"Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?"

Hi everyone;

Well, it sounds like (and feels like) Fall is officially upon us (for you weatherphiles, it did arrive about 10 PM Thursday night -but it was 90* here on Thursday). When the weather turns cooler my thoughts turn to, harvest, weaning calves, hunting and FOOTBALL (not necessarily in that order). So this week was I got involved in 3 of the 4. Took Tuesday off and went down to the family farm and helped my brother Gary wean calves and set up the corral for processing the next day. One thing I want to mention - I have never seen anyone work those cows like Gary, he reminds me of "The Pied Piper" we got all those cows in without any issues or problems. I just had to stay out of the way and do what he told me!!

While we were doing that My other brother Stan and his father-in-law were harvesting corn like crazy - boy what a difference a year makes!! Here is a link to my niece's blog that does a nice job giving a perspective of life in rural IL:

http://aviewfromthecab.wordpress.com/

Enough about that - now let's get to the football... College football is in full

swing and the NFL is in week three and while we'll have a tailgate edition of this blog soon, we will today touch on one of my favorite football snacks - Nachos!

Everyone has a favorite way to make or eat them, some with Chili, some just with taco meet, some with chicken and jalapenos...

I like mine, layered with Chips, meat then cheese (my favorite spicy shredded blend) then a few more chips, a shot more meat and another coating of cheese. Then the healthy part - the veggies - Tomatoes, green onions, banana peppers and cilantro.

Bake them for 8-12 mins at 375* and then to get them nice and crispy Crank it up - throw on the broiler for about 2-4 mins (better watch 'em tho - the smoke alarm is not a suitable replacement for a kitchen timer) or until they get brown and crispy. Then accompany them with your favorite salsa, more fresh chopped cilantro, some sour cream (spiked with the juice of 1/2 lime) and some home made guacamole....

It doesn't make any difference, to each their own - the only important thing is the cold beer you have to drink with them - I think it's the law!

Ike is in watching the Sunday night game on the couch (where he's NOT supposed to be) so I better get back in. Oh by the way - GO BEARS (Sorry Stan)

Knutson Invitational 2010

Hello; Ike and I are back...

On Sept 18th we had our annual Knutson Invitational Golf Tournament - 5 years running and getting bigger each year - both in number of golfers and number of guests enjoying the hospitality of my brother in law and sister in law's home after the play is over. We dried out (it really rained) and went through the awards for flight champions and champion team but we also had some fun prizes like shortest drive and highest score but really EVERYONE wins. Great food, great fun and an opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones. Everyone brings a dish to augment the main food supplied my our hosts and we always have an abundance of wonderful dishes and this year was no exception. I was asked to share my appetizer recipe and would ask for anyone else that reads this blog that attended to share theirs as well - Wonderful, dips, salsa, spreads and desserts - you know Golf is almost secondary (I said almost :). By the way, Ike is good at many things but golfing is not one of them so he and his cousin Roxie stayed in their kennels and want to thank their Aunt Schuie for taking them for walks and giving them some treats between the rain storms.

Cheese Puffs (these are EZ and only 3 ingredients)

Ingredients:
12 oz of hot bulk pork sausage (the hotter the better)

8 oz of Shredded Cheddar cheese (I use sharp) but use your favorite

2 1/2 cups all purpose baking mix (i.e. Bisquick)

Pre heat oven to 350*

Combine all ingredients in medium (you might want large bowl - just makes it easier to mix) and mix well

Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls and place one inch apart (don't crowed them) on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden - about 20 minutes -serve warm

What I like about these is you can make, and bake ahead and then refrig them (covered) and reheat in 350* oven for 8 minutes the for your party.... (They can even freeze for up to a month)

Each year it gets bigger and bigger - and so does the day care facility - Moms, Grandmas, and Aunts and Cousins all pitch in and watch an ever growing brood of the next generation's participants.

From Zero to Breakfast in 3 minutes

Hello;

So we're all real busy, taking off to work with no breakfast and stopping by your local Starbucks or coffee house for an expensive, calorie laden Mochito, Latte, Steamed Soy milk, with whipped cream and carmel morning coffee drink. Come on, do you know how much you can save by making you own healthy (heck not even healthy for that matter) breakfast wrap and your own coffee at home? We calculated that at $5 per day, 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month and 12 months a year you would spend $1200 on COFFEE. Let alone that you are getting empty calories that contribute to the mid morning crash you have been feeling?? A typical container of coffee will cost you about 1 1/2 days of your coffee budget and get you about 200 cups out of it.

OK I am off my soap box now :) but hey in about 3 minutes (while my coffee was brewing at home) with things I had in the fridge I put together a simple breakfast that I would put up against anything you get through a window and spill in your lap while driving - and keep you away from the vending machine at about 10:30.

Here are the ingredients I used today -these were all in the fridge and available - use what you have.

2 eggs
2 flour tortillas
slice of ham
2 slices of bacon
Cilantro
red pepper
shredded cheese
sour cream
salsa

I'm not going to tell you how to scramble eggs but I just want everyone to start the day out with something in your stomach, save a few $$ and recognize it doesn't take that long to start your day out right - and just think you could be a few dollars ahead

Easy Meals

Hi everyone,

I have been posting now a couple of weeks and really want to thank everyone that has visited and commented or become a follower on Ike's blog. One comment was how about some ideas on one dish easy meals, and I thought that is a great idea. As we get ready for hunting season, and our big pilgrimage to the Pheasant Capital of the US, South Dakota, we usually try to bring an easy "crock pot - start it and forget it" meal for at least one of the hunting days.

Ike and I are warming up using the Wii Bird hunting game - not too much pointing and retrieving for him on this but it sure holds his attention.

Anyway one very easy and delicious way to make "pulled pork" is by using the crock pot, some of your favorite BBQ sauce and rub and OK, get this, a 20 oz bottle of Coca Cola - (regular not diet). You will need:

1 Pork Shoulder Roast (sometimes called Boston Butt - yeah I know this is nowhere near the butt - but I didn't name it) Make sure it fits in your Crock Pot

1/4 cup of your favorite rub

16 oz bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

1 20 oz bottle of Coca Cola

Spray your crock pot with some no stick spray (up on the sides)

Rub your pork roast with the rub - use as much or as little as you like

Place Fat side up in Crock Pot

Cover the top of the Roast liberally with your BBQ sauce

Pour in as much of the coke as it takes to nearly submerge the roast - leave some room in the crock pot for liquid to develop. (usually you get to drink some of the coke)

Turn on high and set timer for 8 hours (our crock pot has a digital timer that you set and when it ends it automatically turn to "warm" setting)

Come back in 8 hours, drain and shred using forks or "Bear Claws" (see the picture). These babies really work for shredding a roast for sandwiches. I got these at Bass Pro Shop.

Place back in crock pot add remainder of BBQ sauce and warm and serve on buns, bread, or just a fork...

Easy to prep, easy to cook, easy to clean up.

Until next time, "Ike, find that bird!"