Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, December 25, 2009

Kay’s Cooking Corner




Well, it just wouldn’t be proper of me to not have a few game day recipes for all of you Liberty Bowl tailgaters, seeing that the Hogs are going to this showdown, and Don being an ex-hog and all. It is only fitting that I recognize this mighty event with a few good tailgating recipes!
I didn’t know Don during his glory days, (I was raised in Colorado and Memphis), so I missed his famous football action, however I have heard about it more than a few times now!
I have read most all of the newspaper articles featuring him and his entourage at Hall High. His mom kept all of them neatly folded in a metal container.
Due to injuries, his football career didn’t last very long in Fayetteville, but we can’t go very many places without someone coming up to talk to him about a famous winning play he made against Central for the State Championship.
From what I gather, he was quite an athletic celebrity. He still is a celebrity in my book. We celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary this past week.
Back to the game…I know that there will be plenty of tailgating going on, so I have a few recipes for you. Since the weather will probably be on the chilly side, these will help to heat up your insides as well. (Although I know some will heat up with some flaming brew rather than food!)
I remember one of the Liberty Bowl games I went to when I was younger. I was with my latest heartthrob and a group of his Pi Kappa Phi brothers from Memphis State. It was snowing on this particular day, so it was plenty cold.
Once we got seated and were wrapped up cozy and warm in the blankets we had brought, out came a thermos full of moonshine. I took one sip and it warmed me to my toes. But believe me, that one sip is all I took! I don’t see how anyone can drink that stuff.
It reminded me of the medicine my grandmother used to give me for the croup. She would get me up in middle of the night, lead me out to the back porch and cram a teaspoon of something awful down my throat! She mixed it with sugar, supposedly to help the taste, but it never worked!
Although it did make me stop coughing. Anyway, that is what the moonshine reminded me of. I stuck with the hot chocolate from that point on.
I don’t think these recipes will warm you as much as the moonshine or whatever it was my sweet little grandmother gave me, but they do taste much better. I can promise that!
Fresh Tomato Salsa
6 large ripe tomatoes
1 sweet onion
1 cup fresh cilantro
juice of 1 fresh lime
2-3 fresh jalapeno peppers
salt to taste, optional
Wash, core, and dice tomatoes. Chop onion and cilantro. Finely chop the jalapeno peppers. For less heat, remove the seeds and ribs. Combine all ingredients and refrigerate one hour to blend flavors. Serve with tortilla chips.
Hog Wild Chili
1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound ground Buffalo
2 cans (16 ounces each) small red beans, undrained
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
One-10 ounce can diced Ro-tel Tomatoes
2 packages chili mix (I use McCormicks Mild)
Corn chips, optional
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Chopped green onions for garnish
In Dutch oven, cook beef and buffalo until no longer pink; drain. Add the beans, tomato sauce, tomatoes, salsa and seasoning mix.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until thickened and heated through. If desired, serve over corn chips, and top with cheddar cheese, sour cream and green onions.