WEEK 13: VIKINGS at CARDINALS

VIKES MAGIC NUMBER IS 4 for a first round bye, and 2 to win the division!

LETS DO DIS...

Todays Beer: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Todays Dish: Southwest Pork Chops

4 Pork Chops

2 teasp. Cilantro

1 teasp. minced garlic

1/2 teasp. Oregano

1/2 teasp. Paprika

1/2 teasp. Cayenne Pepper

1 teasp. Ground Chipotle Chili Powder

1 Tblsp. Lime Juice

1/2 Cup Stubbs BBQ Sauce

1 Medium Onion Chopped

- Combine first 6 Ingredients to make a dry rub. Apply to Pork Chops.

- Mix BBQ Sauce, Lime Juice, and Onions. Mix well.

-Place Chops in Ziploc Bag and pour in BBQ Sauce mixture. Refrigerate bag for 4-6 hours or overnight.

Heat Charcoal Grill and Cook Chops 8-10 minutes each side.

SKOL VIKES!

WEEKS 12 (&16): VIKINGS vs BEARS

Looks like Mr. Cutler sucks and choosing beers, almost as much as choosing Receivers to throw to. Today, we face the hated Bears.

Todays Beer: LONG TRAIL HIBERNATOR WINTER ALE

Todays Food: ITALIAN POLISH SAUSAGE SANDWICHES

-Sprinkle Links With Seasoned Salt and Black Pepper and place over indirect heat for 15-20 minutes

- Saute Onions, Red and Green Peppers in Olive Oil with 2 Tblsp. Garlic, Salt, an White Wine

- Last 2 minutes place buns on grill to toast

Stack Links on roll and pour 1/2 capful of red wine vinegar on links, then top with onion, pepper mix

SKOL VIKES!

WEEK 11: VIKINGS vs SEAHAWKS

What the hell is a "Seahawk anyway?"
TODAYS OPPONENT: The Seahawks
TODAYS BEER: Flying Fish (get it?)
TODAYS LUNCH: SCALLOPS AND APPLES or as we call it in Philly SCAPPLE....
TODAYS DINNER: BEER CAN SEAHAWK (Chicken)

The Vikings at 8-1 host the Seahawks today. I'm the only one who thinks this is a dangerous game. The Hawks have talent, and you never know which team you'll get. We're starting to get banged up too.

Anyway, playing the fish that can fly or whatever that is, gives me an opportunity to have ne of my favorite IPA's in recent years, Flying Fish brewery's Hopfish India Pale Ale. I think it's second only to the Dogfish Head's 60 and 90 minute IPAs. It also gives me a chance to combine 2 cool meals. My own recipe of Scallops and Apples (use Washington State) as well as Beer Can Chicken. Lets start wih Beer Can Chicken..

BEER CAN CHICKEN

1 Whole Chicken
1 Can Beer (I prefer Lager for this)
Garlic Salt
Black Pepper
Mesquite Chicken Seasoning
Italian Seasoning
Olive Oil

Preheat grill for indirect heat.
Cover Chicken in Olive Oil
Mix the beer and the remaining ingredients in a platic sealed container and shake.
Pour half of the container over the chicken, and funnel the rest into the empty beer can.
Stuff the can up the chicken so he can "sit" on it as shown.
Cook 2 and a half hours in indirect heat, to internal temperature of 170-180 degrees.
Removes can, cover with broth and enjoy.

SKOL VIKES!

Week 8: VIKINGS AT PACKERS

The return of Brett Favre to Lambeau field.....After a dissapointing week 7 loss at Pittsburgh, we come upon the game we were all waiting for, and a week before the bye week no less.

Once again, we do our Packer Hatin' Brats, however, we changed up our beer to Sam Adams and used a spoonful of sugar this time. A famous chef once said- "If you won't drink it, don't cook with it." The flavorful malt and hops of this Samuel Adams Boston Lager brings out the sweet notes of the Brats.

Packer Hatin' Brats

1 pack Johnsonville Stadium Bratwurst

1 pack Hot Dog Rols

2 Onions sliced

1 Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Black Pepper

Garlic Salt

1 tblsp. Sugar

On grill, brown the brats, while cooking the onions in Olive Oil on grill.

When onions and brats browned, put brats in pan, and cover with the spices and beer.

Cover and cook for 40 minutes.

Serve on hot dog rolls.

Go Vikes. We're in your corner Bret!!!!!

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.