Wild Rice

Well that was miserable. The Vikings dominated da Bears from the first quarter. Cutler was sacked 5 times and had 2 turnovers. The only bright spot was a successful field goal by Gould. We all needed that.

Let's talk about waterless cookware. I bought some good cookware in college. Everyone thought I was crazy but it has never failed me. Today's Chicken and Wild Rice Soup needed to simmer for 2 hours. After putting it together in the morning, I simply had to remove it from the heat while I headed to church. The lid seals itself and, without leaving the stove on, there was no chance for a fire. I got to enjoy a fabulous service with phenomenal songs by Erin and Sara. Ladies, the last some was gorgeous!

Returning in time for the kick off, the soup was ready. Here's a nice recipe for a cold winter's night.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 finely chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced carrots
1/4 pound fresh sliced mushrooms
2 T reconstituted porchini mushrooms, chopped
1/4 cup and 2 T flour
1 cup cooked wild rice
1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp Curry powder
1/4 tsp powdered mustard
1/4 tsp  dried thyme
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 cup half and half
1 T and 1 1/2 tsp dry sherry

Directions:
1.  Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat
2.  Stir in onion, celery and carrots and saute 5 minutes
3.  Add mushrooms and saute 2 more minutes
4.  Add flour and stir well. Cook about 3 minutes, stirring constantly
5.  Gradually add the chicken broth, stirring constantly
6.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer
7.  Add rice, chicken, salt, curry powder, mustard powder, thyme, pepper and sherry
8.  Heat through, then add half and half
9.  Simmer for 1-2 hours (do not allow to  boil)

Bears Conquer the Vikings

Soldier Field was rockin and rollin. Our Bears were back and it was fun! Podlesh's 2 point conversion was icing on the cake.

What wasn't fun were all the injuries. Bears fans will be holding their breath to hear the status of some of our Monsters. The list of injured players reads like a "Who's Who" of Bears: Hester, Tillman, Spencer, Louis and Forte. Let's hope for some good news. 

Deciding on today's menu was a challenge and came down to the wire. The decision rested on whether Cutler was playing. Once it was announced that he'd be on the field, it was time to make Skause. Skause is a traditional meat and vegetable stew that was a constant with Vikings. There was always a kettle going and, as they ate it, more meat and vegetables were added. My skause consisted of a Beef Vegetable Soup that had been made several days ago and the addition of wild rice and extra beef broth. Let's eat to the health of da Bears!

Skause

Ingredients:
1 pound beef stew meat
2 TB butter
1/2 onion diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
64 ounces beef broth
1/2 rutabaga, cubed and cooked
2 cans Veg All
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp Dried Mustard
1 box Wild Rice
Salt, Pepper, Rosemary, Garlic Powder to taste

Directions:
1.  Spray Dutch Oven with Pam
2.  Melt butter
3.  Brown stew meat with onion and celery
4.  Add rutabaga, Veg All, Tomatoes and seasonings
5.  Add 32 ounces of beef broth
6.  Simmer at least 30 minutes

Several Days Later:
7.  Cook Minnesota Wild Rice according to the package using beef broth as the liquid
8.  Add  to soup
9.  Simmer at least 30 minutes

Comfort Food

I am not sure if I'm glad the season is over or not. Today's game against the Vikings was a lot of fun and a final win in the stats. We saw amazing football from both sides. McCown did a great job for da Bears showing courage and ability in the pocket. What fun it was to see Peanut grab the football and run it in for a touchdown.

The Vikings brought their game as well. 69 Dude! I was rooting for you. You're a football fan's football player. And Webb, I would be pleased to see you in a Bears uniform. Your moves, balance and decision making was amazing.

All in all, it was a fun game until the ghost of 2011 reappeared in the form of Major Wright colliding with Urlacher. Now we have to wait to hear from the trainers to learn the extent of Brian's injury.

Today's menu choice was perfect to end this injury-prone season. Minnesota fancies something called a hotdish which is basically a comfort food casserole. Goulash is my ultimate comfort food and I must say I enjoyed it. Treat yourself to some warm comfort on a cold winter day.

