Cutler or Not

Will Cutler play on Sunday? Probably not but who knows. As a fan, there's nothing we can do other than cook for a win and prepare for the worst. Therefore, pick the most delicious recipe so you at least can assure yourself of a food win. Sorry to be so cynical. After cutting my favorite players and providing a powerfully bad start to the season, this blogger is feeling a teeny bit discouraged.

Let's move on to food. Whatever you decide, cook like the season depends on it because it probably does. Here you go.

Bears fans, here are some hints for choosing your Dallas Cowboys menu. Steak, chicken fried steak, BBQ and Tex-Mex are huge in Dallas. Of course, everything is bigger in Texas.

Dallas is the home of Tex-Mex so let's think about Nachos enhanced with some real Mexican ingredients. Luckily there's a Mexican grocery store just around the corner. You might consider a simple plate of bean nachos with cilantro, Queso Rancherito and Queso Oaxaca. 

One question you may have is "What is the difference between Mexican and Tex-Mex?". Well, that is a good question to which there is no one clear answer. However, there are several distinctions. First there are the cheeses. Tex-Mex tends to use orange cheeses while Mexican cheeses are white - Chihuahua, Blanco, Fresco, Oaxaca, etc.

Another difference is the sauce. Tex-Mex tends to use chili. Mexican food uses tomatoes (red and green), chiles, cilantro and chocolate (mole).

The meat is different also. Rather than ground meats, Mexican meats are pulled. Goat meat and frog legs are common in the interior of the country while seafood is widely used in coastal regions. If you've never had ceviche you've missed out on a bit of heaven.

This is just the tip of the nacho. Consider exploring authentic Mexican food deeper. You won't be sorry! In the meantime - Go Bears!

How about this:

Cowboy Stew

Ingredients:
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/2 lbs. stew meat (cut into bite size pieces)
2-3 Tb vegetable oil
2 large onions, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
1 large clove garlic, pressed
3 large carrots, cubed into bite size pieces
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed into bite size pieces
1 small turnip, peeled and cubed into bite size pieces
1 small rutabaga, peeled and cubed into bite size pieces
2 cups beef broth
1 cup red wine
1/8 tsp basil
1/8 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp dry mustard
Creole Season Salt (to taste)

Directions:
1.  Combine flour, salt and pepper in large ziploc bag
2.  Add beef cubes and shake well coating all sides with flour mixture
3.  Brown meat in oil in large Dutch oven, working in batches if necessary
4.  Remove meat
5.  Saute onion, celery and garlic in pan drippings for 10 minutes
6.  Add carrots, potatoes, turnip, ruabaga, broth, red wine and seasonings.
7.  Bring to a boil
8.  Add meat. Cover, simmer 1 1/2 hours until meat is tender (add more broth if mixture becomes too thick or dry)
9.  Adjust seasonings by adding salt, pepper or Creole Season Salt to taste

Some Records Aren't Meant To Be Broken

What is it about farmers? They're not playing into my theory of defeating the opponent with native food. Last week we explored cranberries from Wisconsin. This week it was lettuce from Arizona. Both were disasters on the football field.

Today felt like an Illini game! The score was bad enough - 48/23 - but the penalties, OMG! We tied the team record for penalties, losing 170 yards. This last happened in the 1940's and Papa Bear - who had retired - couldn't stand it. He came back to coach the team and turn things around. Sadly, Papa is no longer an option. Should we look forward to the day when Virginia suits up? I expect she's beginning to consider her options.

I'm not blaming any of this on Coach Fox. I'm willing to give him the time to fix Chicago's broken system but YEESH! this week was ugly. I mean, really, how can you take lovely green lettuce topped with taco meat, refried beans, guacamole and salsa and turn it into hell on earth?

And, by the way, I'm not buying the hamstring injury for Jay Cutler. I expect it's something much more serious. For goodness sake, he wasn't even limping on his way into the locker room. Time for plan B, C or D.

Bears fans and cooks, let's regroup.

This is Personal

My mother and her family grew up in Detroit. Many of her family members still live there so .... it's personal when we play Detroit.

I was glad to hear that Cutler was benched. I am convinced that he doesn't play well with others and, therefore, can never be a leader quarterback. No one will put out the extra effort for him and that's important.

I was delighted to see Clausen celebrate with his team mates. Cutler never does this and whether he throws an interception or a touchdown pass, he just returns to the sidelines. Never a leader; never a team mate.

We came up short today. What the heck was up with the dropped passes? Great passes were dropped - why? Is there a different spin on Cutler's ball versus Clausen's? I have no idea what was going on but I'm hoping Marc Trestman holds firm with Jimmy Clausen.

