A League of Their Own
So last month kind of sucked for women. Actually, it really really sucked. But all the more reason to watch A League of Their Own– 30 years old on July 1, 2022 and a wonderful film to spend your afternoon with if you’re not feeling very ra ra as a female this July 4.
The All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League was founded in 1943, when men’s baseball was put on pause during WW2. Of course, once the men came marching home, it survived only until 1954. A League of Their Own tells the story of the women ballplayers who first joined the league, and who worked tirelessly to prove themselves as star athletes in the face of overwhelming misogyny.
First off, Penny Marshall is a badass female director who was making movies at a time when the industry was even more dominated by white men than it is now. For A League of Their Own, she insisted that all of the female actors be able to play baseball– and even though Geena Davis was cast at the very last minute, she very quickly overtook her fellow actors in all the hitting, running and sliding aspects of the game. Because, this movie was made by women who were as impressive as the women they played. Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty, Megan Cavanagh, baby Tea Leoni, and so many more– all very unique characters who combatted the docile little housewife/mother archetypes and not only made it to the World Series but figured out how to market themselves getting there.
I’m not forgetting Tom Hanks in his absolutely wonderful role as alcoholic coach Jimmy Dugan (THERE’S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL)– Tom Hanks is almost always terrific. But to dwell on him for too long would defeat the point of this post. It actually kind of bugs me that his pic in movie posters is more prominent than Geena, but bygones. Just watch the movie and maybe walk away with a little more optimism and determination than you might have before you started. And then, make a donation to the Geena Davis Institute.
Time for the League of Their Own movie menu! It’s so many hot dogs– each one kind of regional, but more importantly, inspired by some of my favorite characters from the film. And a lotta liquor.
Batter uuuuup, hear that caaaall… the time has cooome, for one and aaaaaalll… to plaaaaay baaaaall!
The Movie
The Menu
A peachy cocktail for our favorite baseball team-- with a lot of bourbon for our favorite coach Jimmy Dugan. Drink enough and you might end up needing a 53 second bathroom break. Throw peaches, mint, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker-- muddle gently to make sure all of the peach and mint flavors are extruded. Add the bourbon, and fill the shaker with ice-- shake until well-chilled, and strain into two glasses. Top off with ginger beer (or seltzer water if you must) and more ice. Garnish with fresh mint and a peach slice! MULE! NAG! Here's a peppery hot dog fit for two bickering sisters from a farm outside of Portland-- and since there is no "Oregon style" dog, why not hybridize a Seattle and a California dog with some extra dairy? After all, both Dottie and Kit know their way around a cow's udders... Toast your bun in a 400 degree oven for 5-ish minutes-- just keep an eye on it so that it doesn't burn! Set the bun aside to come to warm/room temperature. Wrap your split dog with bacon and sear for a few minutes on each side until the bacon is extra crispy. Schmear your cream cheese on one side of your bun, and add your bacon wrapped dog. Top with onions, followed by your duo of peppers. Let's make like a bread truck and haul buns ladies! Time to fully load a New York/Coney Island style hot dog inspired by the League's sassy NYC besties Mae and Doris. Of course, Coney Island Dogs are actually from Michigan-- but HEYO so is Madonna. And there's plenty of beef and Irish cheddar for Rosie. A perfect meal after a sexy af night of swing dancing... and oops, maybe your bosoms come flying out? Boil hot dogs in a small saucepan full of water for 4-5 minutes. They can sit in said water to keep warm while you prep the other ingredients-- that's just extra NYC. Add your two dogs to your bun, load up one side with sauerkraut, one side with spicy mustard. Top with a load of chili, a sprinkle of onions, and a hefty portion of grated irish chedder. Place under the broiler for a minute to melt the cheese (yum) and eat the whole. damn. thing. For the chili-- you can drastically reduce the ingredients of my Dick Tracy recipe here (ommitting