How Seasoned is the Serious Season?

Now is the time when all good cooks should come to the aid of their college teams with Tailgating recipes that will make ya holler and shout for the ol alma mater as the Serious Season begins! You know—the one where the pecking order of college game stats and conference rankings collide like collard greens and pizza! Go ahead, pass the vinegar-pepper please.

The Serious Season is when tempers flare, pots boil over and steam simmers just below the surface. It’s the season when most college teams have run out of steam. But the programs who rise to the occasion are the ones who are the crème de la crème, and they, my friends, will find themselves in a bowl game, seasoned with pepper or not!     

Throughout the land of college football, serious fans salivate for that little, teeny weenie thing called, bowl games. Just the mere mention of the words set about tantalizing the taste buds of coaches, players and alums. So much so, it’s almost like dangling a chunk of chocolate in front of poor ole Santa Claus just before he hops in his sleigh on Christmas Eve. Knowing that even half of an ounce added to his weight and he’s grounded for the year! What would the kiddies do if he can’t take off?

 The college BCS system is much like Santa. The mystique of it all can confuse even the most avid football fan. Questions like, which conferences are really best at gaining bowl bids? Who’s in the top ten and will those stats matter when it comes to the bowl invites? Why do certain programs get bowl bids year after year, while others stay put? Who has the perfect season up to this point? Which two teams in the end will suit up, battle for the coveted title and capture the 2012 National Championship? Which team might put the Tabasco in the gumbo?

2012 has been an interesting year for college football. There have been ups n downs and close calls that kept fans, boosters and coaches on the edge of a BBQ pit! It’s been no picnic in the park for several programs scratching & clawing to defend last years title. In many instances, fans were rummaging through their kitchen drawers looking for knives and forks to stab the nearest pigskin, maybe even oil and matches ready to fire some head coaches on the spot. All the while, the scald on the fried chicken is cooling off at the tailgating party!  

So what’s a spectator to do to spice up the fizzled fan base and put a pinch of sizzle in the bleachers!? The one tried and true recipe for wins: 1. Act like you are winning, 2. Never let ‘em see ya sweat and 3. Serve up some almost famous food for tailgatin’. It’s a winner every time!

Here's our family’s favorite tailgating recipe.

Sausage Balls

Pop a few in your mouth before kick-off and you’ll be cheering your team on to victory all the way thru the 4^th quarter!

1 Tube of Hot Sausage

3 C. Bisquick Mix

2 C. Grated Sharp Cheese (Kraft works best & grate it the old fashion way, bagged cheese won’t melt or fuse as well to the sausage, trust me on this one!)

Throw all ingredients in a large bowl & let them get to room temperature before you start mixing by hand. Yep, by hand, spoonin’ or forkin’ will not get the job done! Form into 1 inch balls, place on cookie sheet and bake on 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until done and sizzley.

Note: if they are not hot enough for your taste buds, sprinkle a dash or two of Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning in the mix. Refrigerate, freeze or simply serve right out of the oven. They move well to the field and play without having to warm-up, unless that is, you did freeze them!

Keep your spirits high during this Season of Serious games, even if your team is losing like crazy and you are one of those rummaging through your kitchen! Remember, the pressure is as hot as it gets, and there is always next year—don’t jump off into the deep pit just yet. Enjoy the sport and savor every minute. College games are always fun no matter what. And, don’t forget the Sausage Balls or the smiles!