Today, since it is so personal with the Lions, I went with my Aunts' french toast. As a child, they would each make my sister and I french toast and ask us to say whose what better. They were both delicious. Here's my recipe based on what I learned from them:

French Toast

Ingredients:
White bread
Eggs (1 for every 2 pieces of french toast)
Some: milk, brown sugar and vanilla
Jam, Jelly or Syrup

Directions:
Whip together egg, milk brown sugar and vanilla in a shallow, wide bowl (a pie pan works well)
Dip bread in the egg mixture, leaving it longer is a good thing
Melt butter in a pan over medium heat
When it's melted and warm, add bread that has been soaked in egg mixture
Cover pan with a lid
When one side is brown, turn and brown the other side

Top with either jelly/jam or syrup

"At A Loss For Words"

Brandon Marshall is "at a loss for words." Brian Urlacher believes the only thing elite about Jay Cutler is his money. Coach Ditka is angry. Walter's son, Jarret Payton, said the Packers game left him "embarrassed as a  Bears fan."

Not just the famous are commenting.  I've received texts and emails from other teams' fans, suggesting that I might want to cheer for their teams. Right now, it's painful to be a Bears fan.

From my outside perspective, there seems to be a lack of cohesion. The Bears aren't behaving like a team, they're a group of individuals - many of whom are extremely talented. A successful team wants to work together and to support their quarterback. To say that Jay Cutler isn't warm and fuzzy is an understatement. However, he has to learn how to engender loyalty if he has any chance of being a team leader.

When I was deciding what to cook for the Packers game, I made a mistake. I went back to basics and made Tailgate Chili, believing that was what was needed by the Bears. That's not true. What the Bears need is a team meal where the ingredients work as one. Perhaps Jay should host a party featuring this delicious Italian Beef. In this recipe, all the ingredients work together to support the quarterback:

Chicago Style Italian Beef

3 LB Sirloin Tip Roast
32 Ounces Beef Broth
1 package of Good Seasons Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
1 jar Pepperoncini Peppers
1 jar Giardiniera (in oil)

Spray your crockpot with Pam. Add all ingredients and cook on Low for 24 hours or longer turning every 6 hours.

Cream of Jaguar

We've got rhythm, we've got defense, we've even got offense who could ask for anything more? 41-3 Bears win and a tie with Minnesota for the lead in the NFC North results in ridiculous singing and dancing in this household.

Admittedly the first half was a snore but the Monsters who emerged to play the second half were awesome. For the second week in a row, Peanut caught an interception and ran it in for a touchdown. His eighth defensive touchdown set a franchise record. Congratulations and banana bread to you! Not to be outdone, Lance Briggs grabbed a ball and ran in his own defensive touchdown. That's how da Bears defense rocks!

Lovie said that the "Number 1 priority on defense is to score." That gives us two offenses and we certainly saw it today.

Robbie continues to be perfect. Forte is amazing. The dynamic duo of Cutler-Marshall is a pleasure to watch and every time Hester has the ball, we all hold our breath. Did you see his amazing catch?

Today's menu was Cream of Shrimp but the game was truly cream of Jaguar. This is a great recipe. Allow plenty of time at the end to strain the puree and, if it is too rich, add a bit more chicken broth.

Brian Urlacher has reportedly said that his major role is giving high fives. This winning recipe, based on a recipe from Williams-Sonoma, definitely receives an Urlacher High Five.

Cream of Shrimp

Ingredients:
3 TB unsalted butter
2 carrots, finely chopped
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 small baking potato, finely chopped
2 Lbs. small shrimp peeled and deveined, shells reserved (Note: I used frozen cocktail shrimp, medium size and cut them into bite size chunks)
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups half and half
1/2 TB dried thyme
1 bay leaf crumbled
Salt and white pepper
2 pieces of fried, drained crispy bacon - crumbled (Optional garnish)
1 TB fresh parsley leaves (Optional garnish)

Directions:
1.   In large saucepan, melt butter.
2.   Add carrots, onion, celery, potato and shrimp shells. Saute until onion is translucent and shells turn pink (2-3 minutes)
3.   Add stock, half and half, thyme, bay leaf and all but a handful of the shrimp.
4.   Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes.
5.   In small batches, puree the soup in a blender.
6.   Force the puree through a strainer using a wooden spoon.
7.   Return soup to the pan and season to taste with salt and white pepper.
8.   Add the remaining bite size shrimp chumks and simmer gently until warmed (2-3 minutes).
9.   Optional garnishes are crumbled bacon or parsley leaves.

Serves 4 Bears Fans

Where Was Your First?

Holy Cannoli Batman! That was fun. Da Bears were Monsters both on defense and offense. I don't remember the last time the Bears scored 41 points. Even the announcers were getting giddy about this team.

