Simple, winning recipes that score off the sports field
After a year of anticipation, the fall sports season is back again. The excitement that comes with being a dedicated fan deserves an equally incredible meal to indulge in on game day. These three recipes are a simple take on classic fan food to accompany any sports match.
Slow Cooker Chili
This recipe is the ideal dish to bring to a potluck watch party. Portions are easily adjustable to accommodate a large or small group of people. The chili is prepared in a slow cooker and has a prep time of about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
28 oz. can of kidney beans
28 oz. canned diced tomatoes
2 lbs. lean ground beef
1/2 onion
chili seasoning (Carroll Shelby’s Chili Kit recommended)
Directions
Brown the lean ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and place in the slow cooker. Dice half an onion and sauté the pieces over medium heat until golden brown. Add the onions to the slow cooker, as well as the can of diced tomatoes and kidney beans. Mix the ingredients together thoroughly and add all of the chili seasoning. Set the slow cooker to high, heat and cook for two hours.
Kickin’ Buffalo Chicken Wings
Buffalo wings are arguably the most recognizable game day food. Although usually served fried, grilling them is just as delicious. The key to perfect wings is using the right sauce. Frank’s RedHot Wings Sauce is considered to be the original wing sauce, which can be found online, if not at most supermarkets. It is important to remember that the spicier the sauce, the more authentic. However, this recipe can be replicated with other brand’s sauces as well.
Ingredients
24 chicken wings
2 tbsp olive oil
ground pepper to taste
salt to taste
2 small cloves of garlic
buffalo sauce (Frank’s RedHot Wings Sauce recommended) to taste
Directions
Rinse the chicken wings and pat them dry with a towel. Place them in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Add in salt and pepper, then crush the garlic into the bowl with a garlic presser. Mix the oil, spices and garlic well so that they coat each of the chicken wings. To cook the wings, grill over medium heat until brown and crispy. Another option is to use the oven, where the wings are broiled for the first 20 minutes, and baked for the last 20 minutes. Roll the wings in sauce to finish. For those who do not prefer spice, they can be enjoyed plain as well.
Crispy Potato Wedge Fries
These potato wedges are a fresh twist on typical french fries, and are instantly addicting. With a quick prep time, these wedges are considered a bit more healthy than the original fried version. Not only are they fitting on game day, but also appropriate for meals on all occasions.
Ingredients
6 Yukon Gold potatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
2 small cloves of garlic
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Start by rinsing the potatoes and cutting them into eighths; they should resemble apple slices. Place the slices in a large bowl and add olive oil, then salt and pepper to taste. Use a garlic press to crush the garlic cloves into the bowl and mix thoroughly. Grill over medium heat until crispy and light brown and serve with ketchup or any dipping sauce.
All these recipes can be modified to fit any occasion or personal preferences. Although the dishes themselves stand out, they are not complete without a heart-pounding sports game. So go grab a bunch of friends, share some mouth-watering food and cheer on a favorite team!
Maria Alexander is a senior at Redwood High School and a sports editor for the Bark. She plays varsity soccer at Redwood and is a volunteer at The Marine...
