Tailgating

Gorgeous Pfaltzgraff Football Platter

September 23, 2019 By Joi Sigers

The gorgeous Pfaltzgraff Football Platter shown here isn’t just on my gift-giving list this year, it’s at the top of my, “Buy for my own darn self” list as well.

My family celebrates any and all seasons, days and occasions as we can. What can I say? We love to eat, love to laugh, love to make a lot of noise and look for a reason to do all of the above at once.

Football season was made for families like this one!

Whether it’s college football or the NFL, weekends just become a lot more fun this time of year, don’t they?

Product Description from Amazon

This rectangular Football Platter will be a big winner on game day
Designed to look like a football field, this platter is perfect for serving your guests lunch meat and cheese, hors d’oeuvres and more
Football platter measures 17 inch long x 11 inch wide
Crafted of ceramic
Use & Care: Microwave and dishwasher safe

I’m picturing so many delicious things on this gorgeous platter…. pigs in blankets, cookies, brownies, sandwiches, chips, cheese and crackers… and, just like that, I’ve made myself hungry.

See Pfaltzgraff Football Platter for more information and a closer look. This is a beauty.

Frank’s RedHot Introduces Wingman Saucy Support Line AND a Chance to Win a Decked-Out Tailgate Truck!

September 3, 2019 By Joi Sigers

Are you as excited for the return of football as I am?! Autumn, crock-pot meals, chili, soup, Chai Tea Lattes… this is my time of year!

In celebration of the start of football season, Frank’s RedHot is kicking off #WingmanSweepstakes on Twitter. Now through September 27^th, Frank’s is YOUR Wingman! They’ll be responding to fans’ questions about tailgating (and the football and cooking life, in general, I’d imagine). When you use the hastag, you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a brand new truck. Not just any truck, mind you. This truck comes with football tickets, a hot sauce fountain, a ridiculously-over-the-top blow up bottle for Frank’s RedHot, a grill, essentials for Buffalo wings (obviously), cornhole and more.
Frank’s isn’t just putting the SASS in chicken wings, they’re putting the FUN in autumn!

Best of luck… I hope one of you win this outstanding prize!

(Continued below the video….)

Press Release

Frank’s RedHot celebrated the start of football and tailgating season by kicking off the #WingmanSweepstakes on Twitter. Through September 27th, the Frank’s Wingman will be responding to fans’ burning questions about tailgating (and life) from what the brand has dubbed their “saucy support line,” while also entering them for chances to win one of four weekly prize drawings and the grand prize – a Frank’s Wingman Tailgate Truck.

This is no fantasy, it’s the real deal! As the saying goes, Frank’s RedHot urges fans to, “Put that S#!t on everything!” This time, that means a truck that comes decked out with Frank’s RedHot tailgating essentials like football tickets, a hot sauce fountain, a grill, essentials for Buffalo wings (obviously), cornhole and more – showing that Frank’s is the wingman that has your back in the most brag-worthy way.

“Frank’s RedHot is everyone’s game-day wingman, and – like a hilariously good friend – sometimes gives you bold advice,” says Alia Kemet, Creative & Digital Strategic Director with Frank’s brand. “For instance, Wingman could tell you something simple like how much Frank’s to put on your wings, or whether to bring a date that you just met to the game. The Frank’s Wingman is there by your side to support all of your saucy tailgating adventures.”

To enter, Twitter users are encouraged to tweet a question at @FranksRedHot, with the hashtag #WingmanSweepstakes, for an assist. By doing so, they will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win the Frank’s RedHot Wingman Tailgate Truck. Fans who are participating will also have the weekly chance to win mini tailgate Wingman kits equipped with a bottle of Frank’s RedHot. All entries must be sent from the account owner, and received no later than September 27, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Use of any automated method to send Entry Tweets is prohibited and will result in disqualification. No purchase necessary to participate. For full terms and conditions of the sweepstakes, visit FranksRedHot.com/sweepstakes.

As the go-to hot sauce of any game-watching event, Frank’s RedHot is the franchise player of your favorite tailgating recipes – Buffalo wings, Buffalo chicken dip, RedHot chili and more. Recipes are available at franksredhot.com/recipes.

