More Bowl Game Food

I'm always looking for an excuse to make food for an occasion and there's no better a reason for me than football.  For me, bowl games provide a much needed opportunity to think creatively in the kitchen.  This year, however, BYU played in the Miami Beach Bowl at noon my time.  Not exactly the ideal time to whip up something special.  After realizing I couldn't combine the bowl game with a nice Christmas dinner, I had to change my line of thinking; quickly!  I eventually landed on the idea of doing bagged lunches.

THE MENU:

Turkey, Bacon, Avocado sandwich

Cucumber and pepper salad

Chips

Soda

Black bottom strawberry parfait

First into the bags were the salads.  I actually had my mom make them because she's the one who first introduced me to this salad.  It's super easy and super tasty.

It's basically a mix of sliced cucumbers and bell peppers tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar with feta cheese mixed in.  Again, it's amazingly simple and the flavors blend beautifully.  Around here we love it as an everyday side dish and it makes a perfect item for any potluck gathering.

After my mom made the salad I put dished it into smaller containers to be put into the bags.  These little containers are the perfect size and for $1 per 4-pack they're pretty irresistible.

Next up were the desserts.  I made a black bottom strawberry and whipped cream parfait.  It would have been easier if I had picked up ready-made whipped cream at the store, but I prefer home made whipped cream.  I also used hot fudge sauce on the bottom of the parfait and as a little embellishment on top.

On a snowy December day I was amazed at the freshness of the strawberries I was able to find.  These beauties made me feel like it was a warm Summer day and made me forget for a minute about the howling wind and falling snow outside.

No bagged lunch would be complete without chips.  Ideally, I would have made the chips from scratch, but I ran out of time and ended up just grabbing an assortment of bagged chips from the store.

Next up were the sandwiches.  I wanted to get mini baguettes at the store, but they didn't have any so I ended up with ciabatta bread.  It ended up working out well and the sandwiches tasted amazing!  I got some hickory smoked peppered turkey from my local deli and used provolone cheese.  I also used pre-cooked bacon.  Lettuce, tomato, avocado and sprouts topped the sandwiches.

After finishing the sandwich, I wrapped it in wax paper and added a BYU label before putting it in the bag.

Once the sandwich was in the bag, I used BYU napkins to wrap up a set of silverware and attached them to the bag using baker's twine.

The silverware, bags, plastic tumblers (what the dessert is in), and the salad containers all came from the dollar store.  The rest of the other items (wax paper, labels, baker's twine, etc.) I already had around the house making it a relatively cheap food experience.

Once the bags were finished I let everyone choose their drinks and they were able to enjoy their lunches and the game!

What to do if the guy in your life doesn't like sports

Recently I came across an article on rantsports.com which outlined 11 tips for getting your girlfriend to like sports.  I've been a sports fan since childhood; before I knew that girls weren't supposed to like sports, and before I knew that at some point I might think that boys exist for more than making mud pies with.  I never had to be convinced that sports were something to be enjoyed, but I do have brothers that have need convincing.  Go figure, right?  I have five brothers and only one is as into sports as I am (he's actually even more into them than me).  I thought maybe I could take these tips and use them for my bros that need converting.

11.  Read (his) mood:

You want him to be in a relaxed state of mind with few distractions or stressors present.  This will allow him to be open to learning and enjoying new things.

10.  Don't throw too much at (him) at once:

No one wants to feel like they need to take notes in order to enjoy a new hobby.  Once he's got the basics, you can explain the intricacies of a flea-flicker, or what exactly a zone defense is.

9.  Have alternate activities at the ready:

Games are often long, and sometimes there is more down-time than action, which can leave the novice spectator wishing they had ANYTHING else to hold their attention.  Have some fall-back activities ready, whether it's a book or magazine, or an electronic game, he'll be grateful for the alternatives.

8.  Cuddling and foot rubs:

This one needs no altering.  Cuddling and foot rubs make any activity better, and it's not just for women.  In my experience, men love physical intimacy as much as women do, and it can be a great incentive for helping a dude watch sports with you.

7.  Make it a party, cook for (him):

They say the easiest way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  If you can get a guy to watch a game with you, providing food will make it all the more enjoyable for him, and more likely to continue to watch sports with you.  Word of caution: depending on your skills in the kitchen he may always want you to cook for him.

6.  Tell him how sports bring people together:

If you haven't read my previous post (Yeah BYU!!!) already, this is the best time to do so.  This post outlines the best ways in which sports brings people together and creates lasting memories.

5.  Create good guys and bad guys:

Nothing clutches emotions quite like a good hero.  If there is something especially great about your team, or someone on your team, tell this to your guy.  Or, if there is something especially terrible about the opposing team or a member of that team, that will work equally as well.  Creating a good vs. evil scenario helps viewers quickly become invested in the game.

4.  Get (him) involved in a fantasy sports league or football pool:

Fantasy leagues are another great way to get to bring people together.  Participating on a fantasy team together allows the two of you to bond the way teammates do, and will allow him to feel more connected to the game.

3.  Sports movies:

Sports movies are a great introduction to the sport itself.  The behind-the-scenes information and story lines that make these movies so great build interest in the sport before the game begins.  Stay tuned for a list of my top ten all-time greatest sports movies.

2.  Get him hanging out with your game friends:

Getting him out with your friends will help him feel part of your circle.  Hopefully he'll also begin to bond with your friends which will make him more excited to get together for the game.

1.  Return the favor:

The greatest incentive for getting anyone to get involved with your interests and hobbies is the promise that you'll do the same for them.  Whatever your guy's hobbies include, if you put time and interest into them he'll be happy to do the same for you.