BBQ Oven Baked Rib for Gloria

A long time ago I had to stop eating fatty foods they started to do a number on my stomach. A few things made me decide to go for it this year, 4th of July with Lyn asking what are we going to BBQ and Gloria who recently found my site and wanted to know if I had any good rib recipes.  To be truthful the last few times I made them I bought the precooked and just reheated, added my own sauce and there you had it quick and easy but I used to cook these and still had the how in my head.  Last year I won a contest with my pulled pork and root beer BBQ sauce so I still have it in me. Then Wholefoods had St. Louis Style ribs on sale and I grabbed a slab, gave it a rub down and let it sit in the frig until yesterday.  Cooking ribs are relatively easy just time consuming that being said there is a true art to cooking the perfect rib and I am still trying to master that I lift my smoker lid to all those that have satisfied my taste bud in my travels. I remember the road trip my brother and I took bringing Mom and Dad’s car down to Florida for them we had ribs all the way down each a different taste treat. I have to say there was a gap of eating ribs for me after that trip.

Ingredients

  • 1 Slab of St Louis style ribs about 2 lbs.
  • Rub – had a can of smoke house rub

How:

Remove the white membrane from the bone side of slab peeling it off with your hands (optional)

If you did not remove the membrane poke several holes in the bone side

Liberally apply the rub of your choice to all sides and give it a good rub, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours, I prefer 24+ in this case it was 48 hours.

apply the rub

I take two sheets of aluminum foil and join along the sides to make one large one, repeat and lay the 2nd on top.

Place the slab meat side down and fold the tinfoil to make an air tight package. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 225 to 250 for around 2 hours – until tender and the meat is pulling off the end of bones.

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Remove from oven, open foil and drain the liquid.

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Now brush BBQ sauce of your choice on all sides, you don’t need a lot.

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Here you can either turn heat up to 350 and cook for about 20-35 minutes or as I did move the slab to the cool side of the gas or gas grill and cook flipping once or twice for about 10-20 minutes

I cut the slab in half before the grilling, making it easier to flip and remove.

I was grilling some swordfish also and one of the apple smoke chip cans smoking away. (Drives the neighbors up wind crazy)

Remove cover loosely with aluminum foil and let sit for about 5 minutes, goes for the swordfish also.

Server up take a snap chat and send to you Mike and Laurel who were driving to Indiana enjoying rest stop food.

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Grilled Dolphin(s)with Mango Salsa & South Florida Succotash

In honor of the final regular season game of 2012 at home against the Miami Dolphins

Grilled Dolphin(s) with Mango Salsa & South Florida Succotash

 No it’s not flipper!

 grilled dolphin

Ready

Lineup up your ingredients

  • Mango Salsa: 2 mangos diced; 1 red onion diced; 1 bunch of cilantro (chopped) juice of 3 limes; 3 fresh jalapeños diced (optional); 2 tomatoes diced; 1 oz of olive oil
  • South Florida Succotash: 2 large white onion small diced; 6 oz of Spanish chorizo or bacon small diced; 1 lb of black beans cooked; 3 T olive oil; 1 lb of corn cooked; 4 large tomatoes diced; 3 cloves of garlic (small diced)
  • Fish: 4 pieces of 6-8 oz Mahi-Mahi fillets

 Get Set

Prepare your entrée, rubs, dressing& sauces…..hut hut

  • Mango Salsa: Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix. Season with salt and pepper and let marinate together for at least 20 minutes in the refrigerator.
  • South Florida Succotash: Heat up pan and add oil. Add Chorizo or bacon then render for about 5 min over high heat. Add garlic and onion; cook until translucent. Add cooked beans, corn, tomatoes and 1 cup of water. Lower temp to medium heat and allow cooking until most of the liquid is reduced and the entire mixture thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste and hold on low temperature until fish is ready. Fish: Place Mahi on plate and drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.

 fisherman

Let’s Grill

Take it to the grill – Hike

  • Pre-heat the grill to 400 (Medium High). Place Mahi-Mahi on grill and cook for about 5-8 min on each side. Serve on a bed on succotash topped with salsa.

