The Sport of Eating

I am the first to admit that I have no clue about sports. When the Super Bowl was on, I could not keep straight who was who. I continually asked “Okay, who is in the blue?”

But I knew I was asking the right questions when it came to the spread that was put out. We, my husband Mike and me, spent the time at the home of very good friends that we hadn’t been able to hang with for, gosh, about a year! That needs to change for sure.

Greg and Cindy were the perfect host and hostess. When we got there, the first thing we did was wake Cindy up. Hmmm, that was okay though the first thing she did was start offering us food, and lots of it! Her spread had this wonderful tasty cheese ball (recipe to follow), and there were also marinated barbequed chicken wings, salsa, chips, rice crackers, ground chicken liver. Hey, it was really good.

Of course the liver was sautéed in butter. She cut up fresh veggies and sautéed them as well. There was wine and beer to go with it all.

Greg made a fresh-from-his-summer-garden fruit bowl. Yummy! So we could eat healthily and not have the guilt of only eating heavy items. OH, and then there was that dessert. They had an ice cream bar. They even had black walnuts from their walnut tree. 

I will admit that I am not much for desserts (unless there is lemon involved). I prefer pasta and bread! It was right up Mike’s alley though.

The joy of gathering for any sporting event is definitely about the food for me. I know that lots of people, with this tradition of hanging around the TV, make big pots of chili and other comfort foods that are a must.

I have had two super bowl parties in my married lifetime. I loved making as much food as I could possibly fit on our table. My goal was to make sure that no one, I mean no one, was left feeling hungry.

I made a chili bar with meat chili, veggie chili, and white bean chicken chili. That came with all the sides: salsa, cheese, guacamole, onion, lettuce, sour cream, black olives, chips--oh yes, and rice. It is the cat’s meow to have this with your chili and gee, I need to take a breath!

Then of course you have to have tortilla shells, corn and flour. After all, you already have everything else, so why not have tacos too? I have to stop talking about this. I just know that I am going to have to have a chili party after this. I will have to see what is the next big sports thing coming up. So which one was the blue team??

I’m keeping it short and sweet this week. Next week a re-look at the Green Market and its new space. So here is that cheese ball recipe. I will have to try making it.

One Pound Cheese Ball

From Cindy Belohlavek, “Summer’s Memories Garden Festival Cookbook”

2-8 oz light cream cheese
2 cups (8 oz) sharp cheddar cheese
1 tbsp chopped pimento
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (of course if you are vegetarian you would leave this out)
1 tsp lemon juice
Dash cayenne pepper
½ cup finely chopped pecans
Mix all of the above ingredients. Refrigerate at least two hours. Shape into a ball just before serving and roll in the pecans.

Afterthought: you can really add anything to this before putting it in the fridge, dry beef chopped and olives would be good.

See you next week and hey, it’s winter, so don’t worry about eating too much.