Patriot games

2011 Tailgate #3
Theme: New England

One can't have a New England themed tailgate without a bunch of seafood, now can you? Well, for the girl that is not really a huge seafood fan, there is only one true option...lobster! Add some Boston Baked Beans, Cape Cod chips, macaroni salad and Boston Creme Pie and you've got yourself a New England tailgate folks!

{Killer tailgate plate, baked beans, cape cod chips, grilled lobsters with herb butter, Boston cream pie, double grills for this tailgate...serious!}

Wow, my mouth is watering just looking at these pics again. I think the bar is set pretty.darn.high for future tailgates at this point folks!

Shoot 'em up Cowboy

2011 Tailgate #2
Theme: Dallas

What does one cook for a Dallas themed tailgate? Well, Tex-Mex, of course! Despite a little tailgate emergency (anyone seen the knob for the grill?) and a little rain, we ended up with some of the most delicious tailgate food ever!

{Chicken & Steak Fajitas, Tex-Mex potato skins, potato skins getting some cheese}

Yes, that's TWO kinds of fajitas (Chicken & Steak) and Tex-Mex Potato skins. Too die for! I am not a fan of Texas in general, but thank goodness for Tex-Mex! Yee Haw!

Next up: New England. Anyone have any ideas for a girl that doesn't eat seafood???

What I learned from Food Network Magazine

Surprisingly disappointing issue of Food Network Magazine this month. I didn't rip out a single recipe that I wanted to try. Not  single one! I did have some revelations though.

1. In the America's Best Pizzas article, they claim Michael's Genuine has the best pizza in all of Florida. I have not had their pizza yet, but I totally believe they would have the best in the whole state. Short ribs, Gruyere, arugula and caramelised onions? Yes please! Everything they make is perfection. Remember my last blog post about them? There is drool all over the magazine right now!
2. I am addicted to buying cookbooks. There, I said it. I literally got accelerated heart rate when I read that Bobby Flay has a new cookbook, Bar American. Gotta have it. Also Food Network also has a Next Food Network Star Cookbook. OK, I'll get that too then. See, I told you I'm addicted!
3. In the editors note, Maile waxed on and on about the Easy Bake Oven. How much she loved hers, how it is being overhauled and how she got an old one for her daughter for a steal. It got me thinking about how I never had one. Did any of you have one? Did I miss out on a pertinent childhood memory? Should I get one for my yet unborn daughter to enjoy one day?

OK, so that's what stuck with me. What about you? What did you take away from this month's issue?

Killer Food

It's no secret that I am Addicted to the Food Network (hence the name of this blog!). It's pretty much the only channel I watch, but imagine my surprise when I came across a show on FN about the folks in my own hometown, Indiantown, FL! It was called Killer Food and it was about deadly food jobs. Imagine my surprise again when the first face I see is none other than my childhood neighbor, Iris Wall, on the screen!

{Florida Cracker?!}

In the episode, Iris gets her grandaughter, Whitney, a hog hunter, to learn how to hunt alligators for some more money. Classic Indiantown! In the end, they all gather at the ranch to eat the day's catch.

Who says you can't go home?! Quite nastalgic to see the hometown on my favorite network, but at the same time reminds me why I got out the second I had the chance.

Flavor Palm Beach Kick-off party 2011

Would you like to go to a party with great food, cocktails, music and all the proceeds go to charity? Me too! And that's exactly what I did. Friday kicked off the annual month-long food celebration that is Flavor Palm Beach. To start it all off was the party that starts it all. Great restaurants offering tasty bites and cocktails, music by String Theory, beautiful waterfront scenery and all ticket sales benefit the Red Cross...don't mind if I do! I didn't win the raffle, but I did pick the best bite: Four Season Palm Beach Shrimp Tacos. I call 'em like I taste 'em! That's not all I tasted though...just take a look at a few of my other tasty bites:

Don't mind the blurry cell phone photos, everything looks way better in person! But don't take my word for it...taste some of these savory treats for yourself. Just make a reservation at any of these restaurants in the month of September and enjoy them at a discount, no less!  Now if only I could decide which to dine at first...

Sandwich King

I have always been a big fan of sandwiches, but ever since we crowned the new winner of Next Food Network Star, Jeff Mauro, I have been craving nothing but sandwiches! His new show Sandwich King, is looking like it is going to be a new fave for me!
Tonight, I crowned myself the Sandwich King Queen and created this little beauty:

{Chicken Club Panini}

Complete with marinated grilled chicken, sharp cheddar, bacon, homeade chipotle mayo, tomato and avocado, all piled on country bread, this sandwich is a mouthful! It was juicy, spicy, smoky, creamy and crunchy all at the same time. Too large for even this sandwich afficianato to finish, it satisfied my hunger and fed my soul at the same time.

I leave you with Jeff''s motto: "You can turn any sanwich into a meal, and any meal into a sandwich." Words to live by, indeed! 

Carolina Crushin'

Decided to do a different approach to tailgating this year. Each game we will cook/eat/enjoy a food from the region of the team that we are playing. First up: Carolina! Just look at these delicious Carolina style ribs and potato salad!

{finger lickin' good!}

This football season is gonna be fun...and tasty!