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Dwight Stephenson

Miami Dolphins

No. 57, Center

Pro Football Hall of Famer (HOF), Dwight Stephenson played for the Dolphins from 1980-87. Selected by Miami in the second round of the 1980 draft, Stephenson eventually became regarded by many as the best center of all time. With Stephenson as offensive captain, the Dolphin’s offensive line gave up the least sacks in the NFL for a record six straight seasons from 1982-87. In 1985, Stephenson was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

 Dwight Stephenson (HOF)

Lenny Judice

15th Street Fisheries

Executive Chef

 

 mahi1

The Florida Keys are well known for spectacular fishing. Islamorada is called the Sport fishing Capitol of the World, everyone knows about Hemingway’s angling exploits around Key West and Zane Grey made Long Key, in the Middle Keys, famous for catching bonefish and tarpon. Today they continue to be two of the most sought after fish in the Florida Keys despite that fact both aren’t considered good table fare. While “Catch & Release” has become standard practice throughout the Florida Keys, we shouldn’t forget there is a bounty of delicious seafood just waiting to please your palate. Whether you have been fishing the waters between Key Largo and Key West and brought home fresh seafood or have picked up your favorites at the local seafood market, the following recipes are sure to delight.

 The dolphin, Coryphaena hippurus, is an excellent food fish often marketed under the Hawaiian name Mahi Mahi and sometimes the Spanish name Dorado (for its Golden color). They are one of the fastest-growing fish, thought to live no more than 5 years.

Description: bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse, and a wide range of other colors; body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides; anterior profile of head on adult males is nearly vertical; head of females more sloping; the single dark dorsal fin extends from just behind the head to the tail; anal fin margin concave and extending from anus to tail.

Tex-Mex Muffaletta

Tex-Mex Muffaletta

This is a recipe that Lyn and I found in some magazine years and years ago, although it has been a little while since I made she brought it up after I told her what my Super Bowl game day recipe was going to be. This is a good one for a help yourself party or event.

We’ve Stuffed our version of this traditional New Orleans sandwich with deli thin slice smoked chicken and Monterey Jack Cheese combined with as Lyn and I call it a the sandwich with the corn salad.

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • ¼ cup tomato sauce
  • 2 Tbs. white wine vinegar
  • 1 Tbs. grated lime zest
  • 2 clove garlic minced
  • 1 ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 6 Tbs. olive oil
  • 2 yellow, red and or green pepper diced (nice to mix colors)
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1 larger tomato diced
  • 6 scallions chopped
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, minced
  • 1 round loaf crusty bread, 9” in diameter, 1 ¾ lbs
  • 1 Lb. deli-sliced smoked chicken breast, divided into 3 equal piles (can use turkey if you want)
  • 8 oz. Monterey Jack Cheese. Shredded about 2 cups divided into 3 equal piles

How

Salad

In a bowl mix the first 9 ingredients and then whisk in oil. Add the next 5 ingredients. Set aside

Sandwich

Slice top 1/3 from the bread and set the top aside.

Pull out center leaving ½” thick shell.

Spread 1/3 of pepper mixture on bottom, top with 1/3 of chicken and 1/3 of cheese.

Repeat layers with remaining pepper mixture, chicken and cheese.

Replace bread top

Warp with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours. Server sliced in wedges

This takes about 25-30 minutes to prepare not counting the 8 hour frig time that is.

Serve with some chips and GRONKACAMOLE, Pig Skins  and Beer what else!!

How to put together

slice

QUICK TIP

Use leftover bread from this sandwich to make croutons, bread crumbs or panzanella (Italian bread salad).

Cut top third of bread off and remove all leaving 1/2" cust

Cut top third of bread off and remove all leaving 1/2″ cust

layer with 1/3 corn salad, then 1/3 turkey then cheese continue finishing with corn salad

layer with 1/3 corn salad, then 1/3 turkey then cheese continue finishing with corn salad

replace the top

replace the top

wrap with plactic wrap tightly and refrigerate  8 hours

wrap with plactic wrap tightly and refrigerate 8 hours

remove wrap

remove wrap

Slice

Slice

Serve

Serve

Layers are nice presentation

Layers are nice presentation

Muffaletta

Muffaletta

While working for Twentieth Century Fox I spent 2 years in New Orleans. Went from 169 to 189 lbs, learn to suck-dat-head pinch-dat-tail (crawfish) learn that “y’all” is singular just like “you guys” is in the Northeast and most especially how to slow down and enjoy.  Here is a New Orleans original – the Muffaletta – is a deliciously melodious collaboration of cured meat, provolone cheese, olive salad and sesame seeded, white fluffy bread that is the sandwich’s namesake. Thank Sicily for the round sesame bread but the ingenious sandwich is a New Orleans invention. In 1906, Central Grocery, right in the French Quarter, developed the sandwich and has been the muffaletta headquarters ever since.  This is where Lyn and I discovered it on one of our Sunday morning ritual to the French Quarter for chicory coffee and beignets, the Sunday paper and a trip to the Zoo with a picnic lunch. We tried one for our picnic and it was soon added to the ritual. People stood in line on a daily basis for the sandwich, as well as the in-house made olive salad (a pickled concoction of olive, celery, carrot, cauliflower, olive oil and Italian spices). I wonder if it is still there. Make this New Orleans original sandwich at home with Chef Emeril’s recipe. It’s a great game day sandwich.

