Taste of the NFL Wrap Up

Andy and me at Taste of the NFL

 I would say I hate to brag, but this is a pretty big deal :)  If you've been following my Twitter (KAStrickland), Facebook, or this blog, you'll know that I recently was the winner of a local contest and got the opportunity to go to Taste of the NFL.  If you didn't know about it, you can read the summary here.  Everyone keeps asking me who I met, what I ate, and if I had fun, so I figured I'd write up a quick post about it all!  I've included some pictures below, but for more pictures of Taste of the NFL and the Super Bowl week festivities in Fort Worth, check out the pictures on my Shutterfly page.

"Who did you meet?"
There were a TON of NFL legends there, along with some of the top chefs in the country.  I was probably the only dork there who was more interested in meeting the chefs than the players, but to each her own.


Players (pictures match with the descriptions above them)

• Tommy Nobis: linebacker for THE University of Texas 1962-1965, Falcons 1960's, "Mr. Falcon," Five time pro bowler, All Decade Team of 1960's... turns out that he was also friends with my dad in college! 

Tommy Nobis and Andy-- hook 'em!

• Billy Cundiff: kicker for the Ravens & Cowboys

Me, Billy Cundiff, and Andy

• Chad Hennings: defensive lineman for the Falcons & Cowboys

Me, Chad Hennings, and Andy

• Donny Anderson: Green Bay Packers, two-time Super Bowl Champion: I and II, All American

Andy, Donny Anderson, and me

• Al "Bubba" Baker: defensive lineman for the Lions, Cardinals, Browns, Vikings

Al "Bubba" Baker

• Karl Mecklenburg: Broncos

Me and Karl Mecklenburg- those rings were heavy!

• Bob Lurtsema: Past record holder for Viking sack yardage, Vikings, Giants, Seahawks

Andy and Bob Lurtsema

• Stu Voigt: player director for Taste of the NFL, All Time leading tight end receiver; three Super Bowls

Andy and Stu Voigt

• Jerry Sisemore: Eagles
• Marcus Robertson: Titans
• Craig Terrill: Seahawks
• Roger Staubach and Miss America, Teresa Scanlan, were also there, but we didn't get a chance to talk to them. 

Roger Staubach and Miss America celebrating their birthdays

Chefs

• Grady Spears: owner, Grady's, founder of Dutch's

Grady Spears and me

• Jon Bonnell: owner and head chef, Bonnell's

Jon Bonnell and me

• Michael Thomson: owner and head chef, Michael's Restaurant & Ancho Chili Bar

"What did you eat?"
Anything and everything.  And, yes, it was ALL a-mazing.  Out of all of the 32 NFL cities represented, I absolutely believe that the Flavors of North Texas section was my favorite.  There, we tasted foods from Grace, Grady's, Bonnell's, Michael's, Eddie V's, and Del Frisco's.  Our other favorite dishes were crab cakes, rosemary grilled cover steak, Maryland crab imperial and fried green tomato sandwich, chipotle cured pork shoulder tacos, chicken and noodles, shrimp and chorizo, mango bbq pork loin, grilled portobello mushroom slider, truffle whipped potatoes, fish taco with ceviche, Ancho beef with potato corn cake and smoked corn creme, and cake made by the star of Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro.

The Cake Boss' cake

 "Flavors of North Texas" included grilled quail breast over jalapeno mac n goat cheese with micro cilantro (Bonnell's), bacon wrapped smoked gulf shrimp with roasted chile and goat cheese grits (Michael's Cuisine), Dr. Pepper braised wagu long-bone short ribs and aged smoked gouda mac n cheese with crispy Texas sweet onions (Del Frisco's), chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in bacon with charred pepper sauce (Grace), pan de campo with beef short ribs braised in Texas port (Grady's), shrimp and grits with mustard greens (Olenjack's Grille), and tuna crudo (Eddie V's).

Like I said, de-lish.

"Did you have fun?"
I think this post sums it up :)

Arkansas Breakfast Squares

My friend, Sara, is from Arkansas.  She came to Fort Worth for graduate school at TCU (like all of us cool kids do), and afterward she worked here in town for a few years.  A great job offer came up back in Arkansas, so Sara moved back in September.  We had a going away party, Fort Worth style, at Mellow Mushroom and said our goodbyes.  Of course, we all promised Sara we would come visit as soon as we could.  Afterall, I'd never been to Arkansas, and she was always raving about how great it is.  Shortly after her move, Andy found a crazy good deal on flights out to Little Rock for January, so we started planning our trip.

