NFL Game Day Recipes | Chili with Pasta & Wisconsin Cheese

Our fifth feature in the NFL Game Day Recipes comes from Melissa Ness. She has kindly shared the recipe that (probably) helped the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl last year. Part chili, part mac and cheese—how can you go wrong?

Remember to watch the Packers take on the 49ers today at 4:25 PM ET. Don’t forget to say Happy Grandparents Day to the special older adults in your life!

Chili with Pasta and Wisconsin Cheddar recipe courtesy The Kitchn

serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 lb ground beef
1 yellow onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 large carrots; diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 14 ounce can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder, divided
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf
kosher salt
freshly-cracked black pepper
1/2 cup fresh cilantro; minced
1 16-ounce can red kidney beans
2 cups frozen corn kernels, defrosted
To serve
Aged sharp Wisconsin cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pound fusilli pasta

Directions:

In a heavy-bottomed stock pot heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add in ground beef, season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir often till the meat is browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drain the beef and transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Heat another 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the same stock pot. Add in chopped onions and cook 10 minutes until translucent. Add in celery and carrots, season with salt and pepper to taste and cook another 5 minutes. Add in peppers and cook another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat to a simmer and cook for 2 hours.

Stir in cilantro, corn, beans and 1/2 tablespoon chili powder and continue to cook until the corn and beans are heated through, about 20 minutes.

Cook pasta until al dente and serve chili with a generous heap of freshly grated sharp cheddar (preferably from Wisconsin).

NFL Game Day Recipes | Aunt Dianna’s Cheeseball

Our fourth feature in the NFL Game Day Recipes comes from Sheri Steinig. She has graciously shared her Aunt Dianna’s secret cheeseball recipe. Though this is specially made for Redskins fans, Sheri assures the rest of us that we can try it too!

Remember to watch the Redskins take on the Saints this Sunday, Sept 9th at 1:00 BPM ET. Don’t forget to say Happy Grandparents Day to the special older adults in your life!

Aunt Dianna’s Cheeseball

Ingredients:

• 2-8 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese-do not use other cream cheese.
• 1-6 oz. Wispride Sharp Cheddar Cheese (tub size) If you buy the 12 oz. Just use half. Kaukauna is another Sharp Cheddar Cheese to use.
• 1-4 oz. Blue cheese (Treasure Cave brand is the best-it now comes crumbled.)
• 1 lb. chopped pecans
• parsley flakes
• 1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• Dash of cayenne pepper

Directions:

Let cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese and blue cheese set and soften in a bowl for about 3 hours.

Spread 1 lb. chopped pecans and sprinkle parsley flakes on a big sheet of aluminum foil before you start mixing the cheese. (Use foil pop-ups for each ball, wrapping the ball in Saran Wrap before you wrap it in the foil.) You need to have these wraps laid out before you mix the balls. I usually have several papers towels handy to wash and dry my hands between molding each ball. It is messy.

Mix all 3 cheeses together with a fork, and then add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.

Blend together again with a fork and shape into balls, wrap in saran wrap first and then in foil pop-ups. Place in the frig right away to harden.

The recipe makes 1 big ball, 2 medium balls or 3 smaller balls.

NFL Game Day Recipes | Caramel Corn

Our third feature in the NFL Game Day Recipes comes from Marsha Adler. She has graciously shared this delicious snack created by Traci Des Jardins, one of the great chefs and restaurant impresarios in San Francisco. This sweet treat from California is sure to bring some luck to the 49ers!

Remember to watch the 49ers take on the Packers this Sunday, Sept 9th at 4:25 PM ET. Don’t forget to say Happy Grandparents Day to the special older adults in your life!

Caramel Corn with Peanuts, Pistachios and Coconut

Servings: Makes about 16 cups

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw, shelled peanuts
• 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
• 1 cup shelled pistachios
• 2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) butter
• 1 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 10 cups unflavored popped popcorn (from about 1/2 cup kernels or 1 bag microwave popcorn)

Directions

Note: When using a candy thermometer, be sure the tip doesn't rest on the bottom of the pot, which will give a false reading. Instead, clip it to the inside edge of the pot and adjust it so that the tip sits about 1/2-inch deep in the sugar mixture.
Preheat oven to 350°. On a large baking sheet, toss together peanuts, coconut, and pistachios. Bake, stirring once or twice, until toasted and fragrant, 5 to 7 minutes; set aside.

