WEEK 7: VIKINGS at STEELERS

JOEKNOWSBBQ's VIKING VERSION of THE ROETHLIS-BURGER

Out in Pittsburgh there is a place called Pappi's that has become famous for their $7 Roethlis-burger...as in Ben Roethlisberger, who wears #7. It's like half and half sausage and ground meat, then you sautee some onions over here and some scrambled eggs over there and you lop it on to a (debated on youtube) Portuguese or an Italian roll with lettuce and tomatoe.

It's a freakin' mess, kind of like our secondary without Antoine Winfield, and that has me real concerned going into the game.

But I digress...

From every picture I saw it didnt look real appetizing, with all due respect to Pappi's, and their patrons. But I love the concept, and the ingredients. Taking it a step further, out in Minnesota, their big burger is the Jucy Lucy, which are two thin patties with the cheese in the middle, forming a pot pie like effect.

So here's what I came up with when putting this together:

7 INGREDIENTS- Ground Meat and Italian Sausage (50/50 Ratio), Onion, 2 Eggs (for the 2 SuperBowls he won), Garlic, Diced Tomatoes, Yellow American Cheese.

1. Preheat grill for indirect heat.
2. Remove sausage from casings, and mix together with ground beef and a little Heinz ketchup. Form patties.
3. With one slice of American Cheese, cut in 4 squares, pile all four squares on top of each other, and stick between 2 thin patties. Crimp edges and that makes one Roethlis-burger Jucy Lucy patty.
4. In spearate pan, make an omellette with Egg, Onion, Garlic, and Tomatoe.
5. Grill Burgers.
6. When finished, serve on scooped Kaiser rolls, burger on bottom, omellette on top.
7. Garnish with Heinz Ketchup.

TODAYS BEERS: Rolling Rock, or Iron City...take your pick.

WEEK 6: VIKINGS vs RAVENS

We're going to do it a little different this week. Being 5-0 allows you to do that. Tough week ahead because we're facing the AFC semifinalists from last year who are very tough, talented, and have lost 2 in a row. Scary game for our Vikes. Being a NJ man myself, it's hard to ignore the fact that their QB and RB are from NJ. Ray Rice went to Rutgers, and Joe Flacco is from Audubon. My wife cried when he got drafted. I know, really..So no Baltimore dish today. Instead a tribute to the NJ boys..

TODAYS BEER: Flying Dog Ale, Pale Ale, brewed in Maryland, and like it says on the 6 pack, brewed "doggie style"...like this photo above of our NJ boys Ray Rice and his boyfriend Joe Flacco.

NO Crab cakes for us..doing it NJ Delaware River style..."Grilled Catfish"

If you grew up in NJ, you know that our River is pretty much good for...well...nothing....except catching and releasing Catfish. Don't eat it, because of the contaminants. You're better off buying it at the grocer for this recipe.

Catfish filets

Cajun Spice rub (equal portions of each):

Cayenne Pepper

Garlic Salt

Onion Salt

Paprika

Oregano

Black Pepper

1. Apply Dry Rub, wrap and refrigerate overnight.

2. Grill on indirect heat 15 minutes turning once.

Skol Vikes...lets make it 6-0!

WEEK 5: VIKINGS at RAMS

Since this game's going to be a blowout, I need to step it up a notch, or I'm going to be asleep by halftime.

Garlic & Peppercron Crusted RAM Chops

6 Lamb Chops

1/2 cup chopped mint leaves

6 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup crushed peppercorns

1 cup white wine

Garlic Salt

1.Mix ingredients including chops and marinade for 4 hours.

2. Preheat grill and remove chops from marinade.

3. Cook marinade on high in cast iron skillet for 20 minutes.

4. Cook lamb chops on direct heat- 8 minutes each side for well done, 5 minutes for medium. When done, add chops to the marinade, and simmer on medium for 5 minutes.

TODAYS BEER: Anything by Anheuiser Busch, St. Louis, MO. They've tried to do the micro brew thing and it hasnt worked out too well. But I will say that their Michelob Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale isnt bad. Thats what we're going with today.

WEEK 4: VIKINGS vs PACKERS

Vikings. Favre. Packers. Miller Beer. Brats.....

Nothing else is needed to say.

In pan, combine 2 Miller Lites, Sugar, Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, and fried onions. Brown Johnsonville Bratwurst 5 minutes on grill and place in pan. Covered. 20-30 minutes. Serve on hot dog rolls.