Saturday, November 17, 2012

UCLA v USC at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena

Bacon-Cheese Dip

Crumbled bacon is the crowing glory of this creamy cheese dip that features cream cheese, blue cheese and sour cream. You're guaranteed not to have any leftovers when you bring this dip to a party.

1/2 cup sour cream

1 (4-oz.) package crumbled blue cheese

(3-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons diced onion

1/8 teaspoon hot sauce

4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Garnishes: chopped fresh parsley, blue cheese crumbles

Assorted crackers

Preparation

Process first 5 ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Stir in half of bacon. Cover and chill 2 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with remaining bacon. Garnish, if desired. Serve with crackers.

Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced

4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth

1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 (4-1/2- to 5-pound) boneless or bone-in pork shoulder (also known as pork butt), twine or netting removed

2 cups barbecue sauce (optional)

KFC Coleslaw Recipe

Ingredients

4 1/2 teaspoons tarragon vinegar

6 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3/4 cup chopped onions

2 1/2 cups Miracle Whip

1 cup sugar

2 carrots

2 heads cabbage

Directions

Mix oil, onions and sugar.

Add tarragon vinegar.

Fold in Miracle Whip.

Pour over grated carrots and cabbage.

Fold in well.

Refrigerate in an air-tight covered dish.

Best if made the night before serving.

The tarragon is the secret seasoning.

Compare with the real KFC coleslaw.

Victory Bell Side Dish!

MAC AND CHEESE
8 oz macaroni
4 tsp salt
5 tbl butter divided
2 c bread crumbs
1 c grated Parmesan Reggiano
1/2 medium onion chopped
2 tbl all purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese
1/2 tsp ground mustard
1/4 ground red pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375. Prepare macaroni in a 6 qt saucepan to package directions, in salted water. Drain and set aside.

Melt 2 tbl butter in medium skillet over low heat. Add bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat and set aside.

Cook onions in remaining butter in large saucepan ever medium heat, 3-4 minutes, whisk in flour, cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, cream and salt, cook, stirring constantly, 8-10 minutes until thickened. Stir in most of the cheddar cheese, all the Gruyere and spices. Stir in pasta. Pour into caking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar and bread crumb mixture. Bake 30 minutes until golden.

Even rain and this wayward Trojans did not dampen the spirit.

SIMPLE PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE TRIFLE

12 Biscoff cookies crushed into crumbs (I used Peppridge Farm Gingerman cookies)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 c pure pumpkin puré
1tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 large tub Cool Whip, thawed and divided

In a medium bowl, combine crumbled cookies and butter. Divide cookie crumb mixture on the bottoms of (4) trifle glasses.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin purée, vanilla, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat with an electronic mixture until smooth. Use a spatula to fold in half of the whipped topping. Gently combine until there are no streaks.

To assemble: Spoon layer of pumpkin cheesecake mixture on crust, followed by whipped topping. Repeat layers to the top. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumb mixture.

Bruins bring the rain in first win against Trojans since 2006

Aaron Hester looked to the sky, screaming at the top of his lungs as he ran alone across the field. It was a good scream – the best of screams.

The redshirt senior cornerback had just been a part of UCLA (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12) football’s second victory against USC (7-4, 5-4) since 1998.

He ran, jumped and skipped down the sideline, soaking in the 38-28 victory, arguably the most meaningful during his time in Westwood.

“I wanted every ounce of the enjoyment I could,” Hester said. “I celebrated with my teammates, I celebrated with the fans, I had to take everything in.”

For Hester, the win was especially sweet. He was singled out and criticized all season long for habitual pass interference calls and poor play, but on Saturday, he was the star.

On the first play of the game, Hester intercepted USC senior quarterback Matt Barkley, which led to a UCLA touchdown six plays later.

“To be able to get that interception and convert it into points was big,” said coach Jim Mora, who was coaching in his first-ever game against USC. “It gives them confidence in the plan and confidence in themselves.”

That was just the start.

