Little Smokies

[MarkLT1]

So I opened our fridge, after my wife's last harrowing trip to the grocery store, and what did I find? 2 packages of little smokies! So we're doing a Sunday afternoon picnic in the yard, chomping down on the goodness that is tiny smoked cocktail hotdogs, cooked in BBQ sauce. I've lived in many places in the US, but have only seen Little Smokies in Minnesota. I'm not sure if it is just a MN thing, or a midwest thing, but never saw them when I was living outside of MN. And here in MN, people take their little smokies quite seriously.

So what sacred snacks/meals do you have in your area, that you don't see other than locally? Here in MN, it is probably enjoying a plate of tater-tot hotdish with a side of little smokies (fished out of a crock-pot with a tooth pick) , while watching the kids in the yard play Duck, Duck, Grey Duck.

 

[Farro]

So I opened our fridge, after my wife's last harrowing trip to the grocery store, and what did I find? 2 packages of little smokies! So we're doing a Sunday afternoon picnic in the yard, chomping down on the goodness that is tiny smoked cocktail hotdogs, cooked in BBQ sauce. I've lived in many places in the US, but have only seen Little Smokies in Minnesota. I'm not sure if it is just a MN thing, or a midwest thing, but never saw them when I was living outside of MN. And here in MN, people take their little smokies quite seriously.

So what sacred snacks/meals do you have in your area, that you don't see other than locally? Here in MN, it is probably enjoying a plate of tater-tot hotdish with a side of little smokies (fished out of a crock-pot with a tooth pick) , while watching the kids in the yard play Duck, Duck, Grey Duck.

We used to make little smokies in the crockpot with chili sauce and grape jelly. Addicting!

Chicago. I don't know...does anyone else use giardiniera as much as we do? I even mix it in my mashed potatoes.
Italian Beef sandwiches
Chicken Vesuvio (I honestly thought every Italian restaurant had this on the menu and then I was corrected over on the restaurants board. Apparently it's a Chicago thing)

 

[Minnesota!]

Well, MN here, too. But, you forgot the various salads that consist mainly of mayo

Little smokies, wrapped in bacon, covered in brown sugar, seem to be popular, too.

 

[SteveH]

Seems like a crock pot mainstay in Washington State & Missouri, at least from my travels.

 

[Dole_whip_doll]

We have Lil Smokies in Texas! Sometimes we put them in BBQ sauce like that and sometimes we eat them plain, just cooked up in a skillet.

I’m not really sure anything we have here isn’t something other places have (except for maybe restaurants).

some of my fave:
-hot Cheetos with cheese
-fruit cup with Chile/chamoy/tajin
-wacky apples (cut up apple with various sour candies, cut up pickles and Chile/chamoy/tajin)
-mangonada/chamanga
-koolaid pickles
-loaded corn in a cup (corn kernels, Mayo, lemon pepper, corn nuts, nacho cheese, cotija cheese)
-peeled cucumbers that are floating in some water vinegar mixture that are then jammed on a stick and coated with Chile/chamoy/tajin

 

[MarkLT1]

We used to make little smokies in the crockpot with chili sauce and grape jelly. Addicting!

Chicago. I don't know...does anyone else use giardiniera as much as we do? I even mix it in my mashed potatoes.
Italian Beef sandwiches
Chicken Vesuvio (I honestly thought every Italian restaurant had this on the menu and then I was corrected over on the restaurants board. Apparently it's a Chicago thing)

mmmm.. chili sauce + grape jelly little smokies? Why have I never heard of this. Sounds amazing! Is it the thai chili sauce that you get in a big squeeze container at the grocery store?

Those other things? Never heard of them

Well, MN here, too. But, you forgot the various salads that consist mainly of mayo

Little smokies, wrapped in bacon, covered in brown sugar, seem to be popular, too.

Oh yeah... the mayo "salads" what have essentially no salad..

As for the bacon wrapped smokies, they are oh so delicious, but even in social isolation, no one has time for that!!!

Seems like a crock pot mainstay in Washington State & Missouri, at least from my travels.

Missouri I could see. WA? I had no idea! My aunt lives near Tacoma.. I'll have to call and see if she has any good Little Smokies recipes...

 

[MarkLT1]

We have Lil Smokies in Texas! Sometimes we put them in BBQ sauce like that and sometimes we eat them plain, just cooked up in a skillet.

I’m not really sure anything we have here isn’t something other places have (except for maybe restaurants).

some of my fave:
-hot Cheetos with cheese
-fruit cup with Chile/chamoy/tajin
-wacky apples (cut up apple with various sour candies, cut up pickles and Chile/chamoy/tajin)
-mangonada/chamanga
-koolaid pickles
-loaded corn in a cup (corn kernels, Mayo, lemon pepper, corn nuts, nacho cheese, cotija cheese)
-peeled cucumbers that are floating in some water vinegar mixture that are then jammed on a stick and coated with Chile/chamoy/tajin

I've heard of.. none of those. Hot Cheetos with cheese? That sounds... well.. I'd try it, but I'm not sure what I'd be expecting.