the beans), or you can be lazy and go with store bought. There's a guide to the best ones here! For an extra quick sauerkraut, you can combine a 1/2 cup of shredded cabbage with 1 tbsp of white vinegar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender (about 15 minutes). Poor Betty Spaghetti. She deserves her own damn dog, she went through it. War sucks. Spritz your bun with olive oil and toast in an oven at 400 degrees for 5-ish minutes until just crispy, but not burned. Set aside. Grill/sear your Italian sausage for roughly 8 minutes on medium high, turning periodically to guarantee an even char. When done, slice at a bias into 1 1/2 inch chunks. Toss spaghetti with hot tomato sauce and spiral with a fork-- place these pasta rounds into the bun and top with sausage chunks. Pour residual tomato sauce over your spaghetti dogs and top with grated parmesan. You can use store bought if you like, but I have a from scratch pizza sauce recipe that is delightful in a pinch! Who knew beauty queen Ellen Sue and super shy Shirley Baker would each be such badasses in their own way? But THAT'S THE DAMN POINT. So here's a slaw dog (with some peaches, cause why not) for these two Southern belles. Start with your slaw-- mix the milky whi--whiiiite mayo with the vinegar, mustard, peach and red onion. Toss with your cabbage and allow to sit for 30 minutes. The slaw should be at room temp anyway, duh. Flavor with salt and pepper as needed. Grill pork frank for roughly 6 minutes, turning frequently for an even char. Add to bun and top with slaw. Drizzle with your favorite bbq sauce and mwah! If it wasn't sexist as all hell I'd say it's worth a kiss. You can of course use your favorite bbq sauce-- but yep, I have a really good one already made here! Saying it now-- Colorado native Marla Hooch is my favorite Rockford Peach. I still can't watch the scenes with her dad. Crushes my soul. But let's be real, she's the best ballplayer on the team-- despite the fact that at the beginning of the film, she's deemed not quite pretty enough for (THE IRONY) Jon Lovitz. So here's a messy Colorado/Denver dog for Marla Hooch, who can get boozy as fuck and reel in a man when even Madonna's around. Because (and I know I'm repeating myself) she's the best. Simmer hot dog in 1/2 cup of Coors beer for 5-6 minutes until plump. Then, char it over an open flame (gas or otherwise) until blackened. Mix the green pepper, red onion, and sour cream. Add to the bun, together with your charred dog, and top with sliced jalepeno. What a hitter! Lol Alice, YOU'RE KILLIN' ME. But as the resident Canadian on the team, she inspired me. Who doesn't love poutine? Start with your super simple gravy-- melt butter in a non-stick pan, and add flour to make a roux. In other words, a flour butter paste, which will smell like popcorn when ready. Add your broth and seasonings-- stir until fully mixed and boiling. Reduce heat, and simmer until thickened (just a minute or two). Set aside and keep very warm. Grill frank, turning frequently. Place in bun and top with hot fries, cheese curds, and gravy. Sprinkle with chives as garnish. Oh hey look I've made french fries before. And they're GOOD. Part of me wanted Evelyn to have all the hot dogs, but let's be real-- she was all about her Stillwell Angel. And Stillwell LOVED his chocolate. Even when it came with a mitt full of baseball spirit to the face. Insert craaaacker jacks here. In a double boiler, melt your chocolate. See method below. Pour your melted chocolate into a small parchment paper lined baking dish-- the chocolate layer should be between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. While still warm. crush and crumble cracker jacks over the chocolate. Refrigerate (or freeze) until ready to eat and drive everyone around you bonkers, you spoiled brat. 
Rockford Peach & Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
Instructions
Kit & Dottie Dog
Ingredients
Instructions
All The Way Besties Dog
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Betty Spaghetti Dog
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Southern Belle Dog
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
She Aint "Pretty" But She Sure Can Hit
Ingredients
Instructions
We've Got Canadians! Dog
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Have Another Chocolate Stillwell angel (w/cracker jacks)
Ingredients
Instructions
Epilogue
This new series… I dunno… will it be good? I have hope. See you in August.
For more menus, check out my movie directory here!