WINGS, FRIES & ONION RINGS

It's football Saturday again. Today our Gators play a late 

(7:30PM) game on the SEC Network taking on Kentucky and 

are trying to extend their win streak over the Wildcats to 31 

straight. 

The last time Florida lost to Kentucky was 1986, let's take a

look back in time.

 The Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX. Mike Ditka’s team beat the New England Patriots, 46-10.

            The New York Mets won the World Series. They beat the Boston Red Sox in seven games, the last World Series title for the club since. 

            Oprah Winfrey’s first television show aired. She’s been one of America’s most famous people for most of the time since.

            New Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley was 3 years old. In 2017, Riley replaced Bob Stoops, the brother of UK coach Mark.

            The Berlin Wall still stood. Ronald Reagan was serving his second term as president, and the wall didn’t come down until 1989.

 To say Kentucky wanted a win is like saying Hillary wanted

 the White House.

 

So instead of a half time meal, we are doing a pre game feast 

of Chicken Wings, Fries and Onion rings. YUM YUM.

Of course, we love deep fried foods. And recently I talked the 

boss into purchasing a deep fryer. They say in the south that 

you can deep fry anything, and it will taste good.

I don't argue with that.

Here is what you need to get it all going.

1 BAG OF HOOTERS WING MIX

16 CHICKEN WINGS

2 OR 3 TATERS (DEPENDING ON SIZE AND APPETITE)

 These were HUGE so I only used two, and they were MORE

 than enough

1 BAG OF NATHAN'S ONION RINGS

WARNING: I do not advise drinking beer when playing with a

deep fryer. Not cool. Leave it up to the professionals, like me.

CUT UP TATERS AND PLACE IN BOWL OF WATER

UNTIL READY TO COOK.

HEAT DEEP FRYER TO 350 AND THE OVEN TO “WARM

SETTING”

PUT WINGS ON PAPER TOWEL AND 'PAT' DRY.

PLACE WING MIX IN PAPER BAG, ALONG WITH 4 

WINGS.

SHAKE, SNAKE SHAKE

PAT OFF THE EXCESS MIX AND PLACE ON COOKIE 

SHEET ON TOP OF WAXED PAPER

REPEAT UNTIL ALL WINGS ARE COATED

I am NOT a fan of hot, wet, sticky food that I have to eat with

 my fingers. That's why I avoided wings all these years. Penny 

on the other hand, ends up with orange sauce all the way to her

elbows. I find that someone on the disgusting side.

BUT:

We figured it out. We bread em, and cook em. She has all the 

hot gooey stuff on the side. Makes her happy and makes me

happy. It all is good.

PUT THE WINGS IN THE FRIDGE FOR ABOUT 15 

MINUTES

DRAIN THE FRIES AND PLACE THEM ON PAPER 

TOWELS... MAKE SEVERAL LAYERS

CAREFULLY PLACE 8 WINGS IN FRYER. FRY UNTIL 

THEY FLOAT TO THE TOP

AND ARE A NICE GOLDEN BROWN

PLACE ON ANOTHER COOKIE SHEET ON TOP OF

PAPER TOWELS

REPEAT FOR LAST 8 WINGS

PLACE IN A WARM OVEN

FILL FRYER BASKET WITH FRIES AND SET IN THE OIL

COOK UNTIL THEY ARE A NICE BROWN COLOR.

REMOVE AND PLACE ON PAPER TOWELS TO DRAIN

JUST A BIT.

DO THE SAME WITH THE ONION RINGS, COOKING

UNTIL THEY FLOAT TO THE TOP.

Serve with beer. (of course) 

Get another beer and watch the game. 

Ball State was not on TV this week. It was a 

good thing as they got their butts beat.

 

Florida on the other hand was one of the best games I have

seen in years. Kentucky should have won.

Google it, and enjoy.

 

Unless your a Kentucky fan.

Up next is a noon time ESPN game with Vanderbilt. AND 

another LOOSE MEAT recipe.

See you next week.

LOOSE MEAT SANDWICH WITH SHAVED HAM

      As we mentioned. Today is Football Saturday at our house, so we are whipping up a quick meal for half time.

      This is something my mother made when I was growing up. It was quick and inexpensive. And we loved it. I don't have the original recipe, but think I came up with a close replacement.

