The Motor City

The Bears played the Lions the first game of the regular season. I didn't cook; a friend brought the food. We only pulled out a victory when I pulled out the Mike Ditka Hall of Fame Salsa. This week will be different. I'll be cooking because I know that sometimes teams with poorer records are motivated and I want to Do My Part!

But I'm not sure which direction to go. Detroit is the home of the original Coney Dog. It

is also my birthplace. One of the most traditional foods for my family is Navy Bean Soup - southern style with cornbread, chopped onion and a kick of salsa.

What do you think fans: Coney Dogs or Bean Soup? My Detroit relatives are not allowed to vote!

Sweet Standings

It's time to celebrate the Bears leading the NFC North. I believer JKT's famous Ginger Bends are just the treat. Soft, delicious ginger cookies are easily mixed with a fork - don't even think of using the beater.

Ginger Bends

Ingredients:

1 Cup Sugar

3/4 Cup Butter

1/4 C Briar Rabbit Molasses (mild)

1 Egg

2 tsp Baking Soda

2 1/4 Cups Flour

1/2 tsp Ginger

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Melt Butter

2. Add Sugar, Molasses and Egg to the Butter and stir with a fork

3. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl

4. Slowly add dry ingredients to butter mixture, stirring with a fork

5. Chill

6. Make 1 inch balls and roll in Sugar

7. Great Cookie Sheets

8. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

9. Enjoy!

Victorious Over Vick

Following a Packers loss, the Monsters of the Midway responded in true Chicago Bears fashion. They were outstanding against Michael Vick and the Eagles handing Vick his first interception this year. Near the end of the first half, it looked like the Eagles were going to score. I took another bite of my Philly Cheese Steak and suggested that the Bears should intercept - and they did! Then they marched the ball down the field to score a touchdown to end the half. You're welcome Bears Fans!

The winning recipe was delicious.

Philly Cheese Steak

Ingredients:

2 pounds Sirloin Tip Roast

Dijon Mustard, Kosher Salt, Fresh Ground Pepper, Garlic Powder and Regular Mustard

Mayo

Beef Broth

Provolone Cheese

Tuscany Sandwich a

nd Pizza Topping

Focaccia Rolls

Directions:

Rub roast with Dijon Mustard, Kosher Salt, Fresh Ground Pepper, Garlic Powder and Regular Mustard

Place roast in a shallow pan on a greased rack. Pour beef broth in the bottom of the pan just below

the rack.

Allow to sit until the roast reaches room temperature.

Roast in 325 oven for 60 minutes, then raise temperature to 350 for another 10 minutes.

Slice as thinly as possible using an electric knife.

Place a slice of Provolone Cheese on the top half of a focacica roll.

Melt the cheese under the broiler.

Spread Mayo and Tuscany Sandwich and Pizza Topping on the bottom half of the roll. Add sliced beef and Enjoy!

Sorry Michael Vick - none for you!

A Victory Over Vick

The family's lining up for this one folks. If asked, I'd have some harsh words for Michael Vick but then, no one's asked. Well, they say success is the best revenge so let's cook up some success over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Phillie Cheese Steaks with a generous dose of Mike Ditka's Hall of Fame Salsa seems appropriate. Anyone have a favorite recipe to share? I'll be cooking on Sunday and then joining the puppy on the couch to cheer on Da Bears!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

A Shout Out for the Shut Out!

A pot of Spicy Cuban Red Beans and Rice, a roaring Fire and the NFL Network - life is good. It got even better when the Chicago Bears continued their winning streak in Monstrous fashion with a 16-0 Shut Out of the Miami Dolphins. The Bears are now in First Place in the NFC North, half a game ahead of the Packers. Much cheering could be heard by my neighbors!

Here's the winning recipe:

Monstrously Good Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients:

1 pound Chorizo

1/2 a bunch of Cilantro, chopped

1/2 onion chopped

1/3 cup Mike Ditka Hall of Fame Salsa

1 Cup long grain white rice, cooked according to directions

2 cans of Red Beans

1 can Diced Tomatoes

Salt and Pepper to taste

Garlic Powder to taste

Chili Powder (lots) to taste

1 TB Red Chili Flakes

Directions:

1. Remove Chorizo from its casing, in a heavy pot brown the Chorizo, onion and cilantro

2. Meanwhile, prepare the white rice (1 cup rice, 2 cups water)

3. When Chorizo is browned add Salsa, Red Beans, Tomatoes and Seasonings, Simmer

4. Add cooked rice and adjust seasonings, Simmer

Record Breaking Red Beans and Rice

Tonight's the night the Bears take on the motivated Dolphins in Miami - Devin Hester's home town.

Tonight's the night Devin has a chance to break Brian Mitchell's NFL record for kick return touchdowns. He's looking for number 14 on a field where he took the ball 92 yards for a kick return touchdown during Super Bowl XLI.

Excitement like this calls for some spicy ingredients. While Devin's getting his running shoes on, I'll be doing my part by making the Cuban favorite Red Beans and Rice with a healthy helping of Mike Ditka's Hall of Fame Salsa.

Let's bring some Bears Spice to Miami tonight - Go Bears!

11 Guys From Miami

Actually, when it comes to Miami's food scene it's 3 guys and they're Cuban. Over 23% of all Miami residents are Cuban so let's look at some traditional Cuban dishes for Thursday night's winning menu. Pork is a big deal in Cuban cuisine, also Paella and Arroz con Pollo (Chicken and Rice). What do you think will be the winning ingredients?

Monsters of the Midway

Now that was fun! Not only did Chicago's fans have fun watching our Bears beat the Vikings 27-13 but the Bears seemed to be really enjoying themselves. Perhaps it was the retro Monsters of the Midway jerseys but there was a real spark of football fun!

Before I move on to planning the menu for Thursday's game against the Dolphins, let me share today's game winning recipe - Wild Rice Beef Vegetable Soup. At the last minute, I added a bit of melted cheese on top as a nod to Brett Favre. If I had known that real grass was such a problem for Minnesota, I may have added some spinach!

Ingredients:

1 pound stew meat, cut in bite size pieces

1 onion diced

2 stalks of celery diced

2 carrots diced

1 large can of beef broth

2 cans Veg All

1 can diced tomatoes

1/4 cup Mike Ditka's Hall of Fame Salsa

1 box of wild rice (cooked)

fresh sliced mushrooms

sliced Provolone cheese

Directions:

1. Brown stew meat in 1 TB Olive Oil and 1 TB Butter

2. Add onion, carrots and celery and cook until onions are translucent

3. Add beef broth and diced tomatoes, simmer for 45 minutes

4. Add Veg All and Mike Ditka's Hall of Fame Salsa

5. Continue simmering soup while preparing wild rice according to package directions

6. Add cooked wild rice to soup

To Serve:

Place individual servings of soup in a bowl. Put fresh mushrooms on top of soup and cover with a slice of Provolone cheese. Place in microwave for about 1 minute to melt cheese. Serve, Enjoy and Go Bears!

Off Week/On Week

Did you miss me last week? Buffalo was a no brainer in the menu department. After being off the week before, I must have been lulled into the no cooking zone because I let Buffalo Wild Wings prepare the winning menu. Could my bout of laziness be the reason the game wasn't the slam dunk it should have been? Well, this week I'm back in the game.

Minnesota!?! Not an easy menu to plan. Let's see there's Spam, Blueberries and Lutefisk - Yeesh! Lions and Tigers and Bears - oh my! However, just as Dorothy had her Toto, Minnesota has it's wild rice. Now there's an ingredient we can build a win around.

I think I'll make Wild Rice Beef Soup, what's your game day menu?