{football friday} don't be a jerk bloody marys

To say this football season has been a disappointment to Auburn fans everywhere is the understatement of the year. With November just days away, we only have one win to celebrate - an overtime nail biter to a team that historically Auburn likely would’ve put away in the first half. 

This follows a whirlwind of emotional seasons starting back in 2008 with the infamous Tony Franklin/Tommy Tuberville departures, an uncomfortable and low chapter in Auburn football. And then, the highest of highs, the National Championship season of 2010 (which for those of you who follow college football know was certainly not without its own controversies.) 

This is how I summed up my feelings last Saturday about recent football seasons for my Facebook friends

The 2012 season tops (or bottoms) them all. 

(This share from Facebook - while less poetic & but tragically comical - sums up fan sentiment fairly well)

 

The reality is I neither play football for Auburn, nor does any member of my family, nor have we ever. So at the end of the day, my vested interest is merely that of a loyal alum of Auburn University

....the school I grew up visiting as a small child with my dad, who also graduated from there

....the place where I made countless memories with the best friends a girl could ask for

....the educational institutional that provided me the foundation for a career path I cherish 

My alma mater is special to me, win or lose. 

But it wasn’t until I found myself last weekend being reminded OVER and OVER by a fan of a rival school how bad Auburn’s season was, the controversies that surrounded the National Championship, the fact that our rivals like to make fun of Auburn as being a land grand university (hence his insult “Meet Regan, she’s an A-Barn fan” - meaning barns are something to be ashamed of? Tell that to the farmers who grow our food), that I really grasped how low some people will sink in their desire to make other people feel bad - simply based on what team they chose to cheer for on Saturday. (And if you find yourself wondering did I deserve this barrage because of something I'd said to this fan in the past, rest assured we'd never met before. And I hope we never do again.) 

So to that unsavory fan, I dedicate today’s {football friday} recipe:

"Don’t be a Jerk Bloody Marys" 

 

The real irony is this drink choice fits with his assessment of Auburn fans. He educated me - over dinner as I ordered a glass of Cabernet - that I was probably the only Auburn fan who even knew what wine was....

I. Kid. You. Not. 

So no matter what side of the W or L column you find your favorite team on this weekend, please do yourself and everyone around you a favor. Remember it’s only a game, it’s meant to be fun and above all else, don’t be a jerk. 

Don't Be A Jerk Bloody Marys

by Regan @ The Professional Palate

~adapted from Barbecue Bloody Marys from MyRecipes.com

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Ingredients (1 drink)

• 1/2 cup low-sodium or regular vegetable juice (I used V8)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon steak sauce (I used A.1 Steak Sauce)
• 3 tablespoons vodka (I used Ketel One)
• 1/4 teaspoon jerk seasoning (I used McCormick Carribean Jerk Seasoning)
• Lemon wedge
• Jerk seasoning
• Ice
• Garnish: pickled okra

Instructions

Combine vegetable juice, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, vodka, and 1/4 teaspoon jerk seasoning in a cocktail shaker; fill with ice. Cover with lid; shake vigorously until chilled.

Rub rim of a small. glass with a lime wedge; dip rim of glass in 1/4 jerk seasoning to coat. Strain bloody mary into prepared glass filled with ice. Garnish, if desired

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{football friday} corn & cheddar stuffed jalapeños

Well, here we are only two games into the season, and I can already see that this may be a year where I'm more excited about the food than the outcome of the game. I'm not losing hope, and I never waiver in my alliance. But I'm also not blind. There's not much to cheer about on the Auburn sidelines so far - all the more reason to enjoy the sideline snacks, in my opinion. 

This week's recipe...

...was inspired by Carrie over at Bake-a-holic Mama. Carrie does amazing food on her blog... some really yummy stuff. (I met Carrie at the King Arthur Flour Blog & Bake event I attended over the summer). Her recipe for Macaroni and Cheese Stuffed Jalapeños is no exception. I'm not suggesting my recipe replace hers on your menu. My vote: make 'em both! Mine may be a "little" slimmer on the calorie side of the menu, so you've got the perfect balance for your tailgating menu. 

Lastly, if you're enjoying games at home, you might also want to give these Crab-Stuffed Jalapenos from Cooking Light a try... with an avocado dunk, they sound delish! And be sure to check out all the appetizers being added daily to the galleries over at Healthy Aperture.

Corn & Cheddar Stuffed Jalapeños

by Regan @ The Professional Palate

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Ingredients (12 stuffed jalapeños)

• 1 slice bacon
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 cup canned (drained), fresh or frozen (thawed) corn kernels
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon low-fat Greek-style yogurt [I used Cabot]
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) light Cheddar or pepper jack cheese [I used Cabot], divided
• 6 jalapeños, cut in half lengthwise and seeds removed

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or coat with cooking spray.

Cook bacon over medium-high heat in a small skillet until crispy. Remove bacon from pan and discard all but 1 teaspoon of drippings; set bacon aside.

Turn down heat to pan to low and add cumin seeds; toast in skillet 30 seconds (be careful not to burn). Add corn and lime juice to pan and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until all moisture has evaporated.

Turn off heat to pan. Coarsely chop cooked bacon and add to pan. Stir in salt, yogurt and 1/2 cup of cheese just until combined. Divide mixture evenly among halved jalapenos and place on baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until peppers are softened and cheese is melted.

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{football friday} season kick-off with smoky sweet potato dip + a southern living cookbook giveaway!

Inevitably, every year on a weekend in April or May my husband will be surfing TV channels and express with great exasperation, "I wish football season lasted all year." 

To those of you around the country and across this globe who have no real love for football, I know this sounds crazy. To those of you who grew up as I did immersed in the culture that is "SEC Football," you get it. I know you do. 

Last year's {football friday} posts were immensely popular here on my blog, so I couldn't help but host again this season. And to kick things off, I've got a very, very special giveaway below for one lucky reader! I was lucky enough to snag a copy of Southern Living's new SEC Tailgating book (enter to win at the bottom of this post).

Click to read more ...

{football friday} recipe round-up

If you've stuck around this season for my almost weekly round up of tablegating/tailgating recipes, thank you!! For this football fan it has been a season of painful-to-watch losses on the field and even more painful-to-watch developments in college football off the field.

The {football friday} bloghop, however, has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal football season. Topping the list... having my Better Than Seven-Layer Dip featured on The Quad - The New York Times College Sports Blog

Other highlights:

Realizing that the love of boiled peanuts reaches beyond the tailgating outposts in the region of Toomer's Corner on Saturday's in the fall. The chatter among a group of RD colleagues located in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions when I posted this recipe shocked me! I'm thrilled others outside the SEC now know the joys of the humbled boiled peanut.

Discovering this practical AND fun way to enjoy wine at a tailgate (or even on the backporch listening to the game), minus the red Solo cup.   

Lastly, connecting with old contacts, meeting new bloggers and just enjoying football season with friends who share my passion for football food fun. I hope if you haven't already, you will visit all the blogs in the bloghop linky below. After tomorrow the season is *almost* over for me (if you don't count the bowl game that Auburn will be narrowly slipping into at the end of the year), but there's still plenty of football to enjoy. So as I choose sides on the games that will shape the final picture of the 2011 football season, I'm glad I have plenty of good food to choose from as well. 

War Eagle.

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