If you missed the game don't think they were playing a "got nothing" team. While the Colts Quarterback is a rookie, he has some real talent. And Reggie Wayne - ForGetAboutIt! He totally rocks. However, Cutler looks great and has an entire stable of receivers to choose from. 

The only downside from today's game is Peanut's injury. Still waiting to hear what the problem/prognosis is and hoping he'll be back soon.

So, back to the winning recipe and the title of this blog post. Apparently Breaded Pork Tenderloin was invented in Indiana. I have to admit it is one of my secret pleasures. I first had one at the Dog and Suds that was my first job. Yes, I was a CarHop Extraordinaire! It wasn't the root beer, onion rings or shakes that grabbed me. It was the Pork Tenderloin with lots of pickle and ketchup. I've never made a Breaded Pork Tenderloin from scratch so this was an adventure. Much like today's outing for Andrew Luck. The Colt's QB threw his first professional football regular season touchdown pass late in today's game.

Here you go foodie/Bears fans. This recipe came from AllRecipes.com - one of my favorites. Enjoy the adventure.

Traditional Indiana Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich

Ingredients:

4 (4 ounce) slices of pork tenderloin, cut across the grain
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/2 cup peanut oil for frying

Sandwich Choices:

4 Kaiser rolls, split
4 teaspoons mayonnaise, or as needed (optional)
4 teaspoons ketchup, or as needed (optional)
4 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard, or as needed (optional)
4 leaves lettuce (optional)
4 slices tomato (optional)
4 slices onion (optional)
4 slices pickle, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1.   Place each slice of pork tenderloin between two pieces of sturdy plastic (such as a cut-up large plastic freezer bag), and flatten the cutlet until it's about 1/4 inch thick, and about 3 1/2 by 5 inches in size.
2.   Beat the eggs and milk together in a shallow bowl, and whisk in the garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, marjoram, oregano, salt, and pepper until the spices are well blended into the mixture. Place the bread crumbs in a shallow bowl.
3.   Dip each flattened cutlet into the seasoned milk-egg mixture and then into the bread crumbs, thoroughly coating the cutlets with crumbs. Set the breaded cutlets aside on a piece of parchment or waxed paper; do not stack.
4.   Heat the oil in a large skillet until the oil is shimmering. Gently lower the cutlets, one at a time, into the hot oil, and fry until golden brown on each side, about 8 minutes per cutlet. Drain the cutlets on paper towels.
5.   Preheat oven broiler, and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
Spread the Kaiser rolls open with the cut sides up, and broil until the rolls are toasted and hot, about 1 minute. Top each roll with a fried cutlet (hopefully the sides of the meat will hang out of the roll by at least an inch on each side); top each cutlet with choice of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a pickle slice, if desired.

Uncle Jim Asked

Glad you asked.

The regular season begins this Sunday at Noon in Soldier Field. The opponent is the Indianapolis Colts led by Andrew Luck. So what do you football / foodie fans think is the perfect menu choice to beat the Colts and Andrew Luck?

Here's what we know about him. He was born into a football family in  Washington DC. Lived in England, Germany and Texas before choosing Stanford - coached by former Bears QB Jim Harbaugh - as his college home.

Here's what we know about Indiana - Corn, Corn, Sweets and more Corn.

Brian Urlacher will be on the field. The dynamic duo of Cutler and Marshall will be at the ready. Robbie Gould is always Golden. Matt Forte has a contract - Yes!! Peanut (who loves banana bread) will be ready. Let's do them proud!

Bear Down, Chicago Bears ....

The Little Game That Could've Been

If only / Except for / But if ..... da Bears were stuttering. First an interception by Tillman .... called back by a penalty. A bunch of almost caught passes by Cutler. An interception by Urlacher that was wasted and then a touchdown called back due to holding - except there was no holding. Preposterous!

The menu was a one/two punch with smoked cheese appetizer followed by brats in saeurkraut. Not much of a recipe folks, you just throw the brats, onion and saeurkraut in a crock pot. Serve on a bun with mustard and a schmeer of Coach Ditka's Hall of Fame Salsa.

Congratulations to the Lions - 3 and 0h my goodness.

Recipe for Disaster

The Bears set a record for allowing the most sacks in one half in NFL history. Jay Cutler left the game with a concussion. Second string quarterback Todd Collins got knocked out of the game leaving it to Caleb Hanie to finish.

Rather than my Giant Fat Sandwich - which was delicious by the way - leading us to a 4-0 record, it led to Giant Ugly Football. While the Bears are busy regrouping and tending to their wounds, I have to do the same in the kitchen. What's the perfect recipe for success against the Carolina Panthers? Help!