Time To Move On

I am moving past the disappointments of the past and am ready to embrace the future. Bears fans, let's do this.

This week we will travel to New Orleans to face the Saints and veteran Drew Brees. What will you cook for the win?

My winning recipe is in progress. Let's support our team and our new quarterback. Get ready, get set, COOK.

On the Sidelines

It's true, I've been on the sidelines for a few games. I have, however, been cooking AND I am happy with the play of the team under Trubiscky. Therefore, I'm coming out from underneath my rock and will try to rally the cooks to support our new quarterback. He seems to be the real deal - athletic, a leader and an all around good guy.

Here's what you missed:

Baltimore Pit Beef - Recipe adapted from Guy Fieri

I actually cooked this in the oven on 250 for 2 hours and it was fantastic.

Ingredients:
1/2 TB sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper
1/2 TB Garlic Powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 TB smoked paprika
1/2 TB chili powder
1 Pound Beef Top Round

Directions:
1.  Combine spices in a plastic bag and shake, add meat and shake.
2.  Seal the bag and marinate 24 - 48 hours in the refrigerator.
3.  Remove meat from refrigerator 20 minutes before you plan to grill or bake - let it get to room temperature
4.   For Medium Rare" Preheat grill to high and grill 10minutes OR preheat oven to 200 and bake 2 hours
5.  Let rest
6.  Slice thin and serve on buns with mayo or horseradish sauce.

Deja Vu All Over Again

Inconceivable! Thursday was a long, painful episode of deja vu. Cutler-esque interceptions combined with the rain delay, penalties, injury-causing tackles and a completely shut down offense made for a miserable evening.

Had Coach Fox asked, I would have counseled playing solid, basic football against the Packers. Has he lost my phone number? Has he lost his sense of football? Is he saving Trubisky for the next coach?

All these questions plagued me as I munched on my Football-basic Chili Mac. Do you see the parallels here?

Before the Vikings head into town, let's consider our menu choices. In the past, this blogger has focused on wild rice, Swedish specialties, and hotdish AKA casseroles. Get out those cookbooks, fellow Bears fans and let's whip up a win for our team.

My emotional roller coaster has finally come to a complete stop. It is now safe to exit the football game.

The Bears put on several shows on Sunday against the Steelers. Some were inspired while others were simply stupid. Marcus Cooper's run took the fans from cheers to jeers. We've yet to hear an explanation for "What was he thinking?" Given Fox' description of the Tampa Bay fiasco as "A bad day at the office," we aren't likely to get much emotion from the coaching staff regarding this latest embarrassment.

On the flip side, Jordan Howard's running game was a delight!

Sunday's menu was Football-ified Pierogis. Simply spoon Buffalo Wing Sauce - a combination of butter and Frank's Red Hot Wing Sauce - over some pierogis and begin the tailgate. Enjoy!

Trouble in Tampa

Tampa was a tough place for both the Illini and the Bears. Both teams were handed a decisive loss. After the devastation caused by the hurricane, it should have been hard to feel too bad about the games but ..... Ouch!

The Spanish Bean Soup (Sopa de Garbanzo) gave a bit of comfort. Give it a try.

Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
2 chorizos cut in 1" pieces
4 ounces Canadian bacon, diced
2 cans garbanzo beans
15 ounces tomato sauce
1 cup dry white wine
1 large baking potato, peeled and cubed
salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil

Directions:
1.  Heat oil in large pot
2.  Add onion and cook until translucent
3.  Add chorizo and Canadian bacon, cook 3 minutes
4.  Add garbanzo beans with their liquid, tomato sauce, wine and potato
5.  Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes.

A Missing Ingredient?

There was a lot of good about last Sunday's football game. Don't let my silence over the past week say otherwise. First, let me say - "We Have a Quarterback that relates to the team." We also have a solid backup quarterback. This makes me incredibly happy.

If I could offer once piece of advice, it would be to the receivers. Just like Coach Lombardi stressed the basics, I would tell them "Don't Take Your Eyes Off the Ball." Really dudes, we would have won the game if you followed this simple, basic truth. If you look away from the ball before you get it, you won't get it. Period. Done.

That being said, I'm looking forward to tomorrow's game against Tampa  Bay. I have chosen and cooked my recipe. It may even go to church with me with the other treats I'm cooking for the brunch to benefit the orphanage we built in Haiti.


Before we move on to this week's  menu, let me share last week's quintessential Southern  Brunch. I made a quiche with smoked salmon, collard greens and Gouda cheese. Some fresh tomatoes and a salad with strawberries completed the plate. I can't tell you how good collard greens are in a quiche. Also, Gouda melts beautifully and provides a nice flavor. Give it a try. Here's a basic quiche recipe allowing you to put in your favorites.

Quiche

Ingredients
1 9 inch refrigerated pie crust
2 TB olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
6 large eggs
3/4 cup half and half
1/8 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
8 ounces of cheese, grated
1 cup vegetables
1 cup meat or fish

Directions
1.  Heat oven to 375. Fit the crust into a 9 inch pie pan. Use a fork to pierce the shell around the bottom and the sides. Place on baking sheet.
2.  Heat 1 TB oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
3.   Add onions and 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Stirring occasionally until soft (5-7 minutes)
4.  In large bowl, whisk the eggs, then add half and half and whisk, Add nutmeg and 1/4 tsp salt.  Stir in the onion mixture and then cheese.
5.  Pour the egg mixture into the crust.
6.  Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean - about 35-40 minutes. Let it stand for 5 minutes.

Quarterback Quandary: Glennon or Trubisky?

Bears fans, are you ready for the great quarterback challenge? In the shadow  of the Hurricanes, Fires and Earthquakes, football season officially begins tomorrow. Chicago is blessed to only have a crisis of confidence. This Bears fan is going to press on with the hope the McCaskey's and Fox aren't part of the Fake Football News.

There are many delicious treats you can prepare for a game against the Atlanta Falcons.  I recommend your favorite, quintessential southern dish.

Be creative and share your thoughts with the Bears Fan Base!

On another note, Jim McMahon was in town last night for a MDA fundraiser. Now there's a quarterback we can be proud of!