• 8 chourico franks
  • 8 New England buns or your favorite hot dog buns
  • Yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Summer has begun and we enjoyed some good old chourico franks on the grill! Growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts, I remember my parents packing up these flavorful franks for a day at the beach! On the weekends in the summer when we weren’t swimming at my Aunt Alice’s or Rosie’s pool, our family would often visit Horseneck Beach in Westport, Massachusetts. With nearly 600 acres of barrier beach and salt marsh, Horseneck Beach is one of the most popular tourist areas in the Massachusetts State Forests and Parks system. Located at the western end of Buzzards Bay, the sandy, southwest-facing, 2-mile long beach is breezy all year round, so relief can be found there on even the hottest New England days.

Our family often went with our friends and neighbors, the Valencia’s, and of course food was an important part of our day. We’d arrive early in the morning and leave later in the evening usually before dinner. We’d often bring our little charcoal grill and set up a spot on the sand. With blankets set out, beach bags filled with sunscreen, chips and snacks and coolers containing cold drinks and smoked chourico franks, we’d spend all day there. Most of my time was spent riding the waves and the smelling the salt water. Being a Daddy’s girl, I loved it when my father would go in the water. I really loved riding piggy-back on him. After the beach we’d all go home, shower, get the seaweed out of our bathing suits admire our sun tans and head over to the Valencia’s for a cookout! Seize the day! Aaahh, those were the days…the memories…well, I better get back to the chourico franks…SO…these are great and packed full of smoky, spicy flavor. I know you might not be able to get these where you live, but they are easy to order through Mello’s, so what are you waiting for? Get online or pick up the phone, because these babies grilled are the BEST!

Chourico is a Portuguese smoked Portuguese sausage, so it doesn’t take long to grill. We only grill them until they are nice and crispy. While grilling these beauties, melt your butter and add the parsley and garlic powder. Brush on your hot dog buns and grill for a minute. Place your chourico dog in the bun and squeeze on some yellow mustard – it’s just that easy. It will taste like you slaved all day making this sandwich and it only took five minutes.

Here’s a picture of me at age 6 enjoying some water games with my buddies. (From L to R: Tracie, me, Corey, Craig and Lisa)