About Frank’s: It all started back in 1920 when the first bottle of Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce was introduced. Made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers, Frank’s RedHot adds the perfect blend of flavor and heat to your favorite foods. Frank’s Cayenne Pepper Sauce was used as the secret ingredient in the original Buffalo wings created in Buffalo, NY in 1964. Try our family of products including the Original sauce, Buffalo Wings sauce, Queso Dip seasoning mix, Buffalo Ranch seasoning, Frozen Buffalo Wings and more. Visit www.Franksredhot.com for more information and recipes.

Frank’s is one of McCormick & Company’s brands. As a global leader in flavor, McCormick has built a portfolio of leading flavor brands that enhance people’s enjoyment of food all around the world. Every day, no matter where or what you eat, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick. McCormick Brings the Joy of Flavor to Life™.

Be sure to follow Frank’s on Twitter!

What Do You Get When You Combine SkinnyPop Popcorn and Melted Pink Himalayan Salt Ghee?

April 5, 2017 By Joi Sigers

SkinnyPop Popcorn with Melted Pink Himalayan Salt Ghee

A while back, a super friendly woman contacted me about doing a post on my food blog highlighting SkinnyPop Popcorn. Since it was a brand I already bought regularly, I was more than glad to help spread the word. This isn’t a sponsored post – nor did I receive any popcorn to sample. I bought my own, as I regularly do.

Let me tell you a little secret about us food bloggers… we are regularly sent food products to review (whether we’re sent the product or a voucher, we’re compensated for the time we spend telling our readers about the food). If you see one of my kind (food bloggers) giving a “shout out” to a product for which we didn’t even receive a coupon for… mark it down… it’s one we’re already buying and loving.

There are just certain “staples” you grab each week at the grocery store, right? SkinnyPop popcorn is one of my favorite staples. I regularly grab bags of their Original as well as their Sea Salt and Pepper. The Sea Salt and Pepper is actually my favorite – guess it’s because I’m a pepper fanatic, huh?

Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks, period. It’s delicious, fun to eat, doesn’t make a mess (unless you cover it with caramel or chocolate… then it’s shall we say a mess that’s worth it!), and nutritionally sound.

I almost always have a huge bowl of SkinnyPop popcorn on the table or counter – so anyone who passes by can grab a handful and crunch their little hearts out. It’s a great way to hold off the hungries until mealtime and I’d much rather my loved ones grab popcorn than greasy chips or sugar-coated snacks.

My husband and I often invite popcorn into the den when watching television in the evening or on weekends. A baseball game without popcorn? I don’t think so!

SkinnyPop Popcorn with Melted Ghee… HOLY CATS!!

I recently happened upon what is now one of my favorite things in the world: SkinnyPop popcorn with melted Pink Himalayan Salt Ghee – naturally, you can just use regular ghee and add a little Himalayan Salt at some point in the melting or drizzling process, but I’d HIGHLY recommend the ghee pictured above – 4th & Heart Grass-Fed Ghee with Himalayan Pink Salt. It’s on Amazon (what isn’t, right??) but I’ve also found it easily in Meijer’s and Kroger.

Again, any melted ghee would be fantastic, but this one is my “go to” for many things in life.

Since I first melted ghee and used it on popcorn, I’ve never used traditional butter…. and I LOVE traditional butter as much as anyone. Ghee is just perfectly perfect for drizzling on popcorn and I could go on and on about how delicious it is. That, however, wouldn’t get the point across nearly as well as if you simply try it for yourself.

You’ll be as blown away as me and, yes, you may even exclaim HOLY CATS too.

SkinnyPop Popcorn with Grated Dark Chocolate and Almonds

One of the things I like about SkinnyPop so much is the fact that it’s….

… not Microwave Popcorn. Studies have shown that the majority of microwave popcorn is horrible for you.
….. doesn’t mess up dishes or call for vegetable oil.
…. doesn’t mess up my hot air popcorn popper.

