Recipe x2: Super Bowl Dishes

I won't be enjoying much of the Super Bowl this year since I have to work... but my wonderful evening crew is having a party anyway.  I originally offered to bring in some Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar Monkey Bread, since I saw an awesome sounding recipe the other day for this... but then a recipe for Loaded Apple Nachos caught my eye.  I really couldn't decide, so this morning... with Kevin's help... I made both!  Problem solved.  :)

Jalapeno Bacon Cheddar Monkey Bread

• 2 cans of biscuits (refrigerated section), quartered
• 1 brick of cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 brick of pepperjack cheese, shredded
• 1 cup of bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1 cup of chopped fresh jalapeno
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Toss 1/3 of the biscuit quarters in the melted butter.  Spread them in a layer in the bottom of a 9x13 deep pan or glass dish.  Sprinkle 1/3 of the cheese, bacon and jalapeno on top.  Repeat with another layer of biscuits then toppings, then a third layer.  Bake at 350 for approx 40-45 minutes or until top layer is golden brown.  Serve with ranch for dipping.  Yum!!

 Loaded Apple Nachos

• 4 large apples
• caramel
• chocolate
• coconut
• pecans
• any other toppings that suit your fancy

Thinly slice (or use a peeler/slicer to save some time) your apples (I always toss in a little lemon juice to prevent browning) and arrange them in a thin layer.  Top with caramel, chocolate and other toppings.  Place another layer on top and repeat as many times as you'd like.  

Obviously, NOBODY wants to work through the Super Bowl... but if you have to, having some yummy food around to enjoy makes it a little easier.  :) 

Happy Half Birthday to Lucy!!!

Our little furbaby is 6 months old today!!

I have always had a special place in my heart for animals, and we were so very excited to add a pet to our family, but I never imagined the amount of love and joy that Lucy would bring into our lives.  Happy half birthday, pumpkin butt!!

We started off our Sunday with a trip to Petsmart (Lucy's favorite store, of course) then dropped her off at home while we ran some errands.  We decided it would be wise to stock up on wood pellets while A. they were on sale and B. the weather was still nice enough to make loading/unloading them not too much of a pain.  So we loaded up with a full ton of pellets (50 bags!!) and headed home to unload.  Just in case you were wondering what a ton of pellets looks like (you were... weren't you?)... it looks like this...

Yeah... that's huge.

The rest of the day will be spent enjoying some football games while Kevin makes his famous-in-our-house wings.  I love Sundays!

Holy Orange!!

I've always said, for as long as I can remember... that I am a fan of the game before I am a fan of any team.  I have some teams that I like or follow, but I would rather watch two unknowns kick the sh!t out of each other than watch my favorite team win in a blow out.  (usually... if we are talking FSU vs UF, I'll take a blow out, thank you).  But really... I just love a good game... especially a good college football game.

I am a Seminoles fan at heart.  I grew up in Orlando and love my 'Noles.  My brother is a Gators fan and my Dad is a Hurricanes fan... which makes me love the Seminoles even more.  Living in Syracuse, however, it is difficult to keep up with my Florida teams as many of the games are not televised up here.  I get the feeling that New Yorkers don't really care about Florida sports.  Bummer.

There is something really special about a hometown team... and hometown team fans.  Its intoxicating and you can't help but get caught up in the excitement.  When I first moved up to Syracuse, I was hell bent on maintaining my Seminole status.  But after a season or two of some fantastic basketball and lacrosse I figured I might as well jump on the SU bandwagon.  After all, its nearly impossible to catch Florida State on TV and I'm not planning on going anywhere for a while... so "Go Orange" it is.

I'll be honest... I'm not exactly the greatest SU fan.  I mean... I like them... I really do... but I am not a die hard, "I bleed Orange" kinda gal.  I follow their basketball (impossible not to) and their lacrosse (never even knew what this was until I moved to Upstate NY), but their football was... well... kind of a running joke.  It's kind of funny... people love them almost out of pity.  They are just not very good.  But, every weekend during the season, the locals are decked out in their orange and blue and the game day rituals continue.

So, week after week, the SU football team has been... kind of mediocre... and we have come to accept that.  Last night they hosted WVU (ranked 15) and we all assumed it would be a slaughtering... but donned our blue and orange anyway.

All I can say is HOLY CRAP!!!  SU found some talent!  They looked amazing, they dominated... and they WON!!!  Not just a regular old win... this was a huge game, nationally televised on a Friday night (which is prime time for college ball) against a ranked team... and they stomped them!!!  49-23

So... this weekend... like every weekend, local fans are proud of their local team... but unlike every other weekend, we've actually got some bragging rights... and even DH (die-hard Pittsburgh fan) is starting to get into SU.  Go Orange!!

(Now if Florida State can whoop up on Maryland in the same manner, it will be an even better weekend!)

I'm so ashamed...

I was super excited to make my Top Ten Things I Love About Fall list yesterday... I daydreamed about the crisp breeze, pumpkin lattes and ice cream.  I actually typed during commercial breaks... the first SU game of the season was on TV.  I LOVE football.

How the heck did I make an entire Top 10 list for fall and FORGET FOOTBALL?!?!?!?!  (hangs head in shame)

So... if I may be so lucky as to add a second #1... it would absolutely positively be football.  I love everything about it... tailgating, sporting my jersey, screaming like an idiot for my team... I even like the ridiculously overpriced greasy food and beer... yup, sure do.  I can't wait until the season is in high gear.  There is nothing more American... and more "fall"... than football.