Zet and Sara at Sara's going away dinner at Mellow Mushroom, September 2010

 A couple of weeks ago, my little sis, Jennifer ("Zet"), Andy, and I all hoped on planes and headed out to see our long-lost friend.  Sara, like me, loves to cook.  As soon we we arrived, Sara was asking what all we wanted to do, where we wanted to go, oh, and do we like chili?  How about breakfast?  A fellow foodie- I never knew it! The first night we were there, Sara made homemade chili.  I'll post the recipe as soon as I make it myself, although I'm sure it isn't going to be quite as amazing as Sara's.  After scarfing the chili, we adventured out to the bars.  I LOVE piano bars, so Sara took us to Little Rock's version of Pete's, Willie D's.  We call this the "Hey can I have my check?" night.  Shout out to the boyfran on that one ;-) .

Zet and me at Willie D's in Little Rock

The next day, we were very lazy.  Well, Zet and I were.  Sara and Andy took off for an eight mile run.  No, thanks, I'll pass-  I voted for big/little bonding time with Zet.  This first morning, Sara made Overnight French Toast.

Andy and me in Little Rock

After Andy and Sara got back from their run, we all went out to have some drinks along the river.  Later that night for dinner, we went to a place called The Ragin' Cajun with Sara and her friend, Brittney.  We had yummy seafood and then went to the dance/bar area where an 80's cover band was playing.  The five of us dominated the dance floor, and I even had the band dedicating Tom Petty songs to me.  Zet and I were taking our DG salute picture, when suddenly we hear, "Are y'all DGs?? My wife, grandma, sister, EVERYONE in my family are DGs! We get the Anchora at my house every month!"  We start looking around trying to figure out who is singing our sorority praises when we realize that it's the lead singer of the band.  Small world!

Zet and me representing Delta Gamma at the Ragin' Cajun

The girls at Ragin Cajun- Brittney, me, Zet, Sara

Go Frogs! Me, Zet, & Sara at Ragin' Cajun

Andy and me, dancing fools, at Ragin' Cajun

The next morning, I woke up to a glorious smell that I knew immediately- Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.  My stomach was churning, but whatever was baking in the kitchen smelled amazing.  What came out of the oven was what I'm going to call Breakfast Squares.  I asked Sara for the recipe and she laughed.  "Crescent rolls, cream cheese, and sausage," she said.  That's it? Yep.  Easy, delicious, and filling.  Andy's been begging me to make them since ever since we got back from Arkansas, so this morning I thought I'd give him an early Valentine's present.  Sara's Arkansas Breakfast Squares it was!

Like all of my recipes, you can, of course, use regular full-fat/calorie ingredients, but for those of us who are health conscious, the substitutions are great and still full of flavor.

Arkansas Breakfast Squares
Sara Reynolds, modified by Kate Strickland
Servings: 12
Weight Watchers Points Plus Value: 7

• 2 rolls Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Reduced Fat
• 1 lb sausage (I used Reduced Fat Turkey sausage)
• 8 oz cream cheese, fat free  
• 11x13 pan
• Non-stick cooking spray

1. Set cream cheese out to soften
2. Brown sausage on the stovetop
3. Preheat your oven to temperature indicated on crescent roll package (mine was 375°)
4. Spray pan with cooking spray
5. Unroll one crescent roll package and place in a pan.  Flatten so the whole role is laying flat in the pan.
6. Bake the individual flattened crescent roll sheet in the oven for 4 minutes. (This is because the filling can make the bottom layer soggy).
7. Removed pan from oven.
8. Mix cream cheese into the browned sausage.
9. Layer the cream cheese/browned sausage on top of the flattened crescent roll you just took out of the oven.
10. Unroll the 2nd crescent roll sheet and lay on top of the cream cheese/browned sausage.
11. Bake again according to instructions on the package (Mine was 11-13 mins at 375°)

Cut and serve (maybe to your sweetie tomorrow morning!)
Happy Valentine's Day!!