Muffaletta

Ingredients:

  • 5 ounces pimento-stuffed olives (1 cup), sliced, plus 2 tablespoons of liquid from the jar
  • 6 ounces chopped giardiniera (pickled Italian vegetables) (1 cup), plus 1 tablespoon of liquid from the jar
  • 2 tablespoons drained capers, plus 2 teaspoons of liquid from the jar
  • 3 ounces pitted Calamata olives (1/2 cup), sliced
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • Pinch of dried thyme
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large loaf seeded Italian bread (about 1 1/4 pounds), split width wise  – halfway between top and bottom
  • 1/4 pound sliced fresh mozzarella
  • 6 ounces sliced capocollo or prosciutto
  • 1/4 pound sliced Genoa salami
  • 1/4 pound sliced mortadella
  • 1/4 pound sliced mild provolone cheese
  • Pepperoncini, for serving

How:

In a medium bowl, stir the pimento-stuffed olives with the giardiniera, capers and their respective liquids. Add the Calamata olives, garlic, shallot, oregano, parsley, thyme and crushed red pepper. Stir in the olive oil and let the mixture stand for 1 hour.

Olive Salad

Open the Italian bread on a work surface. Spoon the olive salad on both sides of the bread and spread evenly. Arrange the mozzarella slices on the bottom half of the bread, then top with the capocollo, Genoa salami and mortadella. Arrange the provolone cheese on the top half of the bread, covering the olive salad completely.

Building the sandwhich

Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Jerod Mayo Sandwich

Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Jerod Mayo Sandwich

Jerod Mayo was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (10th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft … Signed by the Patriots (7/24/08). This Thursday we play the Jets again we need him to play as he did the first meeting with I believe 11 Tackles – 10 Solo and 1 Assist and caused 1 fumble. He hits often and hard, maybe too hard sometimes. Here is a sandwich that hits you hard in a good way. This came from Scup’s In the Harbor the restaurant my sister and her husband used to own and operate in east boston, now they live on the opposites coast in Washington state but still root for the patriots. We even Skype some of the games for them if not on national TV. They are still keeping some stuff a secret so I had to wing it, gee my own sister go figure. Kind of like your Mom a little of this and handful of that.

 

Oh if you want a Thanksgiving Day recipe try my Buttermilk Marinated Turkey but marinated at least 8 hours or overnight turning once start breast side up.

 

Ok It’s half time let’s eat!

Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Jerod Mayo Sandwich

Ingredients

  • 2 slices of Grilled Italian Bread
  • Romaine lettuce
  • Oven roasted cherry or grape tomatoes sliced in half length wise. (Roast at 450 for about 10-15 minutes) – You do not have to roast them if you do not want to or just can’t wait.
  • Crispy Smoked apple wood “thick” bacon
  • Sliced cheddar (optional)

Basil Mayo ( this is my recipe not theirs, secrets you know)

  • Whisk all ingredients together
  • 1 cup good mayonnaise
  • 10 to 15 basil leaves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon good olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic

Serve:

Make sandwiches cut in half and stake on platter or serve all ingredients on a platter and have a build your own sandwich.

The Ultimate BLT

 

 

Wendy says: I Hope Mr. Mayo enjoys his namesake sandwich.

 

Alternative sauce chili-mayonnaise

 

nepatriotslife life Mayo mentions

Video: Mayo goes down with shoulder injury.