Here is all you need.

1/2 POUND SHAVED HAM

1/4 CUP ONION

1/2 CUP GREEN PEPPER

1 CLOVE GARLIC (CHOPPED FINE)

ENOUGH MARINARA SAUCE TO COAT THE HAM. (BUT NOT TOO MUCH)

      I used some home made sauce, but I guess you could get something in a jar. I like some of the RAGU sauces and used them for many years until I learned how to make my own.

And I will share that recipe soon.

      You should have all your ingredients ready to go BEFORE half time. Get the onion and green pepper all chopped and ready to go. I like to chop the garlic just before I use it, so hold off on that.

      Unless the game is exciting and close, I start getting the meal ready, while there are 2-3 minutes to go. Fortunately, my Big screen is close to the kitchen. I don't want to miss any of the excitement.

Here we go

SAUTE ONIONS AND PEPPERS IN PAN WITH EVOO

WHEN 'TRANSLUCENT', ADD GARLIC AND SIMMER BUT JUST A MINUTE.

ADD MEAT (I break it up, you do NOT want a big lump)

ADD SAUCE AND STIR

HEAT TO DESIRED TEMPERATURE

IF YOU GET TOO MUCH SAUCE, YOU WILL HAVE TO ADD MORE MEAT

SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE.

      Place a nice portion of the meat on a bun and you are off to the races....

      You can also use ground beef in place of the ham. It will be close to a Sloppy Joe.

      This can not get any easier. Serve with the Macaroni Salad you made this morning, and some chips of your choice.

    And, don't forget the beer.

      Glad to report that Ball State easily won their game. Florida had to resort to a 63 yard bomb as time ran out. 

     Such is life in the Gator Nation.

     Till next time, COOK IT YOURSELF !!!

MACARONI SALAD

It's football Saturday, and I am excited. The Gators take on Tennessee, and Ball State is hosting U.A.B.

For those of you in a vacuum, our state had a rough week, with a major hurricane riding up the peninsula and causing MAJOR damage. In preparation for this event, most of the football games were canceled last weekend. Needless to say, a half time meal was not on our radar.

I am happy to report that we weathered the storm well, and were without power for only 24 hours. A neighbor shared his generator with us, so at least we had hot coffee and a cold fridge. Many of our friends did not fair as well. It will be a long time before they all recover.

That being said, we all needed a fun day to take our minds off of the destruction. And in Florida, that means COLLEGE FOOTBALL !!

Today we have a 3 PM game, (BALL STATE) and of course the big one at 3:30 as Florida tries to bounce back from the Michigan loss two weeks ago.

SO we are doing two recipes. One for Macaroni Salad and the other for Loose Meat Sandwiches.

First, lets get the Salad ready. Here is what you need.

8 OZ ELBOW MACARONI

1/2 CUP CHOPPED CELERY

2 TBL CHOPPED ONION

1/3 CUP CHOPPED GREEN PEPPER

3 HARD BOILED EGGS (CHOPPED)

1 TBL PICKLE RELISH

1/4 TSP GROUND CELERY SEED

MAYO TO TASTE

Keep in mind, these amounts can be adjusted to the size of your crowd, and you individual tastes.

This recipe was more than enough for the two of us.

This is one of my favorite summer time meals and works well for a fall football afternoon. And it's easy as pie.

You should make this ahead of time, so it has time to get good and chilled by halftime.

BOIL THE MACARONI

CHOP ONIONS, PEPPERS, CELERY & EGGS

WHEN MACARONI IS DONE, DRAIN AND RINSE

MIX MACARONI WITH MAYO

ADD ONIONS, PEPPERS, CELERY, AND CELERY SEED

MIX.

ADD EGGS AND MIX GENTLY

 

ADD MORE MAYO , IF NEEDED

REFRIGERATE

Now, you should have a beer.

See how easy that was? Why buy that salad made at the store? Full of sugar, salt and preservatives?

No, I say MAKE IT YOURSELF !!!

Next up, LOOSE MEAT !!!!!

GO CARDS AND GATORS !!!!   SEE YOU AT HALF TIME

MOTHERS CHILI – MODIFIED

MOTHERS CHILI – MODIFIED

In looking back over my life, I have eaten many wonderful things. As a kid, my mothers chilli was one of my favorites. Thanks to my sister in law, I was able to score a copy of the recipe a few weeks ago. I should have asked for it years ago.