The Bruins added on 17 more points to go up 24-0 midway through the first half on touchdowns from redshirt seniors Johnathan Franklin and Joseph Fauria.

USC responded late in the second quarter, adding two touchdowns of its own going into halftime to make the score 24-14.

“I was concerned for the entire game,” Mora said. “Matt Barkley is a great player. They’ve got great receivers. Lane Kiffin is a terrific play caller. They’re going to score some points. They’re going to make some plays. They’re going to get some yards.”

UCLA received the ball in the second half, but heavy rain caused problems for offense, which culminated into one horrific play.

Redshirt freshman center Jake Brendel had a bad snap, which led to Franklin picking up the ball. Franklin then fumbled the ball, which was grabbed by redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley, who was hit immediately and fumbled again.

After a short scrum, USC junior defensive tackle George Uko ended up with the ball in UCLA’s end zone to bring the score to 24-20.

“I was joking with (Franklin) earlier this week saying, ‘What if this game is an old-school, muddy game when the rain is pouring and you’re just out there playing football?’ Well that’s what it turned out to be,” Hundley said.

With momentum in USC’s favor, UCLA responded with a 40-yard drive and a punt that put the Trojans deep in their own territory.

After a three-and-out by USC, redshirt sophomore linebacker Eric Kendricks blocked a punt, which gave UCLA the ball at USC’s 33.

“(Junior linebacker) Anthony Barr got hurt so I went in,” said Kendricks, who also had 10 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. “Then football happened.”

But not just any football happened. Program-changing football happened.

Following that punt block, UCLA scored again to go up 31-20 and the Bruins held the lead for the rest of the game.

When the Trojans tried to mount a comeback late in the fourth quarter, the Bruins refused to budge. Barr sacked Barkley with 2:07 left in the fourth quarter, knocking him out of the game.

From there, USC attempted a field goal to pull within a touchdown, but senior cornerback Sheldon Price, Hester’s counterpart, blocked the kick and secured a victory.

UCLA defeated USC for the first time since 2006 and won the title of Pac-12 South champions for the second consecutive season.

But unlike last year, where UCLA only won the title because USC was ineligible to compete in postseason play, the Bruins will represent the South division as the undisputed best team. They went 5-0 against their division rivals, but more importantly, they went 1-0 against the Trojans.

“This means everything to us,” said redshirt senior defensive end Datone Jones, who had six tackles. “We played a great USC team and we beat them fair and square. I played this game with my fellow seniors who lost every ‘SC game so far. To win this one – I can’t describe the feeling – it’s everything.”

Saturday, November 3, 2012

UCLA v Arizona at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena

Appetizers and Drinks First

Question:     What is better than bacon?
Answer:       Smokies, wrapped in bacon, smothered in butter and brown sugar and baked.

Bacon Wrapped Smokies with Brown Sugar and Butter

1 pound Bacon, Cut Into Thirds

1 pound Smokies

1 stick Butter

2 cups Brown Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F. Cut the bacon into thirds and wrap each smokie. Place all the wrapped smokies in a single layer in a baking dish. Then melt the stick of butter and then 1 cup of brown sugar and stir until mixed well. Pour the butter and brown sugar mixture on the smokies and bacon. Then take the other cup of brown sugar and sprinkle evenly over the smokies. Bake them for about 15-20 minutes and then turn the heat up to 400F for about 5 minutes or longer until the bacon becomes crispy.

Next...salad...

WEDGE SALAD
Iceberg Lettuce, cut into wedges
Bacon Bits
Green Onions, chopped

Mom's Blue Cheese Dressing
1 cup mayo
4 oz blue cheese crumbled
1/2 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup buttermilk
3 tbl white wine vinegar

Whisk mayo, blue cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, and vinegar in medium bowl until almost smooth. Season with pepper. Cover and refrigerate.

Arrange lettuce wedges on plates. Spoon dressing over lettuce. Sprinkle with onions and additional black pepper.

Main Dish...

