Magic Mushrooms

Sometimes you have to go with your heart. In this week's football pools I went with the Lions and the Bears. The Lions picked apart the Eagles like they were a turkey carcass. The Bears didn't start out as if they were hungry - rather, they seemed to be  suffering from a turkey hangover. It got so bad, I had to leave my Thanksgiving party because I was about to be "that fan."


And then, something changed. Did da Coach put on the Packers sweater again? Perhaps someone filled the Bears headsets with the commentators dialogue dismissing them from the very beginning, bringing a renewed sense of "watch this." Whatever it was, it was wonderful. The Bears and Cutler settled into a winning zone. It was a good zone - not great. There were too many penalties and missed opportunities, but, darn it, Cutler was good.

As for this cook/blogger, I admit to double dipping. My contributions to the Thanksgiving feast included Cranberry Sauce, Cranberry Sauce with Jalapenos and Goat Cheese filled Mushrooms. Everyone was informed the mushrooms were the secret ingredient to a Bears win. They - and the win - were delicious.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms (24)

Ingredients:
Olive oil
2 slices White Bread
1 small garlic clove, chopped
5 oz goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
Coarse salt
20 oz white button mushrooms, cleaned and stems removed

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 400 and lightly oil rimmed baking sheet with olive oil
2.  In food processor, pulse bread and garlic into fine crumbs
3.  Set aside 1/2 cup of bread/garlic mixture
4.  Add goat cheese, parsley and red pepper flakes to remaining bread/cheese mixture
5.  Season with salt and pulse until combined
6.  Spoon filling into each mushroom and roll filled side in reserved breadcrumbs.
7.  Place on baking sheet and bake until mushrooms are tender and lightly browned (15-20 minutes)

Happy Birthday Brock Osweiler

It was a stellar day for Bronco's backup quarterback Brock Osweiler. On his 25th birthday he made his debut as an NFL quarterback scoring a touchdown on his first set of plays. He went on to beat the Bears 17-15 with his parents, wife and various relatives watching from the Soldier Field stands. Apparently he blew out the candles prior to today's game because it was all he could have wished for.

From da  Bears perspective, it was a lackluster game, ending their winning streak. Even Jay seemed genuinely disappointed.

Lunch, however, was no disappointment. Finding quite a bit of pork in the freezer, Chili Colorado seemed a perfect choice. Chile Colorado is a fairly mild pork stew that can be spiced to any level you'd like. Serve on tortillas with some shredded Chihuahua cheese.

Chili Colorado

Ingredients:
3 TB flour
1.5 Lbs boneless pork, cut into cubes
1 TB bacon grease or vegetable oil
1 TB vegetable oil
1 T flour
1/4 C chopped onion
4 oz tomato sauce
2 T chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
3 cups water [you can substitute some beef broth for part of the water]

Directions:
1.  Put 3 T flour in a plastic bag, add dpork and shake to coat
2.  Heat bacon grease or vegetable oil in a dutch oven over medium high
3.  Add pork and cook until browned
4.  Add 1 T flour and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly
5.  Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until pork is very tender (1.5 - 2 hours)

Cooking Up A 2015True Denver Experience

Chicago's latest weather should make Denver feel at home even if they don't have their star quarterback. It's reported that Peyton Manning may not even make the trip to Chicago. Hopefully, he's not home trying to cook up a win for the Broncos.

What are you planning to cook to help our team move to an even 5-5? Are you looking at what's served in Sports Authority Field? That would include:

• Italian Nachos 
• Fried Chicken Cones
• Ham and Cheese Pretzel Buns
• Brats including Bronco Brats
• Liquid Nitrogenized Ice Cream

If you're looking at Denver's traditional foods, consider wild game, chili, rocky mountain oysters, potatoes and pinto beans. 

Let's get cooking!