I have to admit, my mother never spiced up her food. This was due to my fathers hatred for spices and GARLIC. Of course over the years his two sisters and my wife fed him garlic all the time. But we never told him. It was one of the family secrets. Besides, it was HYSTERICAL !!

I grew up the same way. “I hate garlic”, I always said. That is until my wife fed me the greatest chicken dinner I had ever consumed. Then she told me it had a WHOLE HEAD of garlic.

This changed my tune forever.

In looking over the recipe, I had to admit that it was the poster child for BLAND. It needed to be fixed.

Now don't get me wrong. As a “super taster” I am not a fan of HOT SPICY foods. So this is NOT hot. But feel free to spice it up as you go along.

What I loved about this recipe was the texture. And it turned into the best chili I have eaten in years.

SO, with college football in full swing, let's cook up a batch of chili for half-time.

Here is mom's original, recipe....

2 TBL FAT

1 POUND GROUND BEEF

1 CUP CHOPPED ONIONS

1 CUP CHOPPED PEPPERS (Bell or Cubanelle)

1 CLOVE GARLIC (optional)

2 TSP SALT

2 ½ CUPS TOMATOES (# 2 CAN)

2 ½ CUPS KIDNEY BEANS

1 TSP CHILI POWDER

MELT FAT IN HEAVY FRY PAN. BROWN MEAT. ADD ONION & PEPPERS. SAUTE ON MEDIUM HIGH. ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS. TURN TO HIGH. WHEN STEAMING TURN TO LOW AND SIMMER ONE HOUR. IF NOT THICK ENOUGH, SIMMER MEDIUM LOW.

O.K. That's how she did it. Now, let's fix it.

2 TBL FAT – (NO … Use a layer of EVOO in bottom of pan)

1 POUND GROUND BEEF (NO, use 2 ½ pounds – MORE BEEF !!!)

1 CUP CHOPPED ONIONS

1 CUP CHOPPED PEPPERS

1 4 oz can of HATCH CHILLIS

1 CLOVE GARLIC (optional) (are you kidding? Garlic is NOT Optional – use 3 or 4 cloves)

2 TSP SALT (only use a pinch or two – The beans may add enough salt)

1 CAN TOMATO SAUCE (28 OZ.

1 CAN  (4.5 OZ) OF MUIR GLEN FIRE ORGANIC ROASTED TOMATOES

2 ½ CUPS KIDNEY BEANS - DRAINED

1 TSP CHILI POWDER

add:

½ TSP CUMIN

½ bottle of BEER !!!!! (Use that crazy beer your wife bought that you won't drink. Don;t waste the good stuff)

Use a BIG POT. ADD EVOO and heat until “shimmering”. Add onions and chopped Peppers and saute until translucent. You will add the Hatch chilli's later.

Add a “pinch” of salt and the Garlic. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add the meat and brown it off. Don't just throw a glob of meat in the pot and start smashing it up... Break it up with your fingues and let the pieces fall into the pot.

While the meat is browning, have a beer.

When meat is “browned”, you can add the rest of the ingredients. Bring it to a boil then turn to SIMMER.

COOK FOR TWO HOURS, stirring occasionally so the bottom does not burn.

If you want this for half time, start this process about 2 hours before game time. DO NOT add the Beans until the game starts. (The longer the basic chili cooks, the better)

Check it during the game after each touchdown. (If your watching the Florida Gators, or the Cleveland Browns, just do it every half hour. Don't wait for touchdowns.)

Now you can salt to taste. I do not put pepper in my chili until I serve it. Penny adds hot sauce.

Just before half time, set the table and get the griddle out.

Don't worry about missing the half time stuff. They just talk about what you just saw and play “arm chair” coach.

Butter some bread and throw those puppies on the griddle.

Sprinkle some cheese or cheeses of your choice and cook until the cheese is nicely melted. Serve with chips of your choice. DON'T FORGET THE BEER.

Hopefully, your team wins. Oh, we were watching the Gators. 

President Grover Cleveland enjoyed the game more that I. 

Maybe next week I can watch Ball State.