So… I think you all know I love football. If you don’t… hi my name is Limecello, and I love football. College football especially, but I’ll watch pro ball too. I think football is a good thing. As a game, it’s pretty fun. You get a great sense of accomplishment getting a touchdown. Or hell, catching a ball. NFL regulation footballs are freaking huge. I went to The Ohio State University for my undergraduate career, and admit to not loving football before then. I was more a soccer and baseball girl. (Watching, not playing.) Anyway, there’s this great sense of camaraderie rooting for the same team. At the horseshoe (Ohio Stadium) it’s high fives all around when there’s a big play. Cheering so loud you lose your voice, and sometimes suffer from slight hearing loss. And then there’s the script Ohio. Which sounds stupid – but it’s practically a religious experience. (No really – it’s cool.)
I admit to also liking college ball – or football because it’s something a lot of people can relate to and connect with. Perfect strangers can have a great conversation discussing sports. Previous games, upcoming games, etc. Of course, I also own to enjoying good natured trash talking. Especially unconventional trash talking 😛 Like, I told Angela James “my” quarterback is hotter than hers. (True, but it doesn’t matter since her team won. Oh and this was a pro football game.) I’m happy to talk about teams we love to hate with pretty much anyone and everyone. I don’t think everyone has to love football – not at all. I personally, however, enjoy it. (Like, basketball is just not my favorite sport, but I’m perfectly content to watch it with friends.)
And yes, there are bad stories, with jerk football players, etc, but I also love it because of amazing human interest stories like The Ballad of Big Mike. It’s such a great story there’s a book about it (The Blind Side)- and an upcoming movie. Sandra Bullock is in it – and anyway, this is the trailer. Oh Lord. I cried when I read the nyt article. I cried when I saw the trailer before the movie Julie & Julia. I know I’m going to see it in theaters and cry like a baby. The scene where Michael says “I’ve never had one of these before” and his mom says “what, a room to yourself” and Michael says “no, a bed.” – honestly. You have to have a heart of stone to not be touched. Stone I say!
But let’s get to the importantother part of this post, yes? The *food* – tailgating is practically a religion in some places. I don’t do that, and I don’t drink beer O_o but… I love talking food. So, football, and food – does it get much better?
First up – Prosciutto and Basil Wrapped Chicken Fingers from The Hungry Mouse blog. As pictures of it are on the recipe page, I won’t post them here. But honestly – go forth and look. And drool, and make, and eat, and drool more. This is good stuff. It’s also really simple, and gives you something to do with all that basil you’re growing outside. Generally I’m not into basil, but it really flavors the chicken well, and isn’t overpowering, as basil all too easily can be. (Next time I’ll talk about buffalo chicken dip.)
I also love grilling and roasting things. I bought one of these babies, and I’m very happy with it. I grill steaks, potatoes, zucchini, asparagus… chicken… For the potatoes and zucchini I slice them into rounds, and just toss them on. Some salt, pepper, whatever spices you might like… and if you also wish, olive oil – or you can go without as well.
Now, on to … desserts. The good stuff.
I’ve made a few versions of chocolate cupcakes. They’re really good and easy, but not perfected yet – so any of you baking aficionados have tips, I’d love to hear them please! As it says, it is pretty runny, the batter – i didn’t have super good cocoa, so I just used what I had. The cupcakes are good, but still somewhat… flour-ey if that makes sense. I’m not quite sure what to do. Also – I’m totally not vegan. So, the first time I made them… I substituted in 3/4 c heavy cream instead of using all water, because I like my cocoa with milk. (I didn’t have milk at home.) The cocoa I had was also sweetened, so I only added about 1/4 c sugar instead of 2 cups. (Also because I think many desserts are too sweet :X). For half the cupcakes, I also dropped in chocolate chips. That was good. The second time I made the cupcakes, I used one milk instead of water, and admit to substituting in some chocolate milk for extra chocolaty goodness. I also dropped in chocolate chips in all the cupcakes. (Watch out if you add the chips when still mixing the batter because they will sink to the bottom of the cupcakes.) Ialso mixed in an egg the second time around, to make the cupcakes more… cake-y.