It’s healthier than most snacks, healthier than all microwavable popcorn, and it doesn’t mess up a single thing. I also love that they print Gluten Free in huge letters on the front. They’re proud to be gluten-free and that makes me smile.

While my absolute favorite way to eat SkinnyPop Popcorn is straight outta the bag (or bowl, if that’s where it’s hanging out at the time), I do like to get a little jazzy from time to time.

Keep reading for a few ways to have fun with popcorn.

SkinnyPop Popcorn with Dried Cranberries and Almonds

In addition to melted ghee (please, please try this – trust me it’s too good for its own good), below are some of my favorite ways to have fun with popcorn.

I first fell in love with pouring M&Ms into popcorn at the theater many, many, many moons ago. I was trying to hold onto a huge bucket of popcorn (I go all out with theater popcorn, guys) and a box of plain M&Ms, while freeing up a hand to control my Diet Coke – yes, I’m that girl who has buttery popcorn, candy, and drinks a Diet Coke to wash it all down. At least I used to, that is. I gave up Diet Coke but candy and popcorn? NEVER. I decided that I either had to get creative or grow a third hand. I got creative. I poured the M&Ms into the bucket of popcorn and something legendary was born. Since that day (seriously, it must have been at least 25 years ago), I always have M&Ms in my popcorn at the theater. I often do the same at home. If you buy the “Baking M&Ms” bag, you’ll get more candies for your buck – plus they’re smaller, so you get more with each handful.
Lawry’s Seasoned salt is great on popcorn – plus it gives it a funky cool color.
Grating dark chocolate or white chocolate onto popcorn is also a darn tasty way to go.
Nuts are incredibly good for you, so I like to sneak them into our meals and snacks any way that I can. Tossing pecans, almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, or pistachios into popcorn just ups the nutritional boost. Smart and delicious. I also like to toss in fried fruit sometimes. Experiment with the combinations of dried fruit and nuts for something extra special. One of my personal favorite combos is dried cranberries, almonds, and macadamia nuts. If I have any on hand, I’ll throw in some white chocolate morsels too.
Cayenne pepper (if you like a little heat) and grated lime are a great combo for popcorn. The flavors go together perfectly.

SkinnyPop Popcorn with Dried Cranberries, Almonds, and White Chocolate Morsels

You can find SkinnyPop in your grocery store or your favorite super store. I just noticed on their website that they’ve added to their line of popcorn – I’ll have to keep my eyes out for these new varieties in my store. You can also find SkinnyPop on Amazon. I’ve kind of fallen in love with ordering food along with whatever I’m ordering on Amazon. Makes delivery day even sweeter.

You can also find the 4th & Heart Grass-Fed Ghee with Himalayan Pink Salt on Amazon. It’s EXCELLENT on toast and chocolate as well as popcorn. Think I need a little popcorn with melted ghee right about now…

Flax Burger (With Carrington Farms Flaxseed)

August 13, 2015 By Joi Sigers

The recipe below is perfect for game day, tailgating, or any time you’re craving a great hamburger! Make it gluten free by serving it on gluten free buns and by using gluten free bread crumbs.

1 pound thawed ground beef, lean ground turkey or bison, veal or your favorite meat.
2 Tbs finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic minced
2 Tbs Carrington Farms Organic Milled flaxseed
2 Tbs water
3/4 cup soft bread crumbs (1 slice of bread – use gluten free bread if you follow a gluten free diet)
1 beaten egg
1 Tbs mustard
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix together meat, onion, garlic, flax and bread crumbs.
Lightly beat water and egg together and add to mixture. Add mustard, salt and pepper.
Cook on a grill or stove top until no pink remains (~12 mins)
Optional cheeseburgers: top with slice of your choice of cheese at end of cooking and grill or broil for about 1 min.

Servings: Makes 4 -3/4 inch thick patties or 6 -1/2 inch thick patties.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a key force against inflammation in our bodies. Mounting evidence shows that inflammation plays a part in many chronic diseases including heart disease, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and even some cancers. This inflammation is enhanced by having too little Omega-3 intake (as found in fish, flax, and walnuts), especially in relation to Omega-6 fatty acid intake (in such oils as soy and corn oil). In the quest to equalize the ratio of these two kinds of oils, flax seed can be a real help. – Read more about the health benefits of flax seed.

