Supper Club Recap

A wonderful time was had by all! We ended up with thirteen in attendance. Poor Lindsey was sick and had to miss her first supper club. So sad that she couldn't make it.

Ole Miss tried to hang in there for a while but in the end Alabama was victorious, which I don't think surprised anyone. We enjoyed some delicious food and hilarious conversation. With this group, you never know what might happen. I'll post some of the recipes from the night over the course of the next week. For now, I'm off to celebrate the fact that I've been in my pajamas all day. We've done some cleaning and I managed to get my summer clothes put away so I consider the day a success.

Bourbon Slush

The girls (minus Handley and Lindsey)

Group shot (minus Mac, Handley and Lindsey)

Preview: Auburn v. No One

I've been down for the count with a stomach bug so I'll keep this short and sweet. Personal foul goes to the individual who inflicted me with this horrible illness.

It's the one weekend we're guaranteed not to lose and I'll be the first to admit that I'm excited it's here. These past two weekends of traveling back and forth to Auburn have been wonderful but very tiring.

With that being said, there will be plenty of football fun to be had at our house. Robert and I are so looking forward to hosting a tailgate themed supper club at our house on Saturday night for the Alabama/Ole Miss game. We've been in this supper club for almost three years but never been able to host due to space constrictions. Now that we've bought a house we can finally have our turn! Granted, we still don't have enough chairs or table space to accommodate fourteen adults but we'll make it work.

The way our supper club works, the hosts are responsible for preparing the main dish and the other couples bring side dishes, appetizers and desserts. Since this is a tailgate style event, I'm going to make a couple of extra appetizers for everyone to share. Robert's going to make my dad's famous barbecue chicken and white sauce.

As far as the game itself goes, I'm not sure it will actually be much of one. Clearly, Alabama is quite good and Ole Miss reminds me a little of Auburn. Robert's an Ole Miss grad who grew up an Alabama fan. I can never quite tell who he'll be pulling for. As to the team I'll be cheering on, mum's the word.

Other (hopeful) highlights of the weekend include: sleeping past 6 a.m., cleaning the house, changing out my summer and winter clothes and catching up on DVR. Hold on to your hats folks, it looks like it might be a crazy one!

August 2012

January 2011

Three years and going strong. Two marriages, three babies born and one new couple added!

Gameday Grub: Black Bean Feta Salsa

I'd never had this dip/salsa before moving to Mobile. Once I tried it, I thought it would be a hit with my family and I was right! It's easy to throw together and travels well.

Black Bean Feta Salsa

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can shoepeg corn, drained and rinsed
1 carton feta cheese (5 oz.)
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tb sugar

Combine black beans, corn, feta cheese and green onions. In a separate bowl, whisk together vinegar, olive oil and sugar. Pour dressing over black bean mixture and stir. Allow to chill for two hours. Serve with the chip/cracker of your choice. We like wheat thins and tortilla chips. Best served same day.

Happy Friday! Gameday preview coming soon.

What Can I Bring?

Alternate Title: "This Explains Why Alabamians Are Overweight"

I thought it might be interesting to document the tailgate menu for one week. If you see me around football season and wonder where those few extra pounds come from, wonder no more.

Auburn v. LSU Menu

Breakfast Pizza
Sausage Balls
Monkey Bread
Pepperoni Rolls
Jordan Hare Snack-adium (Chips, Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese Dip, Rice Krispy Treats)
Chick-fil-A Nugget Tray
Hamburgers
Hot Dogs
Pasta Salad
Cornbread Salad
Slaw (two varieties)
Deviled Eggs
Tomato and Mozzarella Salad
Spinach Dip
Black Bean and Feta Dip
French Onion Dip
Fall Mix
Chips/Crackers (at least 15 bags/boxes)
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chess Squares
Brownies
Cookie Cake

Bourbon Slush
Yellowhammer-ish Concoction
Mimosas
Assorted Beverages (Beer, Liquor, Etc.)

That, my friends, is why my jeans are a little too snug this morning. Tailgate. Treadmill. Repeat.

*As a side note, I am aware that tailgating most likely provides no direct correlation to the percentage of Alabamians considered to be "overweight" by medical standards. It does indicate that here in the South, we appreciate good food. And lots of it.  

One More Thing...

A blog that I very much enjoy, How Sweet It Is, linked to this article. I found it especially poignant and felt compelled to share. Read and take to heart!

32 Things We Should Stop Caring About

"Dashed Hopes and Good Intentions: Good, Better, Best, Bested"*

Good - The weather. It was an absolutely beautiful day to be in Auburn.  It was nice to finally have a night game. By kickoff, it had cooled down considerably. Not enought to need a jacket or warrant a change of clothes, but we weren't grossly sweating so it was an improvement over last week.

Better - The Snackadium. We knew that Sarah, Laurie and Michael were planning a gameday surprise of sorts. I was staying at Laurie's and had the honor of seeing the surprise unfold. Oh my goodness. To say that the Jordan Hare Snackadium was impressive would be an understatement.

