posted by mommies2cents on 2011, Fantasy Football, Football, Friday, fun food

25 comments

Earlier today I decided to take the weekend off and leave you all without a Friday Football post for this week. Well, I just couldn’t do it. I felt bad and since my night is not turning out the way I had hoped, I’m going to do a Football Friday post. Instead of having a relaxing evening with Mr. M2C, who has been out of town, I am having to wrestle with the kids and talk to the side of his face while her continues to work. Don’t you love when people dump all of their personal drama on you unexpectedly? I know what you are thinking…”geez! I just came here for some recipes!”

Thanks for being my after hours therapist. Your reward?…A fabulous football menu, of course!

I wonder how all of your fantasy teams are doing…I am having an epic year! I will go down in history as the most PATHETIC fantasy team owner EVVVERRRR! I am win less so far this season and the one tiny shred of hope I had left was riding on Kenny Britt’s ACL and well, we all know how that turned out.

This weeks match up is between the Jets and the Ravens. Now we have seen the Ravens before and if you are a huge fan, then I recommend going back to the crab cake recipe we had a few weeks ago. It is tried and true Baltimore. But if you are looking to change it up…keep reading!

We are going classic, easy New York!

Baked Ziti

1 Box of ziti noodles

1 pound of fresh sweet Italian sausage

1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce (again, if you are way cooler than me, you can make your own)

1 Cup of riccotta cheese

2 Cups of a grated cheese blend (Asiago, Mozzarella and a pinch of cheddar)

3/4 cup of grated parm

Remove sausage from the casing and brown. Cook your noodles and strain.  Lightly grease the bottom of a baking dish. Pour your sauce over the noodles and add your cooked sausage. Mix well. Pour mixture into baking dish and dot the top with ricotta cheese. Cover the top with your cheese mixture adding the grated parm last. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees until the cheese is golden and bubbly. About 25 minutes.

Serve with hot Italian loaf bread!

This week we MUST have a cocktail…or two!

Big Apple Martini

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz Green Apple Schnapps

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake Well and strain into a chilled martini glass!

If you are looking for something a little stronger, go with my all-time favorite cocktail! I order this drink whenever I go out…it’s my signature drink!

Manhattan

2 oz Whiskey

1/2 oz sweet vermouth

2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 cherries

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with the cherries. Perfection!

You can serve the Manhattan over ice and NOT in a martini glass. The guys might find this to be a “less girly” way to enjoy it…not that there is anything “girly” about whiskey!

Now, for the dessert! I wanted something different but also something that gave you that New York feel. What came to mind?…

Serendipity’s Frozen Hot Chocolate

6 half-ounce pieces of a variety of your favorite chocolates

2 teaspoons store-bought hot chocolate mix

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 cups milk

3 cups ice

Whipped cream

Chocolate shavings

Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted.
Add the cocoa and sugar, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
In a blender place the remaining cup of milk, the room temperature chocolate mixture, and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings or chocolate chips.

Whipped Cream

1 cup heavy cream, very cold

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Combine the cream and vanilla and mix well. With an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, start whipping the cream on medium speed. Add the corn syrup slowly while beating. Whip until the cream holds soft peaks.

This dessert will be a hit!

Have a wonderful weekend! Don’t forget to take time out to enjoy your family!

 

Tags: apple martini, baked ziti, Baltimore Ravens, cocktails, Football, football cocktails, Football Food, Football Friday, football recipes, Jets, manhattan, New York, Ravens