If you have or choose to eat gluten free, either use gluten free hamburger buns or wrap the burgers in leaf lettuce.

Photo and Recipe Credit: Carrington Farms – Find a lot more delicious and healthy flaxseed recipes on their website.

Sugared Almonds: Beautifully Delicious and Deliciously Beautiful

November 26, 2013 By Joi Sigers

Sugared Almonds (just about any nut will do)

How to Make Sugared Almonds

1 Egg White
2 tsp water
2 cups almonds (or nuts of your choice – sugared pecans are ahhh-mazing)
1/2 cup sugar PLUS 1/3 cup sugar

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. For best results, cut a sheet of parchment paper to fit your cookie sheet and spray with cooking spray.

Mix the egg white and water, then bathe the almonds in the mixture until they’re all coated. Add 1/2 cup sugar and mix well.

Spread the sugary almonds onto the parchment paper-lined pan and sprinkle them with the remaining 1/3 cup sugar.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Stir the almonds and return them to the oven. For this last 7-8 minutes, you don’t want to even think about leaving the kitchen. Park it beside the oven and keep an eye on these guys. Usually, they’ll need to cook for another 7-8 minutes, but you want to make certain they don’t over cook. Given half a chance, they’ll burn. You’re going for a golden brown appearance, but if you aren’t careful, they’ll turn too dark in what feels like seconds.

If they need to go longer than 8 minutes, again, keep your eyes on them like an over-protective mother. Fortunately, I’ve always been one of those creatures, so I’ve mastered and perfected the routine.

Remove the pan from the oven and lift the parchment paper from the pan and place on a cooling rack. Give the nuts no free reign – left to rest and relax on the cookie sheet, they will see it as their chance to burn.

A Few Nutty Thoughts:

If you’re nuts for nuts, like we are, buy them online at Oh Nuts. In a word, they’re simply perfection.
Almonds are excellent prepared this way but pecans are easily just as good. They’re not quite as crunchy, so they’d be a great choice for those who are a little older or who have sensitive teeth.
How did we ever survive without parchment paper? OK, so that has nothing to do with nuts, but does beg to be asked. It makes clean-up a breeze and makes your pans last a lot longer.
Sugared Nuts are great snacks during ballgames, favorite TV shows, or just any time you want a snack. They’re extra pretty during the holidays.
These would make wonderful gifts! Put them in a pretty jar with a lid, tie with a festive ribbon, and there you go.
Sugared nuts are great on ice cream, brownies, and as cake toppings.

Sweet Italian Sausage Pretzel Sliders

October 2, 2013 By Joi Sigers

Sometimes the simplest things can be the most delicious things. I made a pot of Tortellini soup yesterday and wanted something a little different than garlic bread to accompany it. I had a package of DELICIOUS Sister Schubert’s Soft Pretzel Rolls in the freezer and a package of Sweet Italian Sausage in the refrigerator. As for cheese, I ALWAYS have a great variety of cheeses on hand because I’m something of a cheese fanatic.

I baked the rolls according to the directions on the package, crumbled up and fried the Italian Sausage (hot Italian Sausage would also be delicious – if you can handle the heat), and put the two together with a shredded Italian cheese blend.

They were phenomenal, disappeared quickly, and left us all wishing I’d doubled the recipe.

These little cuties would be great for tailgating or gameday snacks. If you were to drizzle little thin lines with sour cream, mayo, or even a thin icing you could even make passable footballs (see what I did there?).

++++ You’ll have left over sausage, even if you PACK the sliders like I did. We just threw the leftover crumbles into our soup. Refrigerating leftover Italian sausage and throwing it into omelets or scrambled eggs the next morning is also a delicious option.

Common Grilling Mistakes

July 3, 2013 By Joi Sigers

Just in time for 4th of July grilling, this infographic gives you handy grilling tips and advice that’ll have you grilling like a champ! At the bottom of the infographic, you’ll even find links to more advice and tips. Basically, they’re going to hook you up with everything you need to wow your family and friends this weekend and every weekend after that.

