I’m not sure that the world realized this. All the other issues at hand in the 1950s: the Cold War, the postwar economy, trying to fit into pencil skirts…all solved, nay “revolutionized,” by all the (gulp) “quickie meals” that would arise from Oscar Meyer Wieners in a Can. And also the Sack o’ Sauce. Can’t forget the Sack o’ Sauce, can we now?
Also: it is not a plus when a food (especially food in a can, or emanating from a sack) is “so different it’s patented!” It’s different, all right.
A decade after this ad, they had that commercial where the kids sing that they wanted to be Oscar Meyer Wieners, remember that? I do, it was on into the 1970s. I never actually knew any kid who expressed that desire; nor did I really want to be a hotdog. Supposedly the deal was that if you were one of those things, everyone would “be in love with you” – an idea that I don’t want to deconstruct right now (or ever, thanks) but…I think that it’s a more likely proposition that IF you are a hotdog, people will EAT you for dinner. Not be in love with you!
And if you are a hotdog in a can…oh, ugh. Never mind. Moving right along…
Here’s a recipe to go with this entrancing product. From Recipes For Young Adults (1973), here is a grown-up “After-The-Game Snack”:
WIENER WINKS
8 frankfurters
8 slices sandwich bread
1/2 cup grated cheese
butter
3 Tb chopped onion
3 Tb prepared mustard
toothpicks
8 stuffed olives
1. Cover frankfurters with boiling water; let stand 8 minutes; drain.
2. Butter bread (remove crusts if desired).
3. Combine chopped onion and mustard.
4. Dip buttered side of bread in grated cheese and spread onion mixture on unbuttered side. Place a frankfurter diagonally across each slice on onion-mustard side.
5. Fasten two opposite corners of slice with toothpick.
6. Place bread side down on broiler pan 3 inches from heat. Broil 2-3 minutes on each side to toast.
7. Perch stuffed olives on toothpicks.
Aw, the olives are perched on the toothpicks, how cute. I didn’t know they could do tricks. But now that wieners come in a can I guess anything is possible.
Note that if we make this recipe we will have a leftover Sack o’ Sauce. I can’t imagine what we’re going to do with that.
You I never saw weiners in a can – ever, but we did indulge in Vienna sausage in a can. We were big hot dog eaters when I was little. My dad taught me how the cowboys ate hot dogs. No buns. Just slap that puppy on a fork hold it over the fire and when it’s black — blow on it and enjoy. My proper mother was appalled!!!
This recipe is actually kind of appealing – especially the teetering olive.
Vallen – Yes, I was thinking about the little Vienna sausages in cans…I remember thinking they were quite intriguing, when I was little.
no I’ve never seen them in a can either, mind you all that sauce? It wouldn’t last long in our house…
Sack O’Sauce!!
You gotta love anything that has O’ in it’s name.
Like Veg O’Rama
Growing up in a German/Romanian household has me all sausaged out! But never from a can
P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog, baby cakes!
Amy – It is probably the only time I have ever seen hotdogs in a can. Teeny sausages, yes, hotdogs, no.
Toontz – Yes, I loved the thought of the Oscar meyer pundits coming up with that, thinking people would find that appetizing…
Mama Brook – I’m part German myself, and grew up in a German/Hungarian neighborhood –
And I’m going to be visiting your blog quite a bitm it is very cool!
I was cracking up at your post about the oscar meyer weiners and I too did not know anyone who wanted to be a hot dog!!! Lol!!! very funny!!!Keep em’ coming…you are a fabulous writer!
Thanks
Tania
Just yesterday at the dollar store I saw a tall regular vegetable size can of vienna sausages. I didn’t notice then but now I wonder if there were multiple layers of the little weenies or if they could have been regular hot dog size. I even commented to my husband that I had never seen a can of vienna sausages that big.