Would you like whipped cream on your milkshake?” the Ted's employee asked. “Why yes,” replied my Aunt Joyce! Sister to my mother, Aunt Joyce, my brother Eric and I were all at Ted's Hot Dog stand to celebrate Aunt Joyce's 80th birthday. Ted's is a Western New York food tradition and we try and go there every time we're in the area. Why? The charbroiled, Sahlen's hot dogs of course! Always cooked to perfection and ready to load up with things like mustard, dill pickles, sauerkraut and the family's secret hot sauce. Yum! That secret family sauce got me wondering what the story behind Ted's was. It was started by a Greek immigrant named Theodore, “Ted”, Spiro Liaros, who came to America with empty pockets and no English in 1913. Ted's first hot dog stand was located at the foot of Massachusetts Ave under the newly constructed Peace Bridge to Canada. 89 years and many locations later, Ted and his family's secret sauce have come along way! Food traditions unite and define many families. Aunt Joyce is part of the Palmer clan, known for their baking skills and love of sweets! Andrew Wyatt once painted a pair of boots as a symbolic portrait of his neighbor. I could do the same for some of my family members but I would choose pies to represent them instead of boots. My Aunt Esther makes a mean lemon meringue, Aunt Marge is know for her cream cheese cherry pie, Grandma Palmer was apple pie and my mother was, well more experimental so she has several pies I connect her to. Rhubarb and pecan pie are my strongest recollections for her. Even the Palmer men, Don and Larry are accomplished pie makers. There's an annual Palmer Pie Party where everyone has a chance to show off their skills. Its a celebration of family tradition and appreciation for homemade goodness! Eric did break the rule of, “if it isn't homemade don't bother,” that day by bringing three bags of Paula's donuts to share with some of the Palmer clan and the Grand Island bunch. Let's just say they all got eaten up that day and no one was complaining! PS, I am finishing this post while waiting for my flight back to Denver. I just checked my bag with 3lbs of frozen Sahlen's hot dogs in it. Take care of them baggage crew!
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