Have a fun, delicious, and safe 4th of July!

Source : JES Restaurant Equipment

Healthy Super Bowl Snacks: Brown Butter Roasted Pecans and Crab Tacos

January 31, 2013 By Joi Sigers

This post is a perfect follow-up to the last post about the number of calories in popular Super Bowl Snacks. We’ve seen what we definitely DON’T want to do, so now let’s see something we DO want to do. If you’re as crazy about pecans as I am, you’re already drooling.

Instead of celebrating the Super Bowl with the usual fried wings, dips and chips that may have unhealthy saturated or trans fats, try a few fan-friendly snacks made with heart healthy pecans.

Super Bowl snacks don’t need to be unhealthy to be good.

“Whether you’re tailgating, going to a big party or watching the Super Bowl at home this year, try working pecans into your menu,” says Vickie Mabry, National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA) executive director. “Pecans have a hearty, meaty texture that works great in recipes or eaten alone. They will stay with you longer than other high carb snacks and make an ideal snack choice for everyone, including kids.”

Pecans can be a heart healthy benefit to any dish when enjoyed as part of a healthy eating pattern. They play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease because they have an abundance of “good” heart healthy fats. These unsaturated fats can have a protective effect by lowering total blood cholesterol when eaten in moderation. Pecans contain no cholesterol and no trans-fat. Save time and money by purchasing pecans that are already chopped. They have the same nutritional value plus convenience.

So swap your usual football fare for heart healthy recipes made with pecans to overtly (or covertly) present healthier options during the game.

Brown Butter Roasted Nuts

Makes six to eight small portions
2 oz. butter
2 c. pecans (or other nuts)
1/8 c. honey
1 tsp. kosher salt
½ tsp. ground sumac or paprika (optional)
1 lg. sprig rosemary, de-stemmed

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. In a large saute pan over moderate heat, melt butter and begin to brown.

3. Once the butter is browned and smells strong and nutty, add the rest of the ingredients; stir to coat everything evenly.

4. Transfer mixture to oven-proof pan; bake for about 10 minutes or until completely toasted.

5. Drain onto a paper towel and serve once cool.

More Healthy Super Bowl Snacks Starring Pecans!

Turkey Pecan Enchiladas

Emeril Lagasse’s Pecan Crusted Chicken Fingers

Pecan Orange Slaw

Pecan Banana Bread

For more recipes using pecans, visit www.ilovepecans.org or visit us on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter!

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PECANS SHELLERS ASSOCIATION
The National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA), a non-profit trade association, is committed to educating culinary and health professionals, food technologists and the general public about the nutritional benefits, variety of uses and all around great taste of pecans. For more information on the health benefits of pecans and where to find them, visit www.ilovepecans.org.

Calories in Your Favorite Super Bowl Snacks

January 31, 2013 By Joi Sigers

The Super Bowl is, of course, just days away. As a Denver Broncos fan, I’m not looking forward to it all that much. I SO thought this was our year! I’ll still watch, of course, and I’ll still have plenty of snacks… but I’ll still feel a little sore deep down inside.

I was recently sent the following eye-opening (and unsettling!) information about popular Super Bowl snacks.

The “Super Bowl” has become much more than a football game: It’s the second biggest day for food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving!

Below, Charles Platkin, PhD, MPH, a professor at the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College in New York City and editor of DietDetective.com demonstrates how much you would need to do to burn off typical “Big Game” snacks. For instance, you would have to run 49 football fields to burn off just two handfuls of potato chips or do “the wave” 6480 times to burn off 6 Buffalo Wild Wings Dipped In Ranch!

That’s a lot of waves.

To help you choose the most splurgeworthy foods, here are the exercise equivalents for some of your favorite football snacks. The idea is to use exercise equivalents to provide a reference for calories.

I’ve included a few of Charles Platkin’s books in the post, click through each for more information.

HANDFUL OF PITA CHIPS, EACH WITH ARTICHOKE DIP = RUNNING 141 FOOTBALL FIELDS
Each chip is 13 calories, plus just 1 tablespoon, probably just about a chips worth, of dip is 80 calories.