Loaded corn in a cup? WOW!!! That sounds AMAZING. And I assume you don't even need utensils? Just "drink" them from the cup? My kind of a snack! The next time I'm in TX, I'm looking that one up!

 

[mombrontrent]

We have Lil Smokies in Texas! Sometimes we put them in BBQ sauce like that and sometimes we eat them plain, just cooked up in a skillet.

I’m not really sure anything we have here isn’t something other places have (except for maybe restaurants).

some of my fave:
-hot Cheetos with cheese
-fruit cup with Chile/chamoy/tajin
-wacky apples (cut up apple with various sour candies, cut up pickles and Chile/chamoy/tajin)
-mangonada/chamanga
-koolaid pickles
-loaded corn in a cup (corn kernels, Mayo, lemon pepper, corn nuts, nacho cheese, cotija cheese)
-peeled cucumbers that are floating in some water vinegar mixture that are then jammed on a stick and coated with Chile/chamoy/tajin

Never heard of any of these either, sounds interesting for sure

 

[Southernmiss]

Little smokies in Mississippi, too.

A staple at many gatherings throughout the year.

 

[Dole_whip_doll]

I've heard of.. none of those. Hot Cheetos with cheese? That sounds... well.. I'd try it, but I'm not sure what I'd be expecting.

Loaded corn in a cup? WOW!!! That sounds AMAZING. And I assume you don't even need utensils? Just "drink" them from the cup? My kind of a snack! The next time I'm in TX, I'm looking that one up!

it’s the flaming hot flavor of crunchy Cheetos with nacho cheese (better be Rico’s brand) over the top.

 

[bcla]

I've seen the Hillshire Farm brand "Lit'l Smokies" in my local supermarkets. I bought them a few times because I thought my kid would like them. It's this one:

https://www.hillshirefarm.com/products/cocktail-links/litl-smokies-smoked-sausage/
I guess on a related note, being cooped up at home my kid has developed a taste for franks and beans. I do it as a mix of canned pork and beans (either Campbells or Van Kamp's) with whatever cheap hot dogs I can find. I've tried various kinds, although recently I found Oscar Mayer uncured hot dogs sold pretty cheap. Personally my favorite hot dogs are Nathans, but they're kind of expensive for franks and beans.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Oh my gosh, what a coincidence! Me too! I have two bags of Lil Smokies in my fridge and I was just wondering what I'm going to do with them!

I buy them for parties and potlucks when I need something kid-friendly. I make pigs-in-a-blanket out of them with refrigerated crescent roll dough. I had a couple bags left over from last time I made them. Two bags of Lil Smokies makes an awful lot of pigs-in-a blanket, though, so I doubt I'll so that with these.

I'm in Florida and we have them here!

 

[Kittyblue]

I've seen the Hillshire Farm brand "Lit'l Smokies" in my local supermarkets. I bought them a few times because I thought my kid would like them. It's this one:

https://www.hillshirefarm.com/products/cocktail-links/litl-smokies-smoked-sausage/

Yup that's what we buy in California. We do them in BBQ sauce in the crockpot or wrap the in crescent rolls for little smokies in a blanket.

I can't think of anything that's just a local thing. I have a friend who has family in Alabama and brought me some conecuh sausage. That was pretty yummy. She also brought me some cane jelly that I'm not sure what to do with. Anyone ever use that?

 

[lynxstch]

I've lived in MA and in MD,,and have had Lil Smokies in both places. I just thought everyone had them!

 

[nene0182]

I’m in ND (about 3 blocks from the MN border) and we love Lil Smokies over here

 

[MarkLT1]

Little smokies in Mississippi, too.

I'm in Florida and we have them here!

Yup that's what we buy in California.

I've lived in MA and in MD,,and have had Lil Smokies in both places. I just thought everyone had them!

Ok.. so apparently I was misled.. When I lived in NC, no one had heard of them. When I lived in NJ, no one had heard of them. When I lived in CA (bay area), no one had heard of them. But it appears that they are everywhere. Glad to know all of the people can enjoy the little smokies, because they are great!

 

[Searc]

So I opened our fridge, after my wife's last harrowing trip to the grocery store, and what did I find? 2 packages of little smokies! So we're doing a Sunday afternoon picnic in the yard, chomping down on the goodness that is tiny smoked cocktail hotdogs, cooked in BBQ sauce. I've lived in many places in the US, but have only seen Little Smokies in Minnesota. I'm not sure if it is just a MN thing, or a midwest thing, but never saw them when I was living outside of MN. And here in MN, people take their little smokies quite seriously.

So what sacred snacks/meals do you have in your area, that you don't see other than locally? Here in MN, it is probably enjoying a plate of tater-tot hotdish with a side of little smokies (fished out of a crock-pot with a tooth pick) , while watching the kids in the yard play Duck, Duck, Grey Duck.

They're a staple in WI, too.

 

[Meriweather]

Yep...had them in WA, CA and now AZ

 

[bcla]

They're a staple in WI, too.

Hillshire Farm is from Wisconsin isn't it?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yup that's what we buy in California.

I was going to chime in that I get them in CA.