What Are Some Of Your Favorite Football Snacks?

Attention Curry Junction!  Football season has arrived!  I’m sure you’re all aware of that, and you don’t need me to tell you.  I’m one of those people who cannot watch any sporting event without munching on something.  Football is one of those sports that is conducive to eating.  Having a wing in one hand, and the flag of your favorite team in the other is the only way to go.

So this post is all about food, and football.  What goes well with your game of choice?  My favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys , and watching a Cowboys game makes me want a jalapeno popper, and a teriyaki wing.  I don’t know where the combination came from, but I will tell you:  It is quite amazing.  Finger foods always pair well with sporting events.

What do you prefer Curry Junction?  Potato skins?  Buffalo wings?  Pizza?  What foods make you happy during football season?

Just in case it is the former, here is are great recipes for Potato Skins, one of my favorite recipes for Buffalo Wings with a twist, and a pretty nice Grilled Pizza.

Image by Food Thinkers via Flickr

Need A Nice Cap To Your Day? How About Port Wine?

Okay Curry Junction, let me paint the scene for you:  You’ve would just not end.  It was filled with mishaps and disagreeable people.  You spilled a good portion of your lunch (a very bland veggie soup) on your shirt.  Your car’s check engine light came on as soon as you left the office.  Long story short here– you’ve had a pretty crummy day.  Why not try something different, that just might turn your Monday frown into a Tuesday grin:  Try some port.

Port wine is a fortified wine.  Fortified wines are wines with distilled spirits that increase its alcohol content.  In general, wines usually have a alcohol content of about 13 percent. A fortified wine’s alcohol content will be about 20 percent.  More alcohol content?  You bet!  As much as this may be appealing to some of you, there are even more benefits to the higher content of alcohol in port wines.  Here’s an explanation from Mark Maberry:

The higher alcohol content stops the fermentation of the wine, leaving residual sugar, which gives port the characteristic “sweet, grapy” flavor

So port wines give you more of a sweet taste than your average wine.  Just the pick-me-up you’ll need after a brutal day.

There are a few types of ports.  White port is made from white grapes.  Ruby port is the least expensive, and darker in color.  Tawny port is made from red grapes, and is aged between 10-40 years in barrels.  Tawny is more of a dessert wine, so it should be served chilled.

Whatever your preference in color, port wine would make a fine nightcap for any occasion.  It’s a full-bodied wine with a sweet grape taste that you just might find irresistible.

Image by the Italian voice via Flickr

Does Life Get Much Better then Free Burgers?

What about a free Whataburger? I know, sounds too good to be true, but it’s not! Tomorrow, August 3rd, they will be giving away free burger in honor of their 60th Birthday!

Just head into one of the Whataburger’s near Curry Junction between 5:00 and 8:00pm. Show up in something orange (Whataburger’s tell-tale color) and you’ll get a free burger!

So, if you’ve been craving something greasy then head on over for some free food on Tuesday! Celebrate 60 years of great food and show your orange pride.

Are you a fan of this slant-roofed burger joint? Which Whataburger in Abilene do you usually go to?

Amazing Summer Fruits: Blueberries

I adore blueberries; they may be my very favorite summer fruits. They are the sweet and colorful jewels of summer. They make spectacular muffins and pies. Best of all, they have a wide selection of vitamins and minerals:

• Magnesium
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Fiber

They also have some notable health benefits. Blueberries have been found to contain anthocyanins and flavonols. Studies have shown that these nutrients can help prevent and fight off a variety of diseases.

All these are wonderful reasons to hit the farmers market and enjoy some Texas fruites. Add these amazing berries to your diet. Try out of of the great blueberry recipes to add them to your diet today:

• Blueberry cake – it’s not bad for you its chock full of berries! 
• Blueberry pancakes – get your day stated off on the right foot with a tall stack of Blueberry pancakes.
• Blueberry muffins – what better way to start your day then with a muffin full of vitamins and anti-oxidants.