Arkansas Breakfast Squares

Valentine's Breakfast- Arkansas Breakfast Squares

Green Chili Fudge

The rodeo can be summed up in the words of Mr. Brooks:
Well it's bulls and blood, It's dust and mud, It's the roar of a Sunday crowd
It's the white in his knuckles, The gold in the buckle he'll win the next go 'round
It's boots and chaps, It's cowboy hats, It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins, And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo.

Every January/February off Lancaster and University in Fort Worth, you will find my favorite event of the year.  The Fort Worth Stockshow and Rodeo.  And yes, this thing really is legendary.

I have gone to the rodeo every single year that I can remember.  The rodeo kicks off every year with the annual rodeo parade.  When I was reallllly little (before kindergarten), my dad's law office was across from the Chisolm Trail Mural downtown.  We would sit in the windows and watch the annual rodeo parade in our flannel shirts and take in the sweet smell of horse manure, and we knew that the rodeo was finally back in town.

My dad and I watching the rodeo parade 1990

Brief History:
I usually go to the rodeo with my friends or family.  For a couple of years, my friend, JK, and her mom, Mama Sheila, took me and some of our other friends to sit in their box.  We would get a day sheet (found in a $3 program!) and each placed bets on who we thought would rope the fastest or get the highest score on the wildest bull.  Usually, I just picked the guys with the cool names like "Denver" or the bulls with the meanest names like "Hot Damn" or "Loco."

Last year, my friend, Kate, took a group of us girls who have been friends for 19 years to sit in her dad's box.  A few weeks later, Kate sent out a mass text to see if anyone wanted to use the box because it was going to be empty for finals.  Um, yes, duh.  So I asked my cousin, Chris, and his wife, Tiffany, and their daughter, Kameron, to come.  Chris, Tiff, and I were all pretty close in age, but we never really hung out together outside of family stuff.  I'm really glad they said they could come, and I had no idea it would be the first and last time for us all three to hang out.  We lost Chris last March in a motorcycle accident, and it was a blessing that Kate offered up her seats this night. 

Back to 2011:
This year I am completing my provisional year in the Junior League of Fort Worth.  Your provisional year is kind of like a pledge year in a sorority.  You have to go to your own provisional class meetings each month and also the general membership meetings, complete a few shifts at each Junior League event (Mayfest, rodeo, etc), and work 50 hours at the Junior League resale shop, Double Exposure.  I was pretttty excited about the rodeo shifts because, obviously, I love the rodeo.  It is the duty of the Junior League ladies to "yell and sell."  It goes about like this, "Rodeo programs, $3! Get your programs. Ice cold programs.  Special today, only $3 (they're always $3)!  How bout them cowboys? Read all about 'em in your rodeo program!  Help out your local charities! Put your money towards a good cause! The cheapest souvenir you can buy! Half the price of a beer, and it'll last you allllll night!"  I worked 6 shifts- I had it down.

One day, Groupon, a group coupon website which is amazing and everyone should subscribe to, offered half priced tickets to go to the rodeo.  Since I'd been yelling and selling, I hadn't seen much of the actual show, so I thought it'd be fun to go.  I bought four tickets and was super stoked... then I realized I'd purchased 4 10:00am on a SATURDAY tickets.  Oops.  Looks like we were just gonna have to make a day of it!

Next door to and outside of the rodeo is the midway.  No, not the carnival, the midway.  The midway is home to dozens of scary rides, big beers, corn dogs, and FUNNEL CAKES.  I have a weird, crazy love for funnel cakes.  Actually, for almost all fair food (except corn dogs... I hate corn dogs).

In addition to the midway and the rodeo, there is an entire exhibit hall set up with row after row of clothes, agricultural products, and... food.  Score.  I am such a sucker, let it be said.  I sampled everything and definitely fell for the shtick.  The "shtick" went about like this, "Hey pretty lady, salsa- buy 2, get one free. Buy FOUR, get two free... soup mixes? Buy two get one free."  After a while, I became a bobble-head, nodding to every offer and passing over my plastic.  I think we left the rodeo with 4 salsas, 3 dip mixes, and 4 soups from three different companies.  Oh, well, they'll be used eventually.