Diet Pro: Make your own 100 percent whole-wheat pita chips, and use salsa instead of the artichoke dip. There are many different kinds of salsa. They’re good, and they’re only 15 calories per tablespoon.

FOUR (4) DOMINOS STUFFED CHEESY BACON & JALAPENO BREADSTICKS = 193 TOUCHDOWN DANCES IN THE END ZONE
While the stuffed cheese bread is probably very tasty, with all that fat it’s also a calorie killer at 160 calories per piece, or 640 calories for four.

Diet Pro: You can toast 100 percent whole-wheat pita bread with butter spray and Parmesan cheese.

TWO (2) SLICES OF DOMINOS BACON CHEESEBURGER FEAST HAND-TOSSED SPECIALTY PIZZA (16 inches) = 209 MINUTES PERFORMING IN A MARCHING BAND
Pizza AND a cheeseburger what will they think of next? Each slice is 490 calories, but it is hand tossed.

Diet Pro: Try thin-crust pizza, and if you really want to be super healthy, how about getting pizza without the cheese just add your own Parmesan.

HALF (1/2) OF A WHITE CASTLE CRAVE CASE WITH CHEESE = FACE PAINTING 111 WILD FANS
These are sliders with cheese. Each slider is 170 calories. That’s 2,550 calories for 15, but they’re not very large, and there are 30 in a case.

Diet Pro: How about having just one or two? Make your own burgers white meat turkey burgers if you really want to be super healthy, or at the very least very lean ground meat.

THREE (3) SIERRA NEVADA BIGFOOT BEERS = 211 MINUTES OF COACHING FOOTBALL
There are some high-calorie beers out there, and this is one of the highest.

Diet Pro: Unless you love Sierra Nevada and realize the calories, your best bet is a regular beer OR, even better, one of those micro-light beers. The best would be Beck’s Premier Light at only 64 calories per 12-ounce bottle or MGD Light, also 64 calories. Michelob Ultra and Natural Light have 95, or you can go very low with Budweiser Select for 55. Sample a few light beers before the game to see which ones you prefer.

ONE (1) SLOPPY JOE = 59 MINUTES OF CLIMBING THE STADIUM STAIRS
This is a Tex-Mex creation that includes fatty ground beef, sugar, ketchup and even flour. Sloppy Joes have more than 500 calories with the bun (about 150 calories).

Diet Pro: Use lean ground beef and try a low-calorie sauce (without sugar). It will still taste great. Also, add veggies (onions, peppers, broccoli all chopped up) to the meat to lower overall calories and increase health benefits.

SIX (6) TRADITIONAL HAND-SPUN BUFFALO WILD WINGS DIPPED IN RANCH DRESSING = DOING “THE WAVE” 6,480 TIMES
Stand up, wave your hand and be counted 6,480 times. Six wings from Buffalo Wild Wings have 990 calories. Then add about two servings of ranch dressing at 170 calories each for a total of 340 calories. That’s 1,330 calories if you have only a small dip of dressing per wing.

Diet Pro: You can certainly make your own chicken wings. Go skinless and bake instead of deep frying them.

TWO (2) HANDFULS OF CHEETOS JUMBO PUFFS = 30 MINUTES OF PLAYING PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
The only problem is that, according to The Wall Street Journal, there are only about 11 minutes of actual ball playing in a football game. That means you need to play almost three games of professional football to burn off two handfuls of Cheetos. Keep in mind, that’s 320 calories for about 2 ounces yes, only 2 ounces.

Diet Pro: How about making your own popcorn? Sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese and spray it with butter spray.

ONE (1) HANDFUL OF TRAIL MIX = 49 TOUCHDOWN DANCES IN THE END ZONE
Keep in mind, nuts and chocolate have about 160 calories per ounce, which is not bad if you don’t take five handfuls before you’ve even noticed.

Diet Pro: Try having ONLY nuts. Nuts are healthy, but they’re very high in calories, so don’t keep a huge bowl in front of you. And try to eat them one at a time meaning don’t shove an entire handful into your mouth all at once.

