Originally published in crunchy newspapers on September 24, 2009
Friday night lights, Saturday tailgating, arm-chair quarterbacking on Sundays afternoons and Monday nights. They may call baseball the national pastime but you could certainly make an argument that football is just as much a national obsession.
One of the things I appreciate the most about the gridiron is that a player can’t do much on his own. In basketball a skilled player can grab the rebound, dribble the length of the court, and drive to the basket. In baseball, the batter at the plate can put a score on the board with a single swing of the bat that sends the ball over the fence. Football is different. Even when the fastest member of the team returns a kick-off for a touchdown, he doesn’t to it all alone. It takes a field full of blockers to clear the way. Football is unique too because it calls on players to be highly specialized. A defensive lineman has a single focus – bring down the guy with the ball.
One of the other aspects of the game I appreciate is that small consistent successes achieve the very same outcome as one giant success. When a team is on offence, all they need to do is move that ball an average of three yards and one foot on each and every down. Do that consistently and they put six points on the scoreboard, the very same six points that comes from an 80-yard touchdown pass from Payton Manning to Dallas Clark. Not to be too much of a pigskin philosopher, but there’s some simple yet profound lessons to be learned from what happens on the football field.
Another of my favorite parts of the game is not what occurs on the field; but what happens in the stands on Friday nights, in parking lots on Saturday mornings, and in living rooms around the big screen. As someone who writes about food, family, and community, I can’t think of better settings to be immersed in all three. Spending a Friday night attending a hometown high school game is as great way to experience community as any – seeing kid’s you’ve watch gown up play ball, cheer, bang the marching band drum, or just have a good time in the stands; spending time with other parents; and, of course, eating a ribeye sandwich from the Boosters.
The living room is another great place for the ultimate football experience, warmer and a bit more intimate than being there live. Whether it is the Super Bowl, one of the gazillion college bowlss, or just a regular-season match-up, watching at home with friends is always a good time. One of the best parts of these “home” games is the chance they provide for continuous grazing of wings, chili, nachos or whatever other football foods are on the buffet.
Each season I try to come up with a new signature dish to contribute to these viewing parties. This year it is a Smoky Jalapeño Popper Dip. This was inspired by a version of poppers I make on the grill – peppers stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon, and then smoked over hickory wood. They are delicious but don’t hold up well for the three hours it takes to watch a game. So this dip version works great eaten with chips or crackers. If this sounds good but you don’t have time to make it yourself, just invite me over to watch the next big game. This is what I’ll be bringing.
Smoky Jalapeño Popper Dip
- 8 jalapeño, halved (lengthwise), stemmed, and seeded
- 16 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature
- 16 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 strips of bacon, cooked crisp, and crumbled
- Chips or crackers
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, place the jalapeños on a baking sheet, and roast for about 20 minutes until soft and the skin is just beginning to char. Let cool and chop. Add the jalapeños and other ingredients (except chips or crackers) into a mixing bowl and combine. Clean hands are the best tools for this job. Please the mixture into an oven-proof dish and bake at 350 degrees uncovered for about 40 minutes or until the dip it bubbly around the edges and beginning to brown. This is terrific right out of the oven but still pretty good at room temperature.
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