POTATO BOATS
Scrub four baking potatoes. Rub with olive oil and course sea salt. Pierce. Bake at 375 degrees until done.

Chop the following:
1 onion
3 peppers (red, orange, yellow)
1 package mushrooms
4 boneless chicken breasts

Grate one medium cheddar and one pepper jack cheese; amounts to taste. You will also need butter and sour cream or whole milk.

Saute the vegetables in olive oil in one pan, the chopped chicken breasts in another. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder and any other spices that you prefer. Combine both in large bowl when done.

When potatoes are done, scoop out and combine with the vegetable and chicken mixture. Add butter, sour cream or whole milk (eyeball to determine amounts) and mix in cheeses to taste. Scoop mixture back into potato skins; top with more cheese. Bake until heated thru. Top with green onions and any other toppings you favor.

Go Bruins!

That was good!! Cheers and on to the game...

Bruins ride a Pac-12 high to win over Wildcats

UCLA crushes Arizona, 66-10, to take lead in South Division. Johnathan Franklin sets career rushing mark.

It was Johnathan Franklin's night.

Will it become UCLA's season?

The Bruins wake today with a new all-time leading rusher, as Franklin chased down Gaston Green's career record on the first possession against Arizona on Saturday. But when the Bruins wipe the sleep from their eyes, the realization may come that the college football monopoly in Los Angeles just might be over.

Franklin's serpentine 37-yard touchdown pushed him past Green and started a long and profitable evening for the Bruins. The 66-10 victory at the Rose Bowl was another steppingstone back from mediocrity, leaving 25th-ranked UCLA in control of the Pac-12 South Division.

"No one ever believed in us," cornerback Aaron Hester said. "We did. What's different now is our coach. He's what this is all about about. We're a program now."

The landscape has shifted such that Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl officials were at Saturday's game. The Bruins have a greater appetite this season. After a woeful season ended in that San Francisco bowl a year ago, UCLA has more deluxe accommodations in mind.

Franklin finished with 162 yards rushing in 24 carries with two touchdowns. It was the 17th 100-yard game of his career and ended his pursuit of Green.

Franklin shared the spotlight with quarterback Brett Hundley, who had 288 yards passing. He threw three touchdown passes and ran for another.

The Bruins (7-2, 4-2 in Pac-12) scored on their first four possessions and never looked back, jumping to a 42-3 halftime lead.

This put UCLA on unfamiliar ground … ahead of USC.

Oregon's victory over USC on Saturday left the Trojans staring up at the Bruins in the standings.

The last time UCLA was above USC in the conference standings this late in the season was 11 years ago. UCLA was 3-2 and USC 3-3 after games of Nov. 3, 2001.

"We have an opportunity now," said Joseph Fauria, who caught two touchdown passes. "We have to keep the same mind-set. That's what gotten us this far."

The Bruins play the Trojans in two weeks. First, though, comes a game at Washington State.

"USC is just another game, like Washington State is just another game," UCLA safety Tevin McDonald said this week.

"They are just another team we have to beat," McDonald said.

Great game Bruins!  Now let's have some desert.

Mini Pecan Pies

Ingredients

• 3 cups chopped pecans
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup dark corn syrup
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 (8-oz.) packages frozen tart shells

 Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.
• Stir together sugar and corn syrup in a medium bowl. Stir in pecans, eggs, and next 3 ingredients.
• Spoon about 1/4 cup pecan mixture into each tart shell. Place tart shells on a large baking sheet.
• Bake at 350º for 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks, and let cool completely (about 30 minutes).  Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

UCLA v Utah

Breakfast before the game. First appetizers and drinks.

DAWG BITE CHEESE SPREAD
1 lb Velveeta cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup mayonnaise
1 5 oz bottle prepared horseradish

In a large glass mixing bowl, melt the Velveeta in the microwave for about 90 seconds. Stir. If not soft and easy to stir, heat for 30 seconds more. Stir in the mayonnaise and half the horseradish. Taste, and add more horseradish if you prefer more bite. Stir again. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Serve on wheat thins or your favorite cracker.

