BYU "Blue" Dinner

Tonight BYU played UTAH (actually they are playing UTAH; the game is currently in the 4th quarter)!  To be honest, I am not much of a football fan.  The only football I really enjoy watching is the football scenes from movies like Remember the Titans and The Blind side (I know, I'm lame).  This year, at least for this game, I made an effort to embrace the spirit of game day.  I may not love football, but I do love food and so I made a BYU "blue" dinner.  It wasn't fancy, but it was great football food!

Blueberry Lemonade

3 cups blueberries

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice

3 cups cold water

Puree blueberries and sugar in a blender.  Mix lemon juice and water in pitcher.  Place mesh strainer over pitcher and strain pureed blueberries.  Stir well and pour into ice filled glasses.  Garnish with Lemon slices and frozen blueberries.

*Next time I would use 1 cup of sugar, it was a bit tart.

Recipe from Bobby Flay

"Blue" Super Nachos

Ingredients:

Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

Beef and Bean Topping:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound ground beef

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon Cholula hot sauce

1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 large tomato, chopped

Cheese Sauce:

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups whole milk

2 cups pepper jack cheese

Diced roasted jalapenos (optional)

Salt and pepper

Additional toppings:

Pico de Gallo

Sour cream

Guacamole

Cilantro

Chopped green onions

Sliced Roasted jalapenos

Cholula

Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat.  Add oil, garlic, onion and peppers to the pan and sauté 2 minutes, then add meat and crumble with wooden spoon.  Season meat with salt, chili powder, cumin and Cholula.  Cook meat until browned, stir in beans and chopped tomato and reduce heat to low. 

In a medium sauce pan, melt butter and add flour to it.  Cook flour and butter 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat, then whisk in milk.  When milk comes to a bubble, stir in cheese with a wooden spoon.  Remove cheese sauce from the heat and salt and pepper to taste.

Top chips with beef and bean mixture, cheese sauce and your choice of toppings.  Eat immediately and enjoy!

Adapted from Rachael Ray's Super Nachos recipe

M & M Peanut Butter Bars

2 cups oats

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup peanuts, chopped

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, melted

Mix above ingredients with a fork.  Press half of mixture into a jelly roll pan.

2 cans sweetened condensed milk

2 cups creamy peanut butter

Mix and pour over oat layer.

Top with remaining oat mixture and sprinkle with a large bag of M&M's.  Press down with hands.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  Drink with milk!

This recipe came from my Aunt Traci (I use a little more salt than her recipe calls for).  The original name for this sweet treat is Christy's Totally Gnarly Peanut Butter Bars.