Cutler Smiles and Hugs Players

The world is certainly different for Jay Cutler this year. Today we saw him smiling, hugging and genuinely enjoying the game and his team. If this keeps up, Bears fans are in for a raucously fun season. Thank you Virginia for bringing Coach Fox. What a difference he has made.

Today's 37-13 win against the St. Louis Rams was reminiscent of better days. Even without Matt Forte, da Bears were Monsters. Let's keep it up.

The winning menu combined two St. Louis essential elements: Lovely Italian Food and produce from the Soulard Market. Enjoy this delicious Spaghetti Squash Bolognese.

Spaghetti Squash Bolognese

Ingredients:
1/2 pound Ground Beef, browned
3 carrots, in food processor
1/2 onion, in food processor
2 cloves garlic, in food processor
1 small can tomato paste
Olive Oil
1/2 jar of spaghetti sauce - your choice
Spices to taste: Basil, Salt and Pepper

Directions:
1. Chop vegetables
2.  Heat olive oil
3.  Add vegetables and cook until soft
4.  Add tomato paste and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly
5.  Set aside
6.  Brown ground beef
7.  Drain and add to tomato paste mixture
8.  Add spaghetti sauce to taste
9.  Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and place on baking sheet]
10. Preheat oven to 375 and brush the inside of spaghetti squash with olive oil, salt and pepper
11. Cook cut side down for 40 minutes on a baking sheet
12. Using a fork, scrape the spaghetti squash and magic happens - it becomes spaghetti!
13. Serve spaghetti squash with sauce and perhaps a touch of pesto - Delizioso!

What Do You Suppose Forte and Long Will Do For Fun in St. Louis?

Matt Forte is questionable against the Rams tomorrow. If he can't have fun on the field, perhaps he will have to settle for photo bombing Kyle Long's brother Chris, who is also questionable for tomorrow's game.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are planning our menus to help Kyle's prediction of a playoff run come true. St. Louis is home to the great Soulard Market, the Hill featuring delicious Italian food, and, of course, there's beer.

The Edward Jones Dome offers an eclectic choice of foods including strange donuts; St. Louis BBQ, chocolate covered marshmallows, French food and fried green tomatoes.

This blogger has chosen her menu - have you? Let's get cooking and let's go Bears!

Da Coach is wearing a Packers sweater. Forte's on the sidelines. Robbie missed 2 field goals and, yet, Cutler and the Bears posted a Win and set a record. Incredible.

Congratulations Jay on becoming the franchise leader in touchdown passes.Sid Luckman's record of 137 touchdown passes stood for 65 years!

Readers, did you take my hint about the game coming down to a quarterback battle? If so, you likely turned from San Diego fare to Southern treats. This cook chose to focus all my effort on Philip Rivers and his southern background. The Souper menu included Ham and Bean Soup and Cornbread. Add some salsa for fun. Perfect for a chilly fall night watching the Bears.

Ham and Bean Soup

Ingredients:
1/2 bag of 15 bean soup beans
1 smoked ham hock
1/2 slice of bone in ham, cubed
1 onion chopped
3 carrots chopped
Salsa to taste
Salt, Pepper and Smoked Paprika to taste

Directions:
1.  Soak beans overnight
2.  drain
3.  Put beans, meat and vegetables in a dutch oven
4.  Cover with water
5.  Bring to a boil and then simmer until beans and vegetables are tender
6.  Add Salsa and seasonings
7.  Simmer longer, adjusting seasonings
8.  Using an immersion blender, blend soup leaving some beans whole
9.  Break up ham hock

Serve with corn bread, some of which can be added to the soup.

San Diego - What to Do?

San Diego, there are a variety of ways to address their food. What will you prepare?

You can look at what they serve in the Qualcomm Stadium or you can look at San Diego itself.


This year, I've paid attention to to the opponent's concession stands but I can't say I'm happy with the results so far so, you decide.

Perhaps you'll go with a Mexican delight or seafood. Maybe, you'll just drink the wine.  You can combine or ????