SAUSAGE AND CHEESE MUFFINS
1 lb hot ground pork sausage
1 tsp onion powder
3 cups Bisquick
1 can condensed Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup (or Cheddar Cheese if not available)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cup buttermilk

Cook sausage and onion powder over medium heat. Stir, crumble, brown, drain, and cool
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sausage, Bisquick, and shredded cheddar cheese in large bowl. Make a well in the center of the mixture. Stir together the buttermilk and soup; add to the sausage mixture. Stir until the dry ingredients are moist. Spoon into greased muffin tins, filling to the top. Bake 15 - 18 minutes or until brown.

"Cheers" - Bloody Mary's and Mimosa's

Main Dishes - Trader Joe's Uncured Applewood Smoked Bacon

Creme Brulee French Toast and Fresh Fruit

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

· 1/2 Cup unsalted butter

· 1 Cup brown sugar

· 2 Tablespoons corn syrup

· Loaf of Italian bread

· 8 eggs

· 2 Cups half and half

· 1 Teaspoon Brandy

· 1 Teaspoon Triple Sec

· 1/4 Teaspoon salt

· 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 Cup unsalted butter

1 Cup brown sugar

2 Tablespoons corn syrup

Melt butter in saucepan.  Mix in brown sugar and corn syrup.  Stir until sugar is melted.

Pour into 9" x 13" baking pan.

 Loaf of Italian bread - Slice bread into equal slices and remove the crust.  Place in 9 x 13 baking pan into single

layer.

Whisk together the eggs, half and half, vanilla extract, triple sec, brandy and salt.  Pour over sliced bread.  Cover

and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, remove the dish and bring to room temperature and preheat oven to 350.

Bake uncovered 35 - 45 minutes in preheated oven until puffed and browned.

Serve with fresh whipped cream and maple syrup. 

On to the game...UCLA defeats Utah 21 - 14

Bruins beat Utes in decisive football game

Saturday’s 21-14 victory over Utah wasn’t pretty or spectacular – some might have even called it boring – but it was a win.

After last week’s sloppy loss to Cal, the win over an inconsistent Utah (2-4, 0-3 Pac-12) team was a significant one for UCLA (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12).

“I think these games are important. It may not be beautiful and not great stats, but there is something to winning these gut-grinders, these tough ones,” coach Jim Mora said.

“When you are trying to develop teams and pull it out and win, it’s about learning and getting opportunities. Not every game is going to be a blowout. You have to learn how to win these.”

A week removed from throwing four interceptions, redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley regained his poise in the pocket against the Utes, throwing for 183 yards and rushing for 80 more, including a 12-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Less than two minutes after finding the end zone with his feet, Hundley rolled to his right and hit a wide-open redshirt junior wide receiver Shaquelle Evans for a 64-yard touchdown pass.

“If I have the opportunity, I am going to take off running and use the legs,” said Hundley.

After giving up 43 points last week, the Bruin defense also bounced back, holding Utah to one touchdown and just 72 rushing yards.

“We emphasize finish as a defense and I think you saw that in the game today,” said junior defensive end Cassius Marsh.

“We need to have a big game every week. We expect big things from us every week. This is a big step forward. We are past last week now.”

The UCLA secondary, which struggled to keep up with Cal’s speedy receivers last week, was sharper against Utah.

“Last week, we had a bad showing. We have been focusing on the little things in practice like techniques and it showed in the game,” said senior cornerback Sheldon Price.

“We all played a great game as a secondary and it just shows that if we do what we are supposed to do, we are capable of a lot of big things.”

There weren’t too many big plays for UCLA on Saturday, but it didn’t really matter. The Bruins needed a win against the Utes after their loss last week, and they did just that.

“We needed a tough game like that. Games like that build character,” Mora said.

“I’m proud of the way our guys bounced back from a tough loss last week. Our guys came today and played a really good game against a really physical team.”

UCLA Band plays the Fight Song

After the game, more sweets (like we needed more food)