By passionate Buffalo Bills fan, Patti Bax
Original Date: 3/13/23
Hello sports fans, and welcome back to the IE Sports Radio Blog. When the NFL season inevitably comes to an end, culminating in the Super Bowl, fans begin the long journey to the next season. They carry on with renewed hopes of their team emerging triumphant, raising the Lombardi high. What is a fan to do while the minutes, hours, days, and months slowly pass? Of course, you have the NFL combine, free agency, and the draft to fill some of your time. However, there are those moments spent wondering what your team will do in the off season to become more competitive.
Have you ever considered writing a recipe for your team? Now, you may think to yourself, “I’m not a cook and even when I do, I never measure the ingredients.” Good news! Every NFL fan can be a 5-star chef and create the perfect recipe for their team’s success.
To become a better cook, there are some essentials, just like being a football coach. You don’t wake up one morning and win the Super Bowl. Just like a recipe, you need to take certain steps for it to be successful. You can’t cut corners and substitute cheaper ingredients. When I bake, especially Christmas cookies, I always use quality ingredients, including the best butter, flour, and real vanilla. Those who enjoy these holiday treats always comment on the flavors, and notice they taste much better than those which are store-bought. I believe there is another special ingredient…baking with love. Just like a football coach, a chef or cook will have better success when they love what they do, blending their passion and desire to produce the best product.
Where does one even begin when it comes to baking the best food? It helps to start with a standard recipe, and then add your own flavors. Preparation is also key so you can work your magic. Be sure to have a clean prep area, a working oven, and the right tools. Assuring you have everything you need will increase your chances for success. Most importantly, practice, practice, and more practice. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect” and by practicing, you can work out the imperfections. To inspire your recipe, I’m sharing the one I wrote for my beloved team, the Buffalo Bills. I encourage you to modify my recipe to fit your favorite NFL team.
Bills Super Bowl Delight
Ingredients
4 cups offensive line (recommend it be filled with hefty, stout, athletic, flexible players)3 cups defensive line (recommend it be filled with hefty, stout, athletic, versatile players)2 cups wide receivers2 cups cornerbacks1 cup running backs2 cups safeties¼ cup fullback¼ cup nickelback½ cup tight ends¼ cup dimeback4 cups QB2 cups special teams3 cups offensive coaches3 cups defensive coaches
Mix all ingredients well and don’t be afraid to add more of any ingredient, based on how well the initial recipe works for you. Be sure to add in as much fan support as needed…you can never have too much! Also, add splashes of culture, pride, resiliency, humility, vision, and mindset. This recipe is best when made weekly and served piping hot for all to enjoy. As you write your own recipe for your favorite NFL team’s 2023-2024 Season, here is an actual recipe you can cook and enjoy! Living in Buffalo, this is always a fan favorite.
Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip
Ingredients
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature (or you can use whipped version)
½ cup Buffalo wing sauce, such as Frank’s Red Hot® Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce (you can adjust the amount, based on your taste)
½ cup blue cheese dressing (I use a chunky version)
2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken breast
½ cup diced celery
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar, Colby-Jack, or Monterrey Jack cheese, divided
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese, optional
Suggestions for Dipping: celery sticks, crackers, or tortilla chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Beat cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Add in wing sauce, bleu cheese dressing, diced celery, diced/shredded chicken, 1 cup shredded cheese, and blue cheese crumbles (if using). Mix until well combined.
Spread in a shallow 1-quart baking dish and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese is slightly browned on top and dip is bubbly. Serve warm with desired dippers.
Note: For added flavor, prepare the night before and refrigerate until ready to bake.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments, and I hope you enjoy your “team” recipe as well as your Buffalo chicken wing dip. Please feel free to tweet me at @BuffaloHudl_IE. For more sports content, don’t forget to join in the fun and listen to our IE Sports Radio family, as well as the live calls from our partner station USRN. Huddle up with me on Tuesday nights at 7pm EST/4pm PST for The Buffalo Huddle W/Patti Bax. Shout out to our Patreon supporters and all you loyal listeners that continue to help IESR grow. Thank you for reading, and we will see you next time on IE Sports Radio; your direct feed for ALL that is sports.
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