How did I counter the slightly dense texture? One way is pouring baileys and/or milk over the cupcakes. (Or you know, a mix.) Any type of baileys. Or eating them with vanilla ice cream. 😀 All very good, and a perfect finish to game day foods.
I’ve been on this massive chocolate kick – so I also made no bake cookies. As usual, I improvised. Anyway, here’s the official recipe for the chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies. dd03 says the recipe was a little sweet, so you might want to cut down on sugar. I didn’t have cocoa and… was lazy – I also love tempering chocolate, so this is what I did instead. (If you follow me on twitter you know I talk about making chocolate ganache a lot.) Anyway, I have chocolate chips. Not cocoa… so I took two cups of chocolate chips and melted them carefully, with 1/4 c milk. I added the peanut butter, and all the oatmeal too. And the vanilla. Really the chocolate chips are a great substitute for the butter/cocoa/sugar. Just be careful when melting/tempering the chocolate that you don’t let it crystallize. The finished product: (they don’t look that amazing because I took the pic from my phone. Sorry.) 
And lastly… drinks!
For those of you who don’t drink beer, and either are girls or don’t mind girly drinks… I hear pouring grenadine in beer makes for a pretty good drink. And if you don’t like that, you know, you could always use the rest to make awesome cherry cokes.
And if you’re a little bit fancier and high brow… might I suggest the Blooming Champagne Cocktail with Wild Hibiscus. You don’t need to use champagne – just a cheap prosecco or cava – any sparkling wine would work, after all, you’re flavoring it with the hibiscus. The blossom is edible, and it’s really fun. (This actually would be nice for a cocktail party, brunch, bridal shower, etc.)
Now… something I’ve been into – Disaronno in a high ball glass, and since I love limes – obviously – I squeeze an entire lime into mine, splash in some cranberry juice, and top it off with ginger ale. Delicious. Garnish with whatever you like. 
So now… you. I don’t want to use up all my recipes now – but what are your favorite game day foods? Or what snacks do you enjoy? Seven layer dip? Wings? Pizza?
Do you have a fun football story to share? A horror story? I’m all ears!
Hey, I love football, too. But it’s meat pies and beer. And oh, wow, the last five minutes of the Manchester United/Bayern Munich game in 1999, when ManU were up for the Treble, the first team in modern times to do it, and they were a goal down, and…
Hi Lynne! I… don’t know if I can go there with you on the meat pies. Haha – I’d be willing to try them though. 😀
And heh your “football” is known as “soccer” here 😉 I mean real football. O;-)
*My* quarterback looks like a twelve-year-old. They try to make Colt McCoy look tough in pictures . . . but yeah. And meat pies are delicious – I ordered them in a lot of crossanteries in Oxford. (And one in Bath.)
lol good to know – thanks Liv. :X I’m afraid Colt McCoy is not my favorite football player ever. But yeah, he’s not tough. What do you know about him? I hear mixed reports – but more good than bad.
I did like Vince Young though 🙂
Er also, for the QBs… “mine” is/was Brady Quinn, and hers was Brett Favre. *whispers* I said he was old.
My football horror story involves having to watch football. *snicker*
You’re such a cute and silly little lime. That’s why we all (well, mostly all) adore you. 😀
lol shut up! Football is good! And better than a lot of other sports! Shut up! You looooovveee mmmeeee 😀
[Er, to those that don’t know, JenB and I are friends. And it’s 2:26 AM. Recipe for disaster. Or craziness.]
You actually had to qualify my comment???
OMG, you are such a nerd. And football suxxxxx. But cupcakes are good. 😀
You suck! I take it back. :'( We’re not friends.
[But yeah – cupcakes totally are good. Especially topped with home made cannoli cream. Oops – forgot to mention that in my post. Omg. Cannoli cream. *drool*]
Llmecello, you are my new bff! I, too, love books and (college) football. We’d part company on the Ohio State thing, me being a Naval Academy and Texas Longhorn fan (a good mix; the perennial underdog and the perennial favorite.) Also part company on Brady Quinn and the Irish, who are the Team To Hate in our household. Now, Colt McCoy did look 12 his first year, but has put on muscle and weight since. As for tough, the coaches have to drill him and drill him not to run though people like he did during the Baylor game last year. He just doesn’t want to do the pansy “slide” thing, unlike a certain dark-haired QB who once excelled as a pocket passer at a famous Catholic Univerity.