What is your favorite way to eat blueberries?

All American 4th of July

The holiday weekend is upon us and I don’t know about you, but I am seriously looking forward to celebrating! The Fourth of July is one of my very favorite holidays. Probably in part because I really love to eat, and cook outs are an integral part of this holiday. Plus, it is a holiday which tends to involve time with friend and family, which is also fun.

Here are a few things you need to have a truly “All American” Fourth of July party:

• Corn on the cob – I would suggest grilled corn as it is my personal favorite. It just gives a little something special.
• Barbecued Ribs may be the quintessential summer meat. They are messy, take forever to cook, but are entirely worth it!
• Make your own watermelon pops for cooling off with! A great way to enjoy watermelon!
• The stars and stripes need to be somewhere; I’m a big fan of a table runner to incorporate them!
• Deck out your door so everyone can find your apartment easily!
• Grab some red and white flowers at the grocery store and dress them up by arranging them in a festive blue vase!

Will you be hosting an Independence Day bash this summer?

Do You Drive-thru?

We all know the temptations of fast food, particularly when we are busy out running errands and hungry. Unfortunately, we also know exactly how bad for us those french fries really are. Most of the fast food packs a high fat, high cholesterol, high sodium punch. For those of us looking to get healthier this is one food selection that has been crossed off the list.

Have you given up fast food? Go vote in our blog poll and let us know your fast food habits or tell us why you have or have not given up fast food in the comments.

Zesty New Take on Coleslaw

I have a big party I’m attending this weekend for memorial day. Everyone is brining something for the cook out and I was tapped to bring the coleslaw. Now if your friends are anything like mine, then you everyone is watching what they eat. This means that traditional coleslaw is out; too many calories! So in my search for a lighter version of coleslaw I found this on the 101 Cookbooks site: Lime & Peanut Coleslaw.

Of course I had to try it out before I showed up to a big party to make sure it was worth sharing. Let me tell you, this is delicious! It is light and spicy and very flavorful! If you’re looking to lighten up your Memorial Day cook-out fare, then this is the recipe for you.

If you decided to try it out, let me know what you think!

The Perfect Cake for the Chocolate-Coffee-Loving Mother

If the mom in your life is big into coffee and chocolate then I have the ultimate Mother’s Day cake for you. This Coffee-Chocolate Layer Cake is an amazing and rich combination of chocolate and coffee. Does life get much better than chocolate-coffee cake for the coffee drinking chocoholic?  It’s a bit of work, but is absolutely worth it. This is definitely a crowd pleaser, tastes a bit like tiramisu to be quite honest.

The full Coffee-Chocolate Layer Cake with Mocha-Mascarpone Frosting recipe is from Epicurious. They have a number of great recipes over there.

What are your Mother’s Day plans? Are you doing something special for your mom?

Potted Herb Garden

Fresh herbs can be very expensive and they don’t keep well. That tiny $2 pack of basil can go bad in a matter of days! So what better way to deal with their perishability then to grow your own herbs! The warm weather makes it a great time to plant your own potted herb garden. Here are a few tips for best results:

• Get a large, open planter with good drainage.
• Locate the planter in an area the will receive at least five hours of sunlight a day.
• Water regularly.

Plants like basil, sage, thyme, mints, rosemary, and parsley grow well in potted garden. Make sure you check each plants sun-light and water preferences when planting. If your patio doesn’t get a lot of sun look for shade loving plants.

HGTV has a great article about herbs and which ones grow best where.

Great Grilled Asparagus

Spring is here and with is returns a few of my very favorite foods, including asparagus! I don’t know why I love asparagus so much, I simply always have. It may be because my mom always served it drenched in butter when I was a kid. Regardless, I love it and have found lighter ways to cook it as I’ve gotten older. One of my favorite ways to cook asparagus is grilled. It works particularly well paired with a grilled fish.

Cooking light has a great version of Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar. It’s definitely a recipe worth perusing.

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