By Father's Day. I took Pop a plate of ribs and corn on the cob. He sat in the recliner. He ate two ribs. He fell asleep mid-rib. The third rib went into the fridge. Pop's been getting tireder. We are in a phase. I am savoring it.
Pop's in the recliner. Tigers on. Sugar in range this week. Sunday at Mama's. She made greens with hambone the way she has since 1985.
Grilled chicken Saturday. Marinated in lemon and herbs. The Weber kettle.
Aiden's 10. The youth basketball league. I'm coaching. He's the best player on the team and he knows it. Zaria's 7. Helps me cook on a step stool. Has opinions about the seasoning.
I drove home Sunday past the plant. The plant lights were on. The line was running. The line is always running.
I cleaned the smoker Sunday morning. Brushed the grates. Emptied the ash. Wiped down the body. The smoker repays attention. So does most everything that matters.
Mama left me a voicemail Wednesday. She said, "DeShawn. Don't forget Sunday." I had not forgotten Sunday. I have not forgotten Sunday in twenty years. The reminder is the love. I called her back.
I made grocery lists on the back of envelopes the way Mama did. The list this week was short — onions, garlic, half-and-half, cornmeal, a pound of bacon. The list is the recipe of the week before it happens.
Truck needed an oil change Saturday. Did it myself in the driveway. Took an hour. The neighbor across the street gave me a thumbs-up from his porch. I gave him one back. Detroit men do not waste words on car maintenance.
Aiden had practice Tuesday and Thursday. I drove. He shot threes for an hour after.
Mr. Williams across the street had a heart scare. He is okay. We are all watching each other now. I took him a plate of greens and chicken Wednesday. He said, "DeShawn. You're a good neighbor." I said, "We're even, Mr. Williams. You shoveled my walk in 2024." He laughed.
Watched the Tigers Sunday afternoon. Lost in extras. Detroit reflex. I yelled at the TV the way Pop used to yell at the TV. The TV did not respond. The bullpen will probably not respond either.
The drive home Friday was the long way around. I took Outer Drive past the lake. The water was still. I do not always notice the water. I noticed Friday.
The basketball court at the rec center got refurbished. New floor. Plays different. Bouncy. I shot a few from the elbow before practice Wednesday. The knee held. The shot fell short.
Drove past Jefferson North on Tuesday. The plant is still the plant. The trucks coming out. I waved at the gate guard out of habit. He waved back even though he didn't know me. The plant is its own neighborhood.
A neighbor down the street gave me a tomato plant Saturday. He grows them on his porch. Said he had extra. I put it next to the back step where it gets the afternoon sun. Detroit gardens are improvised victories.
I took a walk around the block Sunday morning. The neighborhood was quiet. The trees were the trees. The light was good. I waved at three porches. The porches waved back. Brookline holds.
I read for an hour Sunday night. A book about the auto industry. Half memoir, half history. Made me think about Pop and the line and the fragile contract that built the middle of this country. I underlined the parts that hit.
The grass came in fast this week. Cut it Saturday morning before the heat. The mower had been sitting all winter. Took three pulls to start. Once it ran, it ran. Some things just need patience.
Zaria’s been climbing that step stool and weighing in on every dish I make — and when she saw these come out of the oven, she had exactly one opinion: again. After a week of grilling, coaching, checking on Mr. Williams, and hauling myself to every corner of this neighborhood, I needed something I could put together fast that the kids would actually eat without negotiating. Corn Dog Twists are that recipe — simple enough to let Zaria help roll them, satisfying enough that Aiden grabbed three before I got one.
Corn Dog Twists
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 15 min | Total Time: 25 min | Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 8 beef hot dogs
- 1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent roll dough (8 triangles)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Yellow mustard, ketchup, or honey mustard for serving
Instructions
- Preheat. Heat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Separate the dough. Unroll the crescent dough and separate into 8 triangles along the perforated lines.
- Wrap. Starting at the wide end of each dough triangle, place a hot dog at the edge and roll it up at an angle, wrapping the dough in a spiral twist toward the narrow tip. Press the tip to seal. Place seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Season. Stir together the melted butter, garlic powder, and paprika. Brush lightly over each wrapped hot dog.
- Bake. Bake 13–15 minutes, until the crescent dough is golden brown and cooked through. Let cool 2 minutes before serving.
- Serve. Arrange on a plate with mustard and ketchup on the side. Best eaten warm.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 215 | Protein: 7g | Fat: 14g | Carbs: 16g | Fiber: 0g | Sodium: 590mg