I’m not a roundball gal either and am pretty indifferent to baseball, so wait all year for the three brief months of college football. The passion of players and fans, the camaraderie, the sense of common identity, are unequaled. From ESPN college gameday to Sports Center wrap-up, I’m there, unless I’m fortunate enough to attend a game in person.
Thanks for the great recipes, too. Alas, cooking isn’t my thing so I can’t help out on tweaking the chocolate cupcakes. But I’ll keep an eye out here and see if anyone else can. Some days just require chocolate.
Julia, awweee do we still have to part company? The Buckeyes don’t even play the Longhorns anymore! And actually – we’re not as far as you think, because the Longhorns are my #2 team. 🙂 I root for them unless they’re playing my team… :X Or playing a Big 10 school in a BCS bowl. Also, isn’t Navy actually a really good team?
Er… and wrong on the Irish. I hatess them. They’re my #2 love to hate team. (USC is #1. Hatesss. Even before OSU began playing them.) And… I have to “like” Brady Quinn because he is/was QB of my pro team. Which sucks. A lot. I know.
Haha, and are you sure you don’t want to try the recipes? 😉 Or at least the Blooming Hibiscus Cocktail…
My worst football story is for the last time the Pats were in the Superbowl two years ago, and my husband invited his colleague over to watch the game … without realizing he rooted for the Giants.
Our guest hooted and cheered for the Giants all the way through, the Pats lost, and I wanted to scream!
But I do make an array of very disgusting, unhealthy recipes for the Super Bowl (only if the Pats are in it. Otherwise we eat sushi and retire early in protest) including kielbasa in mustard, vinegar and brown sugar that will harden your arteries before the food hits your stomach.
Jessica – oh my *gosh!* Ahhh. I’d care more about the college national championships than the superbowl, but if my team was in it and someone else was cheering for the other team… I’d probably tell them to shut up or die. :X Kick them out, something.
Although… work colleague does make it different… I probably would’ve walked into another room and screamed into a pillow.
I like kielbasa, but do not like sweet and savory, so I’m not with you on he brown sugar part. Hahaha love the retiring early in protest. (Not sushi though. I basically think it’s a waste of rice :X)
O-M-G !! As someone who used to be in a marching band, that was the most AWESOME video of the Ohio State marching band. The choreography was outstanding and only someone who’s marched in a band like this have no real idea how extremely DIFFICULT that type of a performance is.
Thanks for sharing. Awesome. Just AWESOME!
Monica
Monica – haha, yay! Glad you watched the video. That makes me so, so happy. I’m uber impressed and I know nothing about band. 😀
Glad to see you are another Irish hater, limecello! Although I like the university–just not Charlie Weiss and announce-I’m-going-to-ND-on-the-steps-of-the-college-football-hall-of-fame Jimmie Clausen. Yes, Navy has a good team, but because of the obligatory military service, they get the guys who are willing to serve country rather than go on to the NFL and ones who generally were high school standouts but considered too small or slow for the “big time” schools. They are always out-weighed by an average of 50 pounds on so on the line and are 6″ shorter. So they are ALWAYS underdogs, and who doesn’t like to root for underdogs who never never never give up? Of course, I also grew up in Annapolis and dh and ds are grads.
Yes, I intend to try recipes! Just don’t do much experimental cooking on my own–or any other extracurricular stuff. Juggling a day job and writing deadlines makes me a dull girl.
Julia *snort* you? dull? Yes… psh. I don’t have anything against the university. I don’t like the football team. :X We’re in good company – HelenKay Dimon doesn’t like ND either.
And – true. Some players who aren’t recruited to the “big time” schools become terrific coaches :D.
I love Annapolis – and Cantlers! 😀 If you do happen to do the recipe and figure out some changes, let me know – thanks!