Michael gets extra points for service to the WDJF.

A work of art.

            
Best - The company. We're loud and obnoxious but we love each other as much as is humanly possible. A little bit of crazy seems to run through our veins and we're alright with that. It was so nice to have Haley and David with us this week!



All In. 

 

Andy's rockin' kicks. Sperry topsiders.

Bested - Clearly, the game. There were lots of "moments". Some amazing, others terrible, some that were just plain frustrating. I went into the game saying that I'd be happy if we didn't get blown away. The problem is that when you have victory within your grasp, anything less than a victory almost feels worse than getting blown away.

The band. During the game, I was too busy screaming to take any actual pics of our team.

I think we played it too safe. I read somewhere yesterday that oftentimes, instead of playing to win, Auburn plays not to lose and I have to agree. We should have gone for it in the 4th quarter. The safety and the fumbled punt return really came back to bite us in the end. Sure, I'm proud of our team. However, just like a win's a win, a loss is a freakin' loss and I'm over the moral victories.

I can't lie, I'm excited to have an off weekend coming up. My liver, stomach and nerves need a break!


*quote by Edward Albee, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Homeboy Challenge: Week 4

Homeboy of the week is #54, Jeffrey Whitaker, who had four tackles and a recovered fumble last night. Congrats to Laurie! I can't say that I hate that he won. When we went out for Laurie's birthday last month, we ran into him at a bar and he was a really nice guy. My personal honorable mentions would go to Corey Lemonier and Joshua Holsey. Clearly, our defense stepped it up last night. Recap of yesterday's tailgate, game and snack-adium to come later!

Preview: Auburn v. LSU

I'm not delusional. I know that a win this week would be a long shot. However, I also know that so far this season, LSU has faced off against North Texas, Washington and Idaho--not exactly the powerhouses of NCAA football. Do we need something spectacular to happen in order to pull off a win? Yes. Can it be done? I've seen less likely things happen. That being said, I'd pack an extra mini or two in case things take a turn for the worse.

On to a more important subject...the tailgate. This week is going to be extra-special. Haley (affectionately known as Princess Kate) has flown down from the Big Apple to participate in this weekend's activities. This is a very special day! We'll also be celebrating the birthdays of Big A and Michael tomorrow. Sarah has created a flipcup playlist of old school rap music. On the menu: hamburgers and hot dogs. We're anticipating having quite a crowd and sometimes it's easiest to just load up the grill and have everyone BYOM (bring your own meat). It's practically guaranteed that things will get out of control in the most amazing way possible. 

Also of note is that AALOS will be hosting their yearly tailgate at our spot tonight. They'll set up tents, tables and chairs and leave them up for us to use tomorrow. If you've ever assembled a tailgate at dawn, you know how nice it is to be able to skip this step in the process. Hallelujah.

Back on Sunday with the results of Homeboy Challenge Week #4 (please, not Cody Parkey again) and a gameday recap. War Eagle.



Best seats ever. LSU 2010.




Princess Kate mingling with the commoners.




Sarah, look at those flowing locks!



Button: Miles Away From A Win



Don't just walk through, Bust A Move! (I swear we weren't the only ones tailgating.)



Gameday Grub: Cheesy Football

Friday night before the ULM game, Andy and Michael hosted a dinner party to kick off the season. Sadly, I couldn't get to Auburn in time to attend, but I hear that it was amazing! Jill and Laurie made a festive cheese ball that's too cute not to share! I also understand that it was delicious. The leftovers may have been left in the car overnight so unfortunately, it never saw the tg on Saturday.

Cheesy Football
Adapted From: Kraft Recipes

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup Light Mayonnaise
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Chopped Pecans
2 Tbsp. pimiento strips

Beat first 4 ingredients with mixer until blended.
Add onions and pepper; mix well. Refrigerate several hours.
Form into football shape on serving plate; coat with chopped pecans. Add pimento strips for the lacing. Serve with crackers.

Tailgate Toddy: Bourbon Slush

We've been consistently drinking this delicious mixture for years. Without it, the tailgate would be incomplete. It does take some forethought because the mixture has to freeze. Plan ahead, it's worth it!

Cups from Two Funny Girls, Straws from DimeStoreBuddy

Bourbon Slush
1 can frozen lemonade
1 can frozen orange juice (no pulp)
1 tea bag in 2 cups boiling water (family size tea bag)
6 cups water
2 cups bourbon
1 can sprite or ginger ale (diet is fine)

Mix all ingredients in a gallon container.  Freeze.  Stir occasionally. Drink in copious amounts.

Recap: Most Sun I've Gotten All Summer

WDFJ Tailgate #1 of the season is in the books. It was hot, sweaty, tiring and absolutely amazing to be back on the Plains! We arrived at 8 and by 8:15, the mimosas and bourbon slush were flowing. When the game's at 11:20, festivities begin early. I take that back, regardless of game time, festivities always begin early.