Video: Jerod Mayo hates Tom Curran from CSNNE

Revitalizing The Dynasty Defense

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Boston Magazine 8-2009

Scup's in the Harbor

We admit it’s tough to make a bad BLT (there is bacon in there, after all). But it’s a genuine challenge to ace every element—crisp strips of meat, sweetly ripe tomato, lettuce with just the right crunch—and elevate this humble sandwich to warm-weather classic. Scup’s in the harbor rises to the occasion with cherry wood–smoked bacon and roasted cherry tomatoes nestled on red leaf lettuce. Sliced cheddar and a spot of pesto mayo add zing and texture without overpowering the key players, and sturdy slices of toasted wheat keep hands clean and flavor at the fore. Boston Magazine 8-2009

 

Ridley Believe it or not Nachos

Ridley Believe it or not Nachos

Growing up my son Mike’s specialty was nacho’s he always threw together the best nacho’s ever. When it hit the table we just dove in like a fumble recovery. So I present my version of his Nachos for NEpatriotslife.com game day recipe. I do him no justice.

Did you know Howard Cosell made a huge impact on nachos acceptance to the mainstream!

Do you know who Howard is?

 Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey
  • 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 (18 ounce) package restaurant-style tortilla chips
  • 1 cup shredded extra sharp Cheddar cheese, or more to taste
  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can refried beans
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 cup sour cream, or more to taste
  • 1 (10 ounce) can pitted black olives, drained and chopped
  • 4 scullion onions, sliced thin
  • 1 (4 ounce) can sliced jalapeno peppers, drained

How:

Cook and stir ground beef or whatever- if chicken or turkey add a little olive oil to brown,in a skillet over medium heat until meat is crumbly and no longer pink, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir in taco seasoning mix and water and simmer until beef mixture has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.

Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Spread tortilla chips on the prepared baking sheet; top with Cheddar cheese and dot with refried beans and ground beef mixture.

Broil in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, watching carefully to prevent burning, 3 to 5 minutes.

Top nachos with salsa, sour cream, black olives, green onions, and jalapeno peppers

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Howard Cosell: Nachos ultimate champion!!

Now here is where the story gets even better. The tasty snack becomes a specialty in many restaurants in Southern Texas but is virtually unknown anywhere else on the planet. That is until a gentleman by the name of Frank Liberto decided to try to sell the stuff as a concession stand item! He changed up the recipe by reformulating the cheese to be soft all the time and using simple tortilla chips. He began to sell his new version of nachos in 1977 in Arlington Stadium in Arlington Texas. but what really made the concept take off was a visit by “Monday Night Football” later that year. Before the game started they were offering the product in the reception area where Howard Cosell took a liking to the name. That night and for weeks after, Cosell and the rest of the “Monday Night Football” team worked the word nacho and the product itself in wherever they could! From there on out nachos quickly grew into the massive force they are today!!

Mexican Lasagna Recipe

Mexican Lasagna Recipe

Still on the fend for myself diet, but I am proud of Lyn she is sticking to her strict diet the woman has will power. After all she has to avoid my cooking most of the time that is hard to do. So I am taking advantage of this whenever I can and trying to stay eating healthy. I think everyone likes TexMex inspired meals so when I saw this on Pinterest I grabbed it and decided to make it as healthy as I could so white turkey breast, organic black beans and corn but I refused to use low-fat cheese it just does not melt right ya know what I mean? BTW she was right this was a great meal.

Anyway after making this I believe adding fresh chopped cilantro to the mixture after cooking just before spreading it in the baking dish would add a nice addition.

I just copied her recipe below except I used turkey.

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground turkey breast
  • 2 Tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 cup taco sauce
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • salt
  • 8 (8 inch) soft corn or flour tortillas
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • sliced black olives for topping
  • low-fat sour cream for topping

 

How:

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2.  Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil to the skillet.

3.  Add ground turkey and season with chili powder and cumin. Brown the meat (about 5 minutes).

4.  Add taco sauce, black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through then season with salt to taste.

5.  Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining Tablespoon of olive oil.

6. Cut the tortillas in quarters for easy layering.

7. Start with a layer of the meat mixture, then layer with tortillas and then cheese.Repeat for a second layer, ending with cheese.

8. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is slightly browned.

9. Remove from oven, top with sliced black olives and serve.

   

Smoked Wilfork Tender Brisket

Smoked Wilfork Tender Brisket

I am still on the fend for yourself diet and very much against my promise to Lyn to eat healthy I could not resist the temptation when at BJs and there it was as if it had my name on it a full brisket sitting in an open space in the meat counter all by itself. It was calling me. I told her that I needed it for a Patriots game day recipe and besides most of the fat will render off. She begrudgingly let me win the discussion not only because the fat content in this cut of meat is not healthy for me but I feel more that she knew the aroma that spreads through the neighborhood and the house will be driving us crazy all day. I don’t know about you but there is something about cooking any style of slow cook meal that is tortuous. Go out for a little while and when you come back and enter the house OMG. And I never use that terminology. Think of last Turkeyday when you enter the house and you will know what I mean.

