Twenty five years of watching the super bowl with Ralph and I still don’t have a clue what I’m looking at. I’ve been told that Ralph is exceptionally good at explaining the game, which leaves me to think that the part of my brain dedicated to sports is vacant. Despite missing all of the plays, I love the team and fan rivalry, the pomp and circumstance, the half-time show but most of all I love the food. Super bowl Sunday is the only day of the year when junk food rules. I’ve done all matter of party menus for Ralphie on ‘game day’. From beer and chocolate chip cookies to a complete artery hardening smorgosboard and everything in between. Here’s a few links to recipes of SUPER BOWLS PAST:
What I’ve come to realize, after hosting so many game day parties is – hard-core football fans forgive me – it’s not about the game. It’s a reason for friends getting together on a Sunday afternoon, in the dead of winter, all over the world, to over-eat, drink and have fun. Some super bowl parties don’t even turn the game on! At our house, there’ll be a group cheering in front of the television and another group gathered in the kitchen having just as much fun completely oblivious to the game except when we hear raucous cheering or the ‘f’ bomb being dropped! We’ll all eat our fill of spicy, cheesey, yummy treats and wash them down with copious amounts of drink. Near the end of the evening, we’ll all be in the livingroom cheering; happy to be together.
To honour Ralph’s favorite team, I’ve created the ‘Go Pats Go’ Spicy Bacon Meatballs. Jumbo meatballs made from beef, pork, bacon and lots of chillies. They’d be delicious on spaghetti or stuffed into a sub bun topped with mozzarella but I’m serving them straight out of the skillet with a napkin. Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
SPICY BACON MEATBALLS recipe by michelle
Preheat oven 400*F
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
¼ lb bacon, ground and chopped very fine
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped finely
1 tablespoon sea salt
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried red chili flakes
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 slices stale white bread, crusts removed
1 cup whole milk
THE STEPS:
- Grind your own meat or have the butcher do it for you.
- Cut the bread into ½ inch pieces.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl then pour the milk over top and toss well.
- Allow the bread and milk to sit 10 minutes until the milk is absorbed.
- Add the garlic, shallot, rosemary, chilli flakes, salt and pepper to the bread cubes and mix well but gently.
- Add the ground meats and mix well with your hands.
- Using a large ice cream scoop, place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Roast for 40 minutes on the bottom rack in your oven.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and gently place them in your sauce. I used my marinara sauce.
- Simmer for ½ an hour before serving.
- Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley. optional
THE LOVE: Resist the urge to pack the meatballs like your making a snowball. Using the ice cream scoop really helps to make a loosely formed ball. The most important thing is to not over work the meat. Use a GENTLE touch.
Thanks for reading.
photography by michelle
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- ¼ lb bacon, ground and chopped very fine
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped finely
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried red chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 4 slices stale white bread, crusts removed
- 1 cup whole milk
- Grind your own meat or have the butcher do it for you.
- Cut the bread into ½ inch pieces.
- Place the bread cubes in a large bowl then pour the milk over top and toss well.
- Allow the bread and milk to sit 10 minutes until the milk is absorbed.
- Add the garlic, shallot, rosemary, chilli flakes, salt and pepper to the bread cubes and mix well but gently.
- Add the ground meats and mix well with your hands.
- Using a large ice cream scoop, place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Roast for 40 minutes on the bottom rack in your oven.
- Remove the meatballs from the oven and gently place them in your sauce.
- Simmer for ½ an hour before serving.
- Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
