There seems to be a ritual in our house every Sunday of football season. My family gathers around the television and I disappear into the kitchen. They can smell the aroma that is wafting from the kitchen as they yell loudly at the game.
It may appear that I am working hard in the kitchen, but truth be told, I am hardly working. Most of the preparation has been done ahead of time and I will have pick-ums or appetizers ready in no time.
Being prepared is the key to keeping everyone happy during the game. Do you have a favorite recipe that you make for your special fans? Share it in the comment section below. Enjoy these easy and quick recipes.
Spuds in a Blanket:
1lb thinly sliced bacon
1 package of frozen tater tots
Toothpicks
Roll thinly sliced bacon around semi-thawed tater tots. Insert a toothpick to hold them together ensuring to remove the toothpick before serving. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
Cheese Triangles:
Phyllo Dough
Cheddar cheese
Pepper jack cheese
Mozarella cheese
Butter
1 egg
Salt, pepper and a dash of nutmeg
Thaw a package of phyllo dough according to directions. Shred sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese and mozzarella cheese. Add a well-beaten egg to the cheese mixture. Season with salt, pepper and a dash of nutmeg. Melt one stick of butter and lay out the phyllo dough flat. Slice the dough into 4” strips. Put a small teaspoon full of the cheese filling on the top left corner of the strip. Fold the dough over the filling to form a triangle. Lifting the upper right hand corner of the dough, fold it down to meet the left. Note: This is the same way that they would fold an American flag. Use a pastry brush to keep the seams closed between folds. Brush the completed triangle with butter and place on a cookie sheet. Once the cookie sheet is filled, place in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake.
(Note: An addition of well-drained spinach can be added to the filling mixture and feta cheese can be used to replace the mozzarella)
Sausage Bread
1lb browned Italian sweet sausage (out of casing)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1/8 tsp oregano
1/8 tsp fennel seeds
1lb of pizza dough
Roll the pizza dough out in a large circle on a well floured board. Arrange the browned, but not completely cooked, sausage on top. Sprinkle the seasonings and you can add salt & pepper if you wish. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and begin to roll into a log. This is the same way you would make a jelly roll and the end result will be a large loaf of bread. Bake on 350 degrees for approximately 35 minutes or until the bread is brown and cooked. Allow the bread to cool before you slice it or the mozzarella will ooze out of the center. (I have found that if I line the cookie sheet with non-stick aluminum foil it makes an easy clean up.)
Once cooled, slice into approximately 2" pieces and serve with a side of marinara sauce.