Goulash
Ingredients:
1 LB Ground Beef
1 Onion, chopped
1 tsp Garlic, chopped
1 Large Can of Diced Tomatoes
1/2 Bag of Dumpling Sized Egg Noodles, Cooked and Drained
Pepper and Season Salt to taste

Directions:
1.  Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside
2.  Brown ground beef, onion and garlic. Drain.
3.  Add diced tomatoes, noodles, salt and pepper.
4.  Simmer for 30 minutes.

The Season Closer

A tough season comes to a close against the Minnesota Vikings. A well put together and talented Bears team dealt with a character building season as a result of key injuries. Highlights included a delightful 5 game winning streak and Peanut Tillman's long overdue invitation to the Pro Bowl.

This up and down season comes to an end against Minnesota on New Years Day. Neither team has a chance of going to the playoffs so this game is for bragging rights only. Both teams have had key players hurt so hopefully everyone will stay healthy and will play a fan-friendly game.

When thinking about a fan-friendly menu I am drawn to some Minneapolis-St. Paul cuisine I haven't explored before. Hotdish is a term applied to a variety of comfort foods and casseroles. A Juicy Lucy is a hamburger with cheese in the center. Pick your poison Bears fans and Bear down!

Football Frenzy!

Now that's what I call Fun! Da Bears played like - well, da Bears! The offensive line was present; Hester was a presence and Gould was - and still is - Perfect! Let's take it across the pond guys!

The winning menu was a combination of defense and offense. On the defense was a Minnesota staple - Wild Rice and White Fish. The offense topped it off with some shrimp as a a tip of the hat to Matt Forte's Louisiana home. The fish and shrimp were poached in some chicken broth seasoned with dill, dried mustard, pepper and Louisiana seasoned salt. After the fish and shrimp were plated on top of the wild rice, some half and half was added to the broth and allowed to thicken a bit. A little broth over the rice and Voila! a winning recipe.

Forte vs Peterson?

I admit it, I've been enjoying a Forte Frenzy since Matt's first season. He so reminds me of Sweetness. This week will be a battle of the running backs and I've got my hopes and my menu pinned on Matt.

Putting together the menu for a must win game against the Minnesota Vikings involves some offense and defense.  The offense has to be a staple of the opposing team. Some good choices include whitefish and wild rice. Usually the defense is based on Coach Ditka's Hall of Fame Salsa. This week let's add a nod to Matt Forte's Louisiana roots. What will you be cooking to bring our Bears a win?

Time To Celebrate

Bears clinch, Hester sets a record, Defense shares 5 interceptions - It's Time to Celebrate! Thank you Chicago!

The Wild Rice Beef Vegetable Soup is a 2 time winner - Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 LB Stew Meat

1 TB Butter

1/2 onion diced

2 stalks of celery, diced

1 garlic clove, diced

Beef Broth

Wild Rice

2 cans Veg All

1 can diced Tomatoes

Salt, Pepper, Rosemary to taste

Directions:

1. Melt 1 TB butter in dutch oven

2. Brown meat, garlic and onion in butter

3. Add broth, celery, tomatoes and seasoning, simmer

4. Prepare wild rice separately according to package directions

5. Add cooked wild rice and Veg All to soup

6. Adjust seasoning

FlubberGate

The Bears and the Vikings play tonight at TCF Bank Stadium due to the collapse of the Metrodome. It will be cold and snowing but the major concern is the field. Players are concerned that it's too hard. My solution - Flubber it!

Certainly with Minnesota being home to 3M they must have access to some of that bouncy substance. What's the hold up? Why hasn't the field been Flubbered? Is there some sort of conspiracy? We'll find out tonight my friends. In the meantime, the Beef Vegetable Wild Rice Soup is in the kitchen.

Go Bears!

RSVP and We'll Send The Address

We still don't know where the Bears-Vikings Game will be hosted. Current plans are to play the game at a local University but there are safety concerns. I'd be happy to have them play the game at the University of Illinois where the Bears played one season while Soldier Field was being renovated but- alas - that would count as home field advantage so we wait.

However, I don't think we need to wait on the menu. Since the last time we played the Vikings the we were successful (27-13) I think we should go with the winning recipe - Wild Rice Beef Vegetable Soup. Here's what worked last time, any suggestions for the upcoming frozen tundra?

Wild Rice Beef Vegetable Soup

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!

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?