The game wasn't pretty but a win's a win. It was followed by quite a few games of flip cup, a trip to Toomer's Corner and a short stint at Bodega. I rode home in the back of Julie's car on top of an extension cord and a bag of tablecloths. We were showered and in bed by 10:30. Par for the course.

Since waking up this morning, I've packed up, driven home, unpacked, gone to work, bought groceries and, with Robert's help, cooked dinner. This tailgater is tired and slightly burned. Photos below are pretty self-explanatory. Already excited for LSU next week!

Breakfast Bourbon

Mom with Weagle, the Auburn Sock Monkey who accompanied the Auburn athletes in London.

Reunited.

Team takes the field.



Mom and Aunt Jill traveled by rickshaw. 



Toomer's Forever

Crispy Couple

Awesome day.

Homeboy Challenge: Week 3

Bess wins again. With his 35-yard field goal in overtime to win the game, Cody Parkey is homeboy of the week.

Can I get a mid-season trade?

Preview: Auburn v. ULM

There's really no brilliant insight to share on what was/is meant to be a "gimme game". All I can say is, "for the love of all that is good in this world, please tackle someone". Auburn is a 16.5 point favorite and while I think we will win, I'm not calling in any bets.

Mainly, I'm excited to hang out out here:

With these lovely ladies:

So basically, I'm previewing that I plan to eat some good food, enojy a few cocktails, spend some quality time with the WDFJ and cheer on the Auburn Tigers. To top it all off, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day, weather-wise. Doesn't get much better than that.  

Gameday Grub: Caprese Salad Skewers

I actually made these earlier in the week for Junior League, but I think they'd be great for an early to mid-season tailgate. They're simple to throw together the night before and dress just before serving. Most importantly, they don't require a plate so the calories don't count. I still have, at minimum, one hundred of these in my fridge if you'd like to swing by for a sample.

Terrible, pre-dressing, I-phone photo

Caprese Salad Skewers

Ciliegine (cherry-sized mozzarella balls)
Basil Leaves
Cherry Tomatoes
Sea Salt
Pepper
1/4 c. Olive Oil
2 tb. Balsamic Vinegar
4 inch skewers

Skewer one tomato onto a skewer. Roll 1/2 a basil leaf onto the skewer. Then skewer one ciliegine on top of basil. Mix together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Arrange skewers on a platter and sprinkle with black pepper and sea salt. Dress with oil and vinegar mixture just before serving.

Tunnel to Towers

On Sunday morning, myself and several of my co-workers participated in the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run in Mobile (http://www.tunneltotowersrun.org/).

On September 11th, 2001, New York City firefighter Stephen Siller had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn.  He was on his way to play golf with his brothers on that bright clear day when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers.  When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need.  He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center.  When Stephen drove his truck  to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic .  With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping  to meet up with his own company, Squad 1.  Sadly, he never made it out.

Heading into the Bankhead Tunnel

Inside the Tunnel

The uphill climb out of the tunnel.

In cities across the United States, thousands of runners ran Sunday in support of the Stephen Siller Foundation and it's mission to, "Let Us Do Good." I was so lucky to have Mom, Dad, Robert and Layla there to support me.

Bob

Mom and Dad

Layla

In honor of all those who sacrificed their lives protecting our country eleven years ago, I encourage you to get out there and do something good for someone else. Hug your families and friends a little tighter and be thankful for all that you are given. Never forget.

The Morning After Spiel: Mississippi State

I watched yesterday's game from here:

Perdido Beach Resort

Let's just say that I'm happy the bar was open. My hopes that a new Kiehl Frazier would emerge were shattered. Frazier was 13 for 22 for the day with 125 yards. He also threw 3 interceptions. Our total offense was 216 yards. With stats like these, Auburn will be lucky to win 3 games all season. An interesting fact that I read in a Scarbinsky article this morning, the last time Auburn played this poorly against State was in its 1998, 17 point loss. Terry Bowden quit that season before he could be fired.

We may be looking at some tough times this year. The next tough time may come as early as next week. I'm having serious doubts about our chance of success against ULM after seeing them defeat Arkansas 34-31 in overtime last night. Oh well. Even when the team loses, the tailgate on Mell Street always wins.

On a positive note, it was awesome to get to hang out with some of the WDFJ yesterday. Laurie, Bess and Brooke drove down from the Phoenix to join us for the game. Pics below.

Big, Raul, Myself, LKB

Raul and I

After the game, Robert and I were able to enjoy a nice dinner with my parents in Perdido. The sunset was beautiful!

Unfortunately, my hair was no so beautiful.



That's our boat in the background. Ha.



War Eagle, anyway!

Homeboy Challenge: Week 2

If you thought picking a homeboy last week was difficult, this week was actually worse. This week's challenge winner....

Onterio McCalebb. McCalebb had a 100 yard kickoff return in yesterday's game against Mississippi State. Congrats to HCB! Your miniatures will be delivered when you venture down from NYC for the LSU game in a few weeks. 

No honorable mentions as there is no one of honor to mention.