.”

Spaghetti Dogs and Garlic Buns

Hotdogs, skewered with vermicelli and boiled until the pasta is cooked. Then placed in garlic bread buns and covered with a spoonful of red sauce, topped with mozzarella. Baked until toasted.

Half a dozen hotdogs, covered in spaghettis and red meat sauce, served in garlic bread buns.

Deviled Dogs aka Woofs Mayonnaise

Deviled eggs, traditional and ranch versions, topped with weenies and drizzled with either garlic aioli and relish or spicy yellow mustard.

A dozen or so deviled eggs with weenies on top, dressed with a drizzle of either garlic aioli or mustard. We called them "Deviled Dogs."

Dog Biscuits

Out-of-a-box Paula Deen sugar cookies and a supermarket cookie cake dressed up to fit the theme.

A plate of Paula Deen sugar cookies with the shape of a dachshund stamped into them. Dachshunds are long, so half of the cookies have the shape of a dog's head and little legs and the other half of the batch has wiggle-butts. Also pictured: a supermarket cookie cake decorated to resemble the hotdog emoji.

Standard Weenies

Can’t go wrong with the classics.

A plate of basic hotdog weenies, some wrapped in puff pastry. In the background of this image, you can see evidence of true depravity: Twinkies placed in paper sleeves, lined up and prepared to serve as buns for hotdogs.

Somehow Not Pictured

  • Hotdog Water Sangria. My spouse used a apple corer to cut out dozens of watermelon cylinders which We froze overnight and used as both ice for the dispenser and as garnishes for the drink. The sangria was made with infused vodka (lime, orange, apple, grape, and strawberries). To serve, we removed all the fruit, mixed in white wine and sparkling strawberry water, then added the watermelon “hotdogs.” It looked like a slightly cloudy glass of white white with a shade of blush.

  • Twinkie Dogs. A tradition inflicted on us by a friend: You have to eat one hotdog using a twinkie as a bun.

  • Hotdogs. Thai chili-dog. Cilantro lime-dog. Garlic pesto-dog. Refried been-ers.