This coming Sunday, after church has let out and the chores have been done, football fans all across the U.S. will be crowding around their televisions for one of the most anticipated games of the year. 

!

Now, sports haven’t been a regular topic in my blog, but they have been a big part of my life, and my family memories, so I wanted to share a little about our family Superbowl gatherings. And if you stay with me until the end of the post, you might find a pretty awesome recipe for you to bring to the party!

Even though I’m a girl, I’ve always been a football fan. It started with my Dad, who played high school football and always had it on TV on the weekends (when the GOLF channel wasn’t on of course). Whether he was awake and watching, or watching through his eyelids, (Anyone else's Dad do this?) he would teach me during the breaks about offense, defense and the different positions.

And in high school, when Friday nights came along, everyone in our small town could be found at one place, the football game. I don’t know about you, but to us, it was more than just a game. It was a community coming together to cheer on our team, support the players, and see the result of all the hard work that went into practice the week before. And win or lose, we were all there for each other like family.


Doesn't she look tough? I was a football water girl in high school, and am shown here dressed up in football pads for spirit week. As a Purdue alumni, I enjoyed watching the Boilers each Saturday at Ross Ade Stadium, and since moving to Indianapolis, I've had the opportunity to attend a few Colts games!

I know not all of you may like watching football, or maybe prefer college football instead, but to me, it’s more than just watching the game…and commercials (even though I love those). One of my favorite parts about getting together to watch the Super Bowl is to visit with family and friends, enjoy great food and spend some quality time together.

And speaking of commercials, I think it’s fantastic to see agriculture and farming becoming more present in the Super Bowl ads the past few years. Here were a few of my favorites:



As the granddaughter of a dairy farmer, I know how much hard work and dedication it takes to operate a dairy so I always love to see Milk being promoted!

This one is a favorite because it shows the true bond between the livestock farmer and their animals and how much compassion they have for them. And because I love horses.

This was a true hit within the agriculture community! It became an instant favorite and Dodge did a great job. I can still watch it and it’s just as great as the first time I saw it.

OOPS! Ok so this isn’t an actual Super Bowl commercial, but wouldn’t it be neat if it could be?! It would be by far my favorite! But I may be a little baised…

I can’t wait to see what commercials they come up with this year. I hope to see more featuring food and farming!

Oh and don’t worry, I didn’t forget. I promised that if you stayed with me I would share an awesome recipe with you, so here it is! Since my love for football started with my Dad, I thought it was only appropriate that I share one of his favorite recipes to make at Super Bowl time.

 magazine years ago, but my Dad has put his “Chef George” sweet-tooth spin on them and they are a crowd pleaser!



For a printable version of this recipe, 

This original recipe called for honey, but my dad has a big sweet tooth so he decided to use maple syrup instead.

Oh yeah AND double the sugar! I didn’t double the sugar in this recipe, but feel free to revise the amounts to your liking.

Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles. Cut each triangle lengthwise into three smaller triangles. Place a smoky link on the wide end and roll up tightly.

 
Arrange pigs in a blanket in a 9x13 pan, seam side down. In separate bowl, melt butter and stir in brown sugar. Then add maple syrup and chopped pecans. Mix well and pour over mixture evenly. Bake, uncovered at 400o for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

For the pecans, you can add any type of nuts you like, or leave them out completely, but pecans are what we have found to be our favorite. Also, when I bought them in the store, I chose the “cookie pieces” kind because they were chopped very fine. If those aren't available, any chopped or pecan pieces will work, just chop them in your food processor or, what I do as a last resort, break them up in a Ziploc bag with a spoon or meat tenderizer.

As I mentioned in the recipe, we always double the batch to make enough for a 9x13 pan. I use a glass casserole pan as I find it easier to clean afterwards. When we have made these in the past, doubling the batch sometimes hasn’t even been enough! My dad said they are "always the first dish to be gone at any function!"

This recipe is also very versatile! With the smoky links and maple syrup, they could also be a great breakfast food to make for a group or for a brunch gathering. And if you ask my Dad, they’re basically a dessert too so they can be your “go-to” food for any family occasion!



So, will you be attending or hosting a party for the Super Bowl this weekend? I’d love to hear from you! Do you have any great party recipes or Super Bowl traditions in your family?

No matter if you’re front and center on the couch, listening on the radio from the shop, or just there for the commercials, let’s all remember to take some time for family and friends this weekend and enjoy each other’s company!

