Football Season

by Laura

In my house, we're all about the Eagles. Anyone who pays attention to football has heard the stories about the rabid Philly fans. I don't consider myself rabid. However I do plop my children in a different room and in front of an age-appropriate DVD so that I can watch part of each game uninterrupted. It's one of my dirty mom secrets. They need something to bring up in therapy in 20 years and if my need to watch the first half of a football game is the worst they come up with...well, it's just not that bad.

Way before we had to think of ways to entertain the girls, really way before we even had the girls, my husband and I started a tradition of gameday food. Our own personal tailgate in our living room. The menus vary from surf and turf one week to cheesesteaks the next. When we're hosting or attending a football-related get together I have to think bigger. Easier, even. I love my friends dearly but I do not want to be slaving away Martha Stewart-style in the kitchen while they're drinking beer and yelling at the TV in the living room.

In the 10 years of this foodie tradition, there have been many winners. But there is one dip in particular that is often requested, easy-to-make, and can satiate a crowd. I share this gem with you now:

Buffalo Chicken Dip

4 or 5 cooked chicken breasts, chopped (feel free to use already-cooked and sliced chicken in packages 2 – 9oz pkgs, you must still chop it into smaller, less than bite-sized, fits-on-a-chip pieces)

12 oz Frank’s red hot sauce

2 – 8 oz softened cream cheese

1 C chopped celery

1 C ranch dressing

2 C shredded monterey jack cheese.

Chop chicken. Heat chicken and red hot sauce in a frypan or skillet. Add cream cheese, celery and ranch dressing, stir until combined. Pour into 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

NOTE:  You can easily halve the recipe for 2-4 people. Use 2 6oz pkgs of chicken but 1/2 all other ingredients. My husband has suggested many times that I sub shrimp for chicken (he likes to order buffalo shrimp at restaurants) but I'm not so sure that will work. If you try it that way, be sure to let us know how it turns out!

And also...GO EAGLES! No, really. PLEASE...GO already. 0 and 2 is not what we imagined!

Comments

[Elizabeth]

o.m.g. Must have this right now.

[Laptop Television]

We are a "college football" house, and chili is our staple dish for game-day parties. This dip sounds like a perfect warm-up to the chili.

Thanks (and go CYCLONES!)