And The Kingdom Celebrates

What a way to clinch! Da Bears beat the Packers at Soldier Field on a beautiful day in December. Eddie Jackson's interception of Aaron Rodgers would have been a thing of beauty except for the injury. He's still being evaluated so let's hope for the best.

This blogger will be cooking for Eddie this coming Sunday. As I research each player, the question is"Why are so many of this year's  Bears from Florida?'. Please send me your favorite Floridian recipes as I'm running short on ideas.

A big shout-out to Joe Omo-osagie for this week's recipe - Nigerian Jollof Rice in honor of Prince Amukamara. Since Joe doesn't use an actual recipe, I have adjusted his instructions to provide more details. It's flavorful and you can spice it as much as you'd like.

Jollof Rice

Ingredients:
2 Chicken Thighs
Olive Oil
Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Thyme, Nutmeg,  Cumin, Ginger, Salt and Pepper
1 Onion, diced
1 small can Tomato Sauce
1 Cup  Water
1/2 Cup Basmati Rice

Directions:
1.  Season chicken with spices to taste
2.  Heat oil in pan, when hot add chicken and brown
3.  Remove chicken and cut out the bones
4.  Place onion and chicken in the pan and cook until onions are softened
5.  Add tomato sauce to create a thick base. Let simmer about 3 minutes.
6.  Add water and bring to a boil
7.   Add rice, reduce heat to low and cook about 20 minutes
8.  Let sit 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings as desired and serve.

Let's Cook for Royalty

With 50 tackles and 3 interceptions this year, Prince Amukamara has the attention of Bears fans and opponents alike. However, he may also have some fans in Nigeria where his great-grandfather was the king of Awo-Omamma in Iwo State of Nigeria and he is next in line to be chief.

Prince and his wife Pilar continued the family's tradition of royal names with their daughter Princess Paisley and son Princeton. His sisters are named Princess, Precious, Promise, Peace and Passionate.

Prince was born in Arizona and his favorite foods include pre-game pasta and meat sauce, pizza and his wife's biscuits and gravy. Those choices plus some Nigerian Jolof Rice makes menu Decisions fairly tough.

Let's get cooking Bears fans. Tomorrow's a Big Day!

One Rib Short of a Win

Last week's game had me on the edge of my seat. There were mistakes and there were some glorious  plays even before the amazing comeback to tie the game.

Chase Daniel showed true Bears grit. Nagy called some amazing plays and Kyle Fuller continues to be an intercepting force to be reckoned with. Last week I decided to cook for Chase Daniel. Coming from a wealthy Texas community I knew we needed some beef. Perhaps I should have gone with a big, thick Texas-size Rib Eye. Instead I made delicious Short Ribs. They just weren't enough. 

This week I'll put the culinary focus on Kyle Fuller who hails from Maryland. Football is apparently in his genes. His three brothers are also current or former NFL players. Wearing Shaun Gayle and Devin Hester's #23, Kyle has some big shoes to fill. Let's help him by preparing a nice Maryland dinner tonight.

One Rib Short of a  Win

Ingredients: 
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
2 TB Butter (Divided)
4 LB Beef Short Ribs with the bone
Salt,, Pepper and Dry Mustard to taste
1 Cup Flour
2 Cups Chopped Onion
1 Cup Chopped Celery
1 Cup Chopped Carrots
2 TB Minced Garlic
3 Bay leaves
1 TB Dried Thyme
1 Cup Red Wine
8 Cups Beef Stock


Directions:
1.   Put flour, salt, pepper and dry  mustard in a zip lock bag. Add ribs and shake. Dispose        of the extra flour.
2.   Heat oil and 1 TB butter in a large pot.
3.   Brown the ribs on all sides - Set aside.
4.   Add onions to the pot and saute for 2 minutes.
5.   Add carrots and celery and saute for 1 more minute.
6.   Season with salt, pepper, garlic, bay leaves and thyme. Cook 1 more minute.
7.   Deglaze the pot with red wine, scraping up all the bits on the bottom.
8.   Add ribs and remaining TB of butter. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer          for 2 hours or until the sauce thickens.

Serves 6

Keep The Fun Flowing

Chase Daniel will get his second start this season after an impressive game against the Lions on Thanksgiving.  As Chase preps to face the Giants, I'll be working up a Texas-size menu to thank him for last week's performance.

The Texas-inspired menu will try to evoke the toney community of Southlake, Texas where Chase led his high school to the 5A State Championship and was named 5A State Player of the Year in 2004.

Southlake, Texas is home to a long list of notables including Terry Bradshaw. So what does a Bears fan cook for such an illustrious group? Let's get cooking for a Giant-size win!