One salsa I bought, a super spicy green tomatillo salsa, had a recipe for Green Chili Fudge, so I made it this past weekend for the Super Bowl party.  It isn't fudge as in chocolate fudge, but it is called that because of its consistency.  It was just as amazing when I made it as it was when I was suckered into buying it!  I used the green salsa from the rodeo, but you really can use any jar of green salsa- the spicier the better.  Green chili fudge is a great chip topper, and can be semi-healthy if you use fat free cheese.

Green Chili Fudge

• 4 c. grated cheese (I used a mixture of 1 c Four Cheese Mexican Blend & 3 c Fat Free Cheddar)
• 1 jar green tomatillo salsa
• 3 eggs
• 1 pan (smaller pans work best, 9 x 9)

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Beat eggs together
3. Spread 2 c grated cheese in pan
4. Combine eggs and 1/2 - 3/4 (you can approximate this) jar of salsa on cheese in pan
5. Spread the second 1/2 of cheese (another 2 c) on top
6. Bake at 350 for 30 mins
7. Slice into squares, serve on tortilla chips

Green Chili Fudge

And now, a look back at some past rodeos...

Brittney and Me 2008

Shannon, JK, Jen, Emily, me 2008

19 Year Friends: Lillian, Frances, Sam; Kate, Whitney, Chaney, me 2010

Tiff, Chris, Kameron, and me 2010

Kami and Me 2010

Andy, me, MaryEllen, Brittany, Michael 2011

Andy, me, Michael, Brittany, MaryEllen, Louis 2011

Brittany and me with funnel cake 2011

One of the super scary rides Andy and I went on 2011

Bourbon Meatballs

It's official: the 2010 football season is over.  We have our Sundays back, yippee! (And Mondays... some Thursdays... occasional Fridays).  At the beginning of the season, the Cowboys had a chance to be the first ever NFL team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium.  Then they blew it just as badly as the Longhorns did.  Without the Cowboys, I had no idea who to choose to cheer for in the Super Bowl.  Fort Worth was hosting the Steelers and was decked out in red for the week, but Greenbay was the NFC team... I went with the Packers since they were the NFC team playing.  (Yes, I also just learned what the NFC and AFC were this season thanks to my football-crazed boyfriend).  I threw on my one and only green shirt (even though it is a St. Patty's Day shirt) and headed over to our friends, Clay and Michelle's, house with bourbon meatballs (and a few other items, recipes to come soon) in tow.  Michelle is the one with the DIY blog: click her to check out her recent projects!

It wouldn't be a football game without my mom's bourbon meatballs.  I remember the first time I had them.  I was home for Christmas Break, and I went to my friend, Mason's annual Christmas party.  Let's just say that I had a few whiskey and Dr. Peppers at the party, and I wasn't feeling so hot the next morning.  I woke up on Christmas Eve Day to the smell of bourbon and BBQ wafting through my parents' house.  At the time, I thought I was just dreaming the bourbon/whiskey smell due to the night before, but I stumbled downstairs to find bourbon meatballs on the stove.  The bourbon mostly cooks out, of course, but I could still smell it, and it was surprisingly mouth-watering.  Ever since that morning, I have always tried to have the meatballs at a few football game watching parties each year.   

Bourbon Meatballs
Carolyn Poirot

Bourbon Meatballs

• 1 package (appr. 2 lbs) of meatballs
• 1  bottle of Bar-B-Q sauce
• 1 c bourbon
• 1/2 c honey
• 1/2 c mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire

1. Whisk bbq sauce, bourbon, honey, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a pot on the stove
2. Bring mixture to a boil
3. Turn burner to low
4. Add meatballs
5. Cook at least 30 mins (and up to 6 hours), stirring every now and then to cover the meatballs with sauce

*There won't be enough sauce to cover the meatballs over the top.  This is why you have to stir them and coat them occasionally.

*It is really messy to try to measure out the BBQ sauce so I just dump in the whole bottle.

*Do NOT think: "Oh, I only have 1/2 a cup of bourbon left, I should just use the rest of this in the meatballs."  They will NOT taste good!  I did this once and it was like taking a shot of bourbon with a little bit of meat aftertaste.  Stick with the measurements on this part.

My football crockpot