Spray two large sheet trays (with sides) and the tines of 2 forks with cooking spray; set aside. Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, vinegar, and salt in a large pot. Clip a candy thermometer to the inside edge of the pot and cook over medium-high heat, without stirring, until mixture reaches 300°, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine peanut mixture and popcorn on 1 of the prepared sheet trays.

When sugar mixture reaches 300°, immediately remove pot from heat and set candy thermometer aside. Carefully pour hot sugar mixture over popcorn mixture, then use the prepared forks to toss together and coat well. (Work quickly, since the sugar mixture hardens as it cools.) Transfer popcorn to second prepared sheet tray and spread it out.

Set aside and cool completely, about 2 hours, then break into bite-size pieces. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature.

NFL Game Day Recipes | Grandma’s Lasagna

Our second feature in the NFL Game Day Recipes comes from Adam Hlava.  He has kindly shared with us with his grandmother’s lasagna recipe that she used to make before Packers games in the winter. After eating a hearty meal, Adam and his family would descend upon Lambeau Field in Green Bay to watch the Packers wallop their competitors. The question is, did they wear their Cheeseheads?

Remember to watch the Packers take on the 49ers this Sunday, Sept 9th at 4:25 PM ET. Don’t forget to say Happy Grandparents Day to the special older adults in your life!

Grandma’s Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ – 2 lbs hamburger
• 1 large and 1 small jar of pasta sauce (I use Prego)
• Box of lasagna noodles
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2-3 cups shredded Wisconsin cheddar cheese
• 2-3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 

Directions:

1. Brown and season the meat (I season with garlic salt, pepper, onion powder)

2. While you are browning the meat, start boiling the noodles in salt water (you will need 9 noodles, I usually put in 10-11 just in case one or two break)

3. When the meat is browned, drain the grease and then add the pasta sauce and mix together

4. In a bowl, mix the cheddar and mozzarella cheese all together

5. When meat/sauce has simmered for about 10 minutes and the noodles are ready, drain the noodles and spray with cold water to cool off

6. In a cake size pan start layering:

• First:  noodles (you should be able to get three noodles across the pan)
• Second:  cover with a layer of meat sauce
• Third:  cover with cheese mixture

You should be able to repeat this two more times

7. Cover with aluminum foil, poke a few holes.  Put in at 350 degrees, after 30-45 minutes, take out and remove aluminum foil and put back in oven.  Bake for at least another 20 minutes then enjoy!

 

What’s your game day recipe?

NFL Game Day Recipes | Beer Bread

In addition to celebrating Grandparents Day on September 9th, we will be watching our favorite NFL teams play their Kick Off games for the season. Throughout the week Generations United staff will be sharing their favorite game day recipes.  Today we’re featuring Alex Cutler’s recipe for Beer Bread. Word has it that when Alex makes his Beer Bread the Washington Redskins win! 

Remember to watch the Redskins take on the Saints this Sunday, Sept 9th at 1:00 PM ET. Don’t forget to say Happy Grandparents Day to the special older adults in your life!

Beer Bread

Recipe courtesy Food.com (serving 6-8)

• 3 cups flour (sifted)
• 3 teaspoons baking powder (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)
• 1 teaspoon salt (omit if using Self-Rising Flour)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 (12 ounce) can beer (any beer will work but Alex recommends seasonal Sam Adams)
• 1/2 cup melted butter (1/4 cup will do just fine)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix dry ingredients and beer.

3. Pour into a greased loaf pan.

4. Pour melted butter over mixture. NOTE: This recipe makes a very hearty bread with a crunchy, buttery crust. If you prefer a softer crust (like a traditional bread) mix the butter into the batter instead of pouring it over the top.

5. Bake 1 hour, remove from pan and cool for at least 15 minutes.

 

What’s your game day recipe?