Remember this was a spur of the moment thing so I basically winged it.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole brisket about 8 lbs.
  • Favorite homemade or store bought rub
  • A few large onions chopped
  • Liquid your choice water, beer, broth

 

 

 

How

Presoak some wood chips when ready place in smoking tray. IF you do not have one I use two sheet of aluminum foil make a pouch and put some holes in it. I have used a disposable tin foil tray not covered place on the flame.

I dragged a sharp knife across the beef not going very deep and made a diamond pattern on both sides.

Then I rubbed the beef with my rub, see pulled pork receipe. Wrapped and refrigerate for 1 hour, overnight is much better.

Preheat oven to 225-250 degrees

Place chopped onions and liquid (your choice I only had one beer left so I used broth) enough to cover bottom of roasting pan and cover. If your roasting pan does not have tight cover, cover with aluminum foil tightly. I cook at this temp for about 4 hours

Towards the end prepare your grill. – I have an old gas grill that is only front and back so I cover one side with aluminum foil, poke a few drip holes and replace the grates. On the open side I place the woodchip pouch I made while the grill is heating up to high.

Place the meat on grill fat side up, over the aluminum foil side to get as close to cooking with indirect heat as I could. Next year I swear I will buy a new grill. Cook for another 3-6 hours checking the internal temperature toward the 3 hour mark see below for end temp 180-185. I also would watch the temp of the grill remember with smoking low and slow is the trick. I would open the grill cover from time to time to drop the temperature down around 225 degree.

Whn you reach the correct internal temp place the meat directly over flame and about cook 10 minutes each side.

When done place on platter cover loosely and let sit for about 15-20 minutes. Trim the fat off by running knife under it and put aside there is a lot of great meat and burnt ends in there.

You should have most of the fat removed, now cut thin slices ACROSS the grain.

Serve with your favorite BBQ sauce, coleslaw, corn and beverages in my case only one beer.

With the flat fat piece you remove trim all the meat out and chop it mix with BBQ sauce and serve on buns.

Remember you have to have a lot of will power because it is tortuous smelling this cooking all day.

 

What do they mean by Fork tender

Barbecue experts with years of cooking experience say a brisket is done when it’s “fork tender”, meaning that a fork or a probe thermometer goes in and out of the meat with little resistance. The problem is that both a properly cooked brisket and an overcooked one will both be “fork tender”. For most folks like you and me, it’s best to rely on internal meat temperature to determine when a brisket is properly cooked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What most everyone does agree on is that a properly cooked slice of brisket should pull apart easily, while still maintaining good texture. Technically the meat is done at 160°F but continue on for more tender meat. An overcooked slice will fall apart when picked up. 188°F and 190°F seem to be the most popular target temps. When I barbecue a brisket entirely I cook to an internal temp of 185-190°F. In this temperature range, the flat will be fork-tender and the slices cut from the flat will hold together. Remember Slow and Low is the trick.

 

Deionion Branch Dip

Deionion Branch Dip

Makes 3 cups.Why this recipe works:

A good roasted onion and bacon dip recipe starts with a good technique for roasting the onions. We developed a roasted onions recipe that met three criteria. To get a tender and moist interior, we roasted them cut side down on a pan rubbed with a small amount of oil. Halving the onions also gave us a pleasing presentation, with the onions reasonably intact. Finally, we wanted a good amount of surface caramelization in our roasted onions recipe. We noticed that during cooking the outer rings of the onions rose off the pan and so caramelized less than the inner rings. The remedy was to cut two small X’s at the top of each onion half; these slits allow steam to escape during cooking and helped to limit the tendency of the outer rings to lift up and off the pan.

With its fresh ingredients, this dip tastes like an uptown version of the old standby made with powdered onion soup mix. Serve with chips, pita bread slices, carrots sticks or just stick your fingers in when no one is looking.

Ingredients

Roasted Onions

  • 6 medium yellow onions halved crosswise, root and stem ends X’d twice (see illustration below)
  •  1 Tbsp. olive oil

Dip

  • 6 – 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and drained, crumbled
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 2 ¼ tsps. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsps. Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsps. celery seed
  • 3 Tbsps. chopped fresh chives
  • ½ tsps. table salt
  • Ground black pepper

How

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil; rub foil with oil. Place onions cut side down on baking sheet. Roast until dark brown around bottom edge and tender when pierced with thin skewer or knife tip, about 30 minutes. Transfer pan to rack; let onions rest for 5 minutes before lifting off pan with metal spatula. Let onions cool then peel and chop fine.

