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.”