Football and Food – NFL Week 2
I love food. And I love football. So when the NFL season starts and my schedule gets itself figured out and mellowed I get to enjoy those 2 very cool things together on Sunday afternoons.
This Sunday (week 2) was the first that I really sat and thought about what I was going to cook and eat and enjoy throughout the day. It wasn’t an all day plan like I sometimes have. But it’s a plan that allows for quick preperation and tasty treats.
Side Note: I don’t have a lot of cash to splurge on food cravings when I’m putting a shopping list together so my plans are often based around flyer items and easy to find ingredients.
The menu was very based on bacon. When the No Frills flyer came last week and I saw that bacon was going to be on sale for $1.50/lb I knew that I was going to need to buy at least 2 pounds. Also, I go through bacon cycles and there were bacon and tomato sandwiches for dinner at the start of the week which meant the taste was still in my mouth.
Last winter I made bacon wrapped water chestnuts for a holiday party and have missed them ever since. Luckily there was still a can of them on the shelf so they were instantly made part of the plan. Then I started thinking about what else I could wrap in bacon. A few months ago at a dinner party there were bacon wrapped dates which were amazing. And then, as if it were a sign, there were bacon wrapped dates at the TIFF 2011 Closing Night Party that @photojunkie and I attended on Saturday night. They were once again amazing and added to the menu. However, I needed something else to wrap in bacon and I didn’t know what that thing was going to be. So I asked Twitter. There were a few answers and 1 that stuck with me as smart, versitile and easy to pull off – chicken.
So, when I hit the No Frills on King West (way west) Sunday morning I made sure to grab pitted dates (less than $3 for the package), chicken (boneless, skinless breasts) and 2 pounds of the on sale bacon.
Side Note: As I was walking through the grocery store I also noticed that Jalapeno Poppers were on sale and they are one of my fav things ever, so I picked up a box of jalapeno and cream cheese treats for myself.
The prep for all of the things I had on my little menu is crazy easy. Cut strips of bacon into thirds and wrap water chestnuts and dates individually. Make sure that the seam is face down on the pan so things stay wrapped and you’re ready to go. Because I had Poppers in the oven at the same time as the first batch of treats I had the oven at 450 – but I could have probably gone down to 400 for the bacon wrapped stuffs only.
The chicken is a little different. I cooked it just a little bit. Enough that I could have an easier time of cutting it into bite sized pieces, and then wrapped it up in bacony goodness. Looking back I wish I had put some red onion in the wrap as well, but oh well.
In the end things were great. I had baked potatos (for dinner) cherry tomatos and chedder cheese on the side and didn’t go hungry.
Verdict: Things were tasty.
If you’ve got any suggestions for easy and tasty football food that you think I’ll enjoy please let me know. I’m happy to try things out!
I hope your Sunday was great too. Smile big and stay awesome.
Football and Food – NFL Week 3 is now up!
creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.
that………looks……..amazing!!!!!
It was so good. There was a lot of bacon… and I loved every bite of it. I’m looking for new things to wrap in bacon now!
Hey Josh,
Cousin Brenda here, I love bacon anyone that knows me laughs because they think I put bacon in everything, if I could get away with it I would. Wrap bacon around mushrooms and fill the mushrooms up with a cheese dip, bake at 350 for about ahalf hour, they rock!!!
That looks so so so so good!
Great post, and congrats on being FP!
http://pjmgfashionn11.wordpress.com/
thank you very much – everything was hella tasty. I’d do it all again in a heart beat!
bacon and anything = wonderful…..
Amen to that! It was a tasty day! Also, Go Cowboys!
Everything sounded amazing! And you’re a really good writer!
Looks delicious!
Bacon wrapped… the possibilities are endless, and glorious!
Yummmm, sounds so good! I can never say no to jalapeno poppers either, they are the best (now you’re making me want some).
Bacon wrapped water-chestnuts are amazing. I like covering them in BBQ sauce before sticking them in the oven. It’s so good.
I also made some potential football snacks last week using both jalepeno’s and bacon. If you’re interested: http://icookbythebook.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/somethin-spicy/
My husband has a recipe for marinating halibut chunks, wrapping them in bacon and grilling them. Yum!
Foil would be required if you have a charcoal or open flame grill. The infrared jobs do great with bacon straight on the grill. It has become our favorite way to cook it.
Mmmmm….bacon!
😉
The world’s perfect food — thanks for sharing!
Congrats on Freshly Pressed!
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BennyBeagle, Webkinz Fan, Dog Lover
http://numberonewebkinzmagazine.wordpress.com/ and pups4kids2.wordpress.com
Looks awesome … I’m doing football and food as well. Part of it is having a fruit or vegetable pick games (i.e. completely random) and it’s beaten ESPN experts both weeks.
http://www.foodandwinehedonist.wordpress.com
Delicious looking food. The food, I understand. The football, I do not. Thanks for sharing this. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
food looks great and I’m not even a bacon eater!
thanks for sharing!
-grace
bacon wrapped cherries, the best of both worlds, sweet and salty
Hard to go wrong with bacon. I guy at my work wraps duck in it with jalapenos & onions. Cooks them on the grill. That is the only way that I have had duck & liked it!
Hi Josh,
I love bacon wrapped anything too! I have some fun recipes on my blog that you should check out: http://onceuponarecipe.wordpress.com.
See you around,
Amanda
PS. Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Bacon wrapped water chesnuts sounds delicious, I’m going to have to have a go!