BUBBA GUMP JAMBALAYA = 375 MINUTES OF PREPARING, COOKING, SERVING AND CLEANING UP AFTER THE SUPER BOWL PARTY
That’s more than six hours of cooking, preparing and cleaning. Yes, Bubba Gump is a chain, and the Jambalaya has 1,100 calories. Jambalaya is typically made with chicken, shrimp and andouille sausage sauté with peppers, onions, rice and spicy sauce.

Diet Pro: Make a healthy jambalaya with boneless chicken breast and brown rice. Thats the way to go.

OUTBACK BABY BACK RIBS, FULL ORDER = 123 MINUTES OF TEAM PRACTICE AND CONDITIONING
Ribs are fatty, and the sauce is sugary. For the record, Outback Baby Back ribs are 1,156 calories.

Diet Pro: Try making them yourself, and trim all visible fat before and after cooking. Also, instead of coating your ribs with an excessive amount of sauce beforehand, partially cook them loaded with seasonings, brush them lightly with the sauce, and then finish cooking.

FOUR (4) BACON-WRAPPED SMOKIES = 156 MINUTES BEING THE TEAM MASCOT
Little sausages wrapped in bacon popping just four of those in your mouth will cost you 156 minutes of jumping around and acting a bit foolish (the good news is you’ll be wearing a costume). The bacon alone, (without the sausage and brown sugar) is more than 80 calories, for a total of more than 160 calories per appetizer. Four of them go down easy for 640 calories.

Diet Pro: If you need to eat some type of bacon-wrapped hors doeuvres, go with Applegate Farms Organic Hickory Smoked Uncured Turkey Bacon. Its only 35 calories per slice. Hebrew National Beef Franks in a Blanket are 60 calories each.

THREE (3) PEPSIS = 57 MINUTES OF DANCING TO BEYONCE DURING THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME PERFORMANCE
Each 12-ounce can is 100 calories. So to burn off just three Pepsis you need to dance for more than an hour to a Beyoncé song. Have you heard her music? Have you danced for an hour straight?

Diet Pro: Water, flavored seltzer, unsweetened ice tea there are so many low- or no-calorie drinks.

***** Be sure to visit DietDetective.com for valuable diet and health information. You can even find free, downloadable pocket guides I know you’ll love.

It’s That Time of Year Again…

October 26, 2012 By Joi Sigers

NFL My Team M&Ms with Dispenser & 3 Bags

Each year, around this time, I start posting a lot of Christmas gift ideas. I might as well, my thoughts are geared toward my own Christmas shopping nearly 24/7.

Maybe it’s because I’m a girl, myself, but I find it easier to shop for the females in my family than I do the guys. Who could even begin to think the way their minds work?! I was actually looking for something for our wedding blog this morning when I came across the cool gift ideas for sports fans in this post.

Granted, they aren’t just for guys. I’d LOVE the Denver Broncos and St. Louis Cardinals dispensers muchly. And if they had one for College teams, I’d have to buy about five of the University of Kentucky ones.

Choose your own (or your gift recipient’s) favorite team and get customized M&M’s featuring that NFL, NBA, or MLB team’s colors and logos. Each comes with a team logo dispenser and three 7oz bags. All pro teams available.

Any sports fan would love these dispensers and personalized M&Ms. After all, we sports fanatics want our team(s) colors and logos everywhere around us and everyone (absolutely everyone) loves M&M’s.

Click through any of the pictures or links to see the teams available.

Individual team candies are also available – without the dispenser. Obviously, these would be ideal for stocking stuffers or Christmas bag “fillers” – maybe along with a sweatshirt or scarf with their team’s logo. The ideas and possibilities are endless. Below are just a few of the teams. Remember, every pro team you can think of is available (NBA, NFL, and MLB).

Not only do these gorgeous M&M’s make perfect gift ideas, they’re also GREAT for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and cookies with. You can even throw them in a big bowl of (cooled) popcorn for a fun surprise for the sports fans in your house.

Gorgeous Pfaltzgraff Football Platter