When they're smoking they're cooking, when they're burnt they're done!

"When they're smoking they're cooking when they're burnt they're done!" Thats what my Great Uncle Ross would say when he cooked hot dogs on the grill. One of my fondest memories as a kid was visiting my Grandma's house for a cookout.

My Grandma Maxwell, Great Aunt Mable,Great Aunt Ruth and Great Uncle Ross Lived together in the house my Grandpa built. Sadly my Grandpa Maxwell died when I was eight years old. During the winter my Grandma Maxwell would live in Texas.

My Great Aunt Mable would live in florida as did my Great Uncle Ross and Great Aunt Ruth. When spring would hit they all would come back until the fall. Every once in awhile they would have a cookout sometimes for holiday's or Birthday parties.

We would have the typical baked beans, cole slaw, Potato salad and dessert. But the star of the show was Great Uncle Ross's hot dogs. I remember It was the 1980's I was a teenager riding with my parents car a 1980 chevy citation. We would come rolling in and there standing in front of the grill was Great Uncle Ross.

The smoke permeated the air and he would smile with tongs in hand. As a teenager I would run over and climb the apple tree and hang out. While the adults talked about the weather, and the good old days. I remember being so hungry as I could smell the hot dogs cooking.

It seemed to take forever before they were ready to eat. "The hot dogs are ready" he finally announced. I remember jumping out of the tree, its a wonder I didn't break a leg! I remember getting in line behind the little ones for the hot dogs.

It was finally my turn he would open up the lid and there they were. In all there black and burnt glory! When he said "when they're smoking they're cooking when they're burnt they're done it was not a joke. Some people might have thought he downright cremated them.

I remember laughing to myself when a visitor would come, and would have shocked looks on there faces. Great Uncle Ross would say if you didn't want them burnt you needed to request it, Otherwise you were out of luck. So the visitor would hold out there plate. Great Uncle ross would put it in the bun with a smile on his face.

We all just accepted that the dogs were going to be burnt, but that's the way he liked them. You just had to add extra catsup, mustard, onions and relish. I could see the happiness and satisfaction on his face when everyone was sitting down eating his hot dogs.

I remember filling up my plate with my moms potato salad, baked beans and such. I remember not having enough room, but somehow eating watermelon and cake. Afterwards I would return to my apple tree and hang out. My Great Uncle Ross and Aunt ruth would sit on there porch swing and talk. After a long afternoon we would wish everyone farewell and head home still full from the meal.

I am now in my fifties sadly My Grandma Maxwell,Great Aunt Mable, Great Aunt Ruth and Great Uncle Ross have passed away. The Apple tree is gone now and the house is owned by my nephew. Sometimes I drive past the house and have fond memories of that time.

Did Great Uncle Ross make the best Hot dogs? If I am to be honest they were not the best. His Hot dogs for most were too overcooked. But for me it wasnt the taste of the Hot dogs, it was the man behind the Hot dogs.

Great Uncle Ross was happy standing behind the grill. It was him putting his burnt Hot dogs on our plates. It was time spent with friends and family. It is a time forever burned into my mind and I will never forget Great Uncle Ross, and his Hot dogs.