3 Great Foods for NFL Sundays, Because It’s Tailgating Season
Tomorrow/Today/Yesterday/Last Thursday (depending on when you read this) is/was the start of the NFL Season! Thursday Night Football, which means it’s NFL tailgating season. Are you scratching you head, or maybe your stomach because you’re just thinking about what delicious snacks and apps you can cram down your throat as Scott Hanson tosses up the Octobox on NFL Redzone and says, “7 hours of commercial free football start now!” It is a great time to be alive when that countdown hits :00 and Hanson’s bladder leaves his body. I’m sure you’ve got some go to foods you like to make or buy each NFL Sunday, but some new suggestions never hurt!
Sausage Dip
A friend of ours, Ashley Ferrero, makes this when we get together for football Sundays and it is bangin’. I had never had or even heard of this until she made it! Most importantly it’s easy to make! Get a Jimmy Dean sausage roll, break it up (like you would taco meat) and brown it. Once browned you add a can of Rotel. Finally add a block of cream cheese to the pan and stir as it melts. Break it up a bit too when it begins getting melty. Easier to mix. Viola! Done! Great for dipping tortilla chips of your choice, vegetables, etc. She uses regular sausage, but you could probably kick it up with some Jimmy Dean hot sausage.
Smoked Cream Cheese
Do not question it. If you have a smoker and haven’t done this yet, then stop what you’re doing now. Go rub up some cream cheese, and fire up the smoker! Start by getting the temperature to 180-200 degrees. Place a block of cream cheese on foil in the freezer for 10 minutes. Rub it a little bit with olive oil, then put your favorite rub all over the cream cheese. Top, sides and bottom. Give the cheese a couple small diagonal slits on top, going both ways (strictly for presentation.) Then you smoke it for 2 hours. Grab any delicious cracker and watch how quickly you eat this ridiculously good cream cheese. Maybe make a couple if you’re having people over… just to be safe. Credit for introducing me to this goes to Jason Czarnecki.
Beef stew/Chili
Now to the late in the season Sundays. You need something to stick to your bones. The sausage dip and smoked cream cheese will stick to your bones if you eat enough of it, but mean a real meal. One that in moments you can ladle into a bowl and be back in front of the TV for the Eagles. Now for these their are no right and wrong way to make your stew or beef. Find a recipe, maybe you have a favorite. If you don’t, pick one and adjust it to your liking. I like this NY Times Cooking recipe for Old Fashioned Beef Stew I found years ago. Always delicious. For Chili I like it simple with the 2 Alarm Chili Kit from the super market. That covers all my spices. I add in ground meat 85/15. 4/5 bell peppers, 2 cans of Hanover Chili beans and a can of red kidney beans. Mix it all up and let is simmer for hourson low. Stir occasionally. These are the best Sundays! Up early. Make the food. Drink your coffee. Prep your fantasy line up and bets for the day, then enjoy the smell of your cooking as “7 HOURS OF COMMERCIAL FREE FOOTBALL START NOW!”
7 Hilarious Football Fan Superstitions Shared by Redditors
Jersey Power
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For some fans, the belief in “jersey power” is real, relying on their chosen jersey to bring their team to victory. A Reddit user revealed, “I change jerseys every game. Never wear the same one twice in a row.” They mentioned that during one season, the Jaguars secured a 3-1 record when following this practice, but experienced a 0-12 record when they didn’t.
Fiery Ritual
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Some fans unquestionably take their rituals to the extreme. During Vince Young’s playing days, a Redditor mentioned that they used to perform a rather unconventional practice of burning a photo of the player. They would attach a picture of his face to a Barbie doll and place it on the grill as part of their ritual.
Sound of Silence
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This particular approach might come across as a bit harsh, yet it seems to show results for this person. Apparently, ignoring their wife and kid during the game is their strategy. “I know it’s weird and the results haven’t been great, but I’m not going to risk it,” they wrote. Priorities, dude!
Quantum Football Mechanics
Some say that dissecting your superstitions like a science can work wonders. A Reddit user shared their approach, saying that if, for some reason, they tune into the game late and the Ravens are in the lead, they turn the game off. “Watching will only swing the game in the opposite direction. It’s like the Heisenberg Principle of quantum football mechanics. Intense observation will only change the outcome,” they humorously explained. That’s dedication!
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Designated Sweet Spot
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Having a lucky seat or a designated sweet spot to park yourself during every football game is a ritual many fans swear by. According to one person, during game days, they make a point to occupy the exact same barstool. They mentioned, “Everyone has assigned seats at the bar.”
Goodbye Hygiene
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Some hardcore football fans throw hygiene to the wind. A Reddit user opened up about their peculiar belief. If they don’t shower right before the game, they’re convinced the Eagles will end up on the losing side. They added, “Sometimes if we had a crappy first half, I’ll take another shower, for a fresh start.”
Habitual Counting
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Luck can take some interesting forms, like the practice of counting things a specific number of times. A person mentioned that on game days, they apply three strokes of deodorant per armpit in support of Russell Wilson. Some people are all about the idea that stuff tends to go down in threes.