Just found you off of FP…congrats.
I’m a sports/foodie and all about the bacon (you can’t really go wrong with bacon wrapped anything). I put together an entire NFL recipe series that you might be interested in checking out: http://sports-glutton.com/2011/09/06/2011-nfl-recipe-series-the-complete-collection-2/
Cheers!
I am also a big fan of footbal…and bacon…so next time mix two of your favorites and go for some bacon wrapped jalapenos. Just slice the peppers long-ways (or into rings), remove seeds and ribs to desired heat index, stuff with cream cheese, wrap in bacon, and bake for 45min at 350 degrees. They are bacon wrapped AWESOMNESS!!
I WANT THAT FOOD!!! Yummy post.
I don’t know much about football (soccer girl here), but these wraps look super delicious! YUM! Nice job! 🙂
Bacon and chestnuts… never heard before but sounds yummy !!!!!
I’m definitely all about bacon. That looks delicious! Here’s another pork recipe for when you don’t have a lot of cash but have a lot of time (I would know: my husband and I have both): http://greenheirloomtomato.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/multi-lingual-roast-pork/.
Have you tried backed bean casserole with golden raisins? Mmmm, mmm good…
http://www.theklowntimes.net
Mmmmmmm bacon.
Yum, that looks so good! I desperately want bacon after looking at your pictures and can’t have any because it’s too late. But, that definitely looks very tasty.
Oh my gosh! Om nom nom.
Perfect!
Wrap it in Bacon!
I think pretty much everything is better wrapped in bacon. 🙂
Asparagus is good too. A few of them wrapped with a piece of bacon.
I enjoy your blog – thanks for sharing.
Cheers!
This looks delish! I’m loving the bacon – if you’re bacon obsessed, you should try Bacon Jam!
http://thespicystiletto.com/
Asparagus wrapped in bacon is my favorite and I often wrap a strip of bacon around a dinner roll. There’s no real reason for that, I just like to have the bacon on the outside of the bread, not on the inside like a sandwich.
yummy
I am an expat living in Italy – and though I don’t follow the NFL – I do follow Serie A soccer (just as emotional!!) – the only thing I really miss during game time is that the Italians are so not into munchies during the game (all their energy goes into supporting their team – y’know yelling, screaming, giving useful…or not…suggestions via text messages and I believe some mental ESP must be at work) – so keep up the food ideas, I will read and enjoy virtually. If you are wondering this is my team: http://pierotucci.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/dress-for-your-team/
hmm, really different with indonesian foods
it must be good taste. make me hunggry?
Prefer the Football to the Food, but that does look yummy! Great post, roll on NFL week 3!
chestnuts wrapped in soya cheese more me, thanks for post
That looks amazing.
Try bacon wrapped dates! Had them at my wedding and they were awesome. The texture was odd at first, but the taste combination was excellent.
Dude, I love anything wrapped in bacon- I am so gonna make these!! Cannot comment on the football as i well… understand nothing… except Friday night Lights is one of the best TV dramas EVER and I almost cried when they cancelled it…lol.
I still don’t get the “joke” about football, but I love, love bacon on anything and everything and since I work in brand marketing, I watch the major football games for the commercials. In between the commercials, I read a book much to the horror of my children and friends! But I’m a humorous storyteller and I’d much rather be reading stories while similtaneously enjoying the commaraderie and the bacon than watch a bunch of guys try and take a funny shaped ball away from each other. Long live bacon!
http://www.howthehelldidienduphere.wordpress.com
Similar bacon ideas–stuff the dates with goat cheese, then wrap with bacon.
You can also wrap canned smoked oysters (those are typically cheap).
Bacon makes everything better.
Go Steelers!
Go Steelers too! At least last week’s win made me digest my football cuisine a lot easier than Week 1…
http://www.theklowntimes.net
This looks so delicious! But then again, any time someone mentions bacon-I’m sold. Thanks for sharing!
looks yummy! thanks
http://www.JavidSuleymanli.com/
Wow, I read this article again, and my mouth is STILL drooling…
http://www.theklowntimes.net
I’m headed to lunch and unfortunately no restaurants around here have bacon wrapped anything! Just about anything wrapped in bacon is good, I’ve had everything from bacon wrapped pheasant to bacon wrapped venison to bacon wrapped cocktail weiners. The water chestnuts are great, haven’t tried the dates yet.
Thanks for a good post.
Makes me want to take a bacon bath.
My parents used to make a kind of appetizer called “rumaki” which included a chicken liver, a water chestnut and a piece of bacon wrapped around them, secured with a toothpick…
Very 1970s.
I love bacon wrapper with anything so this is appetizer is right up me alley. Love this post
I’m a vegetarian, but somehow that still looked appealing. Love football, and used to love wings! Jealous1
great work dude..:)
I thought the top picture was bacon wrapped shrimp and to tell you the truth I was a little disappointed when I found out it was chestnuts instead…. now I’m gonna have to go wrap me some shrimp for the next Jets/Giants/Patriots game. Not sure which one yet, but you’ve got me hungry lol
Bacon and football go together like America and freedom. They don’t call it a “pigskin” for nothin’.
OMG they look amazing. I’m trying this without a doubt. Woo have thought water chestnuts and bacon would go together.
I love this article. Keep up the good work!
I made this last year for my husband’s friend’s bachelor party and it was such a hit!
Another suggestion for your NFL party: pigs in a blanket. 🙂
Great article, I really like your writting style. Fantasy Football Player Rankings