After a looooooooooooooooong boring summer, football is finally back!  Kickoff starts tonight with the Cowboys and the Giants...can't wait!

My prediction...it will be a Packers-Ravens Super Bowl come February!  I love both teams so much I won't know who to root for, but that's a problem I won't mind having...

Aaron Rodgers?

Or Ray Lewis?

Growing up, didn't you hate it when your favorite TV show cheated you with a "clip show" episode?  I haven't seen a "clip show" in quite awhile...do TV shows still do them?

The memory of clip show episodes came to me when writing this post.  I know it's a total cheat, but I wanted to post SOMETHING before the big game...(1) to confirm that my blog still works and (2) to hopefully get my creativity going again.  Fingers crossed this actually works!

Here's some of my favorites that would be perfect for a Super Bowl party...

Appetizers

Pretzel-Wrapped Sausage Bites

Spicy-Sweet Wings

JD's Chex Mix

Caramel Popcorn

Main Dishes

Dinner on the Grill

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork (sorry no picture for this one)

Yankee Chili

Lasagna

Desserts

Fudge Brownies

Chocolate Toffee Bars

Peanut Butter Cookies

Cocktails

Classic Margarita

Tequila in the Tropics

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday!

It's football season, so you will always find yummy munchie foods at our house on Sundays.  I try to mix it up during the year with different recipes, but one constant is Chex Mix.

This is a variety of the Classic Chex Mix recipe...made to JD's specifications.  Perfect combination of sweet, salty, plus some tang from the Cheez-Its.

JD's Chex Mix
adapted from Classic Chex Mix

3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Rice Chex
3 cups Wheat Chex
1 cup Cheez-Its
1 cup mini pretzels
1 cup honey-roasted peanuts
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons Lawry's seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Put butter in 9x13 pan and heat in oven until the butter melts.
Meanwhile, combine the cereals, crackers, pretzels, and nuts in a large bowl.
When butter is melted, add Worcestershire sauce and seasonings and mix well.
Gradually add cereal mixture and stir to coat evenly.
Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  Allow to cool, then pour into serving bowl.

Yes, Hank Williams Jr., I am indeed ready for some football!  I've been ready since February 7th, when the Saints finished their fairy tale season with sweet victory over the Colts!  We watched the Saints/Colts America's Game episode on the NFL Network last night, and it brought all the excitement and emotion back...

Remember this?

And this?

And of course this?

This year looks to be just as exciting and surprising...who knows what will happen?  Me, that's who!  Not that I am a football expert in any way, but here is my prediction for this year's Super Bowl:

Baltimore Ravens OVER the Dallas Cowboys!

That's right...remember this prediction come February, and you can all congratulate me on my prognostication skills then.

Go Ravens!

I was going to write about the NFL Scouting Combine, but that seemed so dry and boring.  A bunch of NFL hopefuls subject themselves to countless physical challenges and mental tests, and get ogled in their undies by coaches and scouts.

So instead, I decided to list my Top 5 Players of all time...

#1 Joe Montana

The first football player I ever fell for...the first Super Bowl I ever watched (1981, against the Bengals)...the first team I ever loved.  Joe will always be #1 for me.  Plus, he proved he had a great sense of humor when he hosted Saturday Night Live and played "Sincere Stu" in the funniest skit ever..."I am happy to meet her."

#2 Brett Favre

How can you not love Brett Favre?  I know he can be a prima donna (what good player doesn't?) and his retirement decision/indecision has become a constant joke, but I love him anyway.  He loves the game so much, is tougher than anyone, and he is so fun to watch.

#3 Eddie George

I fell for the Titans because of Eddie George.  Yes, he was (and is) gorgeous, but he was such a great player and I loved the whole underdog attitude of the team.  And the Music City Miracle?  It was totally a lateral!

#4 Steve Young

It took me a long time to like Steve Young, since he took the job of my beloved #1 Joe Montana.  He did grow on me though...he played in the shadow of one of the greatest and brought his team to the Super Bowl.  I also love him now on ESPN.  He's a great analyst, is very smart and has a quick wit and great sense of humor.

#5 Ray Lewis

Yes, he had problems early in his career.  He has more than proven himself to his team and the world.  He has such passion for everything he does and is one of the most intense players I've ever seen.  ("What time is it???")  He has done a lot of good things in Baltimore as well, and he really seems to care about his city and the fans.

Honorable Mentions:
Tom Brady (yummy)
Kurt Warner (one of the good guys)
John Lynch (another intense player who gave it everything he had)

Man, I miss football.  Only 195 days until opening kickoff!