2. Mix all ingredients (including onions) in medium bowl. Serve immediately or chill.

If you want spice it up with cayenne powder or some red pepper flakes

X’ing Onions

Cutting two small X’s near the end of the onion allows moisture to escape during cooking. This helps keep the rings level as they cook.

Original recipe is from Cooks illustrated 1997
Replacement Referees Recipes.

Replacement Referees Recipes.

I have been doing a series of game time recipes for a site that my son has a lot to do with patriots life.com but I wanted to show my appreciation of the job that the Replacement Refs are doing by sharing some of their right on call for game time and halftime treats. One of my favorite lines I have heard so far is Oh Really they did not cover that at Footlocker orientation!

So in light of the brilliant job the Replacement Refs are doing I thought it only appropriate that we share some of their suggestions for during the game and halftime treats. You got to admit they could not miss calling the right snack at the right time. I have changed the name of the first of these into more appropriate football terminology and added my comments to others. I have to say after trying Scrapple the wait was worth …….. sorry I had to run, just made a touchdown of sorts.

 

Scramble, Fumble, Recovery Slow Cooked Stew (Scrapple)

As with preparing Sunday’s game plan this meal takes some time to make but the cheers of the crowd make up for it when you serve it up. You’ll score a real touch down with this halftime show.

Ingredients:

  • 1 hog’s head
  • 4 to 5 quarts cold water
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 4 teaspoons powdered sage
  • yellow corn meal (about 3 cups)

How:

Separate one hog’s head into halves. Remove eyes and brains. Scrape head and clean thoroughly. Place in large kettle and cover with 4-5 quarts of cold water. Simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours, or until meat falls from the bones. Skim grease carefully from the surface; remove meat. chop fine, and turn liquor ( Steve says I have no clue I think stir). Season with salt, pepper, and sage to taste. Sift in corn meal, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened to the consistency of mush. Cook slowly for 1 hour over low heat. When sufficiently cooked, pour into greased oblong pans and store in a cool place until ready to use. Cut in thin slices and fry until crisp and brown. Makes 6 pounds.

Server with a cup of nice cheddar coffee or a spam shake.

Spam Shake

Smooth delicious and full of protein

Ingredients:

  • 1 can of Spam
  • 1 tin of anchovies
  • 2 12oz cans of beer
  • 4 oz tomato juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup chopped up parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallions
  • dash of Tabasco
  • salt (if you’d need it), pepper to taste

How

Put it in blender and blend until smooth

Serve chilled with celery stick

Fried Hornworms on fried tomatoes

These lightly fried battered tomato slices topped off with a crunchy goodness will score big with your crowd.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 16 tomato hornworms
  • 4 medium green tomatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • White cornmeal

How:

In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil. Then lightly fry the hornworms, about 4 minutes, taking care not to rupture the cuticles of each insect under high heat. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Season tomato rounds with salt and pepper, then coat with cornmeal on both sides. In a large skillet, fry tomatoes until lightly browned on both sides. Top each round with 2 fried tomato hornworms. Garnish the paired hornworms with a single basil leaf.

More suggestions

During the game

  • Cheddar Coffee –A little razzle dazzle – When the coffee is gone, slurp down the glob of melted cheese. 
  • Sunflower Worcestershire Delight – a fall twist of a favorite baseball treat.
  • Banana Worm Bread – The smell alone makes the mouth….
  • Rocky Mountain OystersRound and crunchy a prairie treat
  • Progresso Lentil Soup with Chocolate Pudding – Are there words to describe that first taste?
  • Cricket Cookies –These are not just a night game treat

 

Halftime

  • Pig’s Face and Cabbage – You had to do something with the rest after the footballs were made.
  • Clams Sundae – A typical Patriot’s press conference
  • Deer Poppers – 1, 2, 3 4,  I want some more…
  • Moose Nose Soup – It is Moose Nose Soup. First you need a moose nose and its tongue. Burn and scrape the hair off the nose on an open camp fire or use a blow torch. Cut the nose and tongue into cubes and boil for about an hour. Add onions if you wish. I enjoyed this soup, but people find it gross. Well you’re missing out.

Find more of these types of recipes at http://www.wildrecipes.com/