Appetizers are the most important part of a sports-viewing party. If there is an important game on TV, fans do not want to be saddled at a table, digging into a full four-course meal. People want to snack as they cheer on their favorite teams. As a fan of The Ohio State University, I know all about cheering on sports teams during big moments – whether we are talking about football, basketball, or any other sport. And I love to put together some nice comfort food as we watch our favorite team hoist one trophy up after another.
The bowl games have come and gone, but with March Madness upon us, I have created two recipes that will make your viewing party a huge success.
But before I get into the recipes, here’s an opportunity for you.
Have you heard about Turkey Madness? No? Well, let me enlighten you. Turkey Madness, or for those on social media, #TurkeyMadness, is a competition by Shadybrook Farms and Honeysuckle White, with dishes centered around turkey as a main ingredient. Each week until March 27th, one lucky winner will be awarded $250 for their turkey recipe.
*More about the contest at the bottom*
My family has long used ground turkey in place of beef, since turkey is rich in protein and not as greasy. Shadybrook Farms and Honeysuckle White turkeys are raised by 700 independent family farms, without the use of growth-promotion antibiotics. And at a decent cost the product fits within most family budgets.
Now, for my appetizer recipes.
Chili Bites
Ingredients:
1 pound of Shadybrook Farms ground turkey
3 Large cans of light red kidney beans
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon chili powder
1 ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
5 whole tomatoes (one large jar)
1 cup water
1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 large bay leaves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
Small can of tomato past
Chili is a crowd pleaser for any occasion. It can be used as an appetizer or as a main dish. Cook on low in a slow cooker for 7 hours. Some slow cookers vary in heat, so know your cooker. Mine runs for about 7 hours. As an appetizer, place a spoonful of chili into a scooped tortilla chip and place a plate of them on the table. Top with shredded cheese, if you want.
Spicy Mini-Turkey Sliders
Ingredients:
1 pound of Shadybrook hot Italian seasoned ground turkey
BBQ sauce
Ritz crackers
Swiss cheese
Jalapenos
Because the ground turkey is already seasoned, extra ingredients are not needed. Sliders are small, but for these sliders, they need to fit onto a Ritz cracker. Remember that the ground turkey will shrink a little bit. Shape tiny patties and put them in a miniature muffin tin to cook. Cook the patties at 425 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Slice the jalapenos into rounds and roast them in the oven while the patties cook. Once the patties are cooked, top with cheese and cook for another 2 minutes to melt the cheese.
Before placing the patty on the cracker, drip a teaspoon of BBQ sauce on the cracker. Place the slider on the cracker and top with a roasted jalapeno. Lastly, set the sliders out and be ready to be worshipped for your culinary skills. And if you are a Buckeye fan like me, garnish your dishes with a jalapeno buckeye leaf.
ABOUT THE CONTEST:
#Turkappetizer: March 7-13
Create an appetizer using ground turkey with inspiration from your favorite college basketball team.
#TurkBQ: March 14-20
This is an easy equation: Turkey + BBQ Sauce = Deliciouness
Those instructions speak for themselves.
#SouperiorDinner: March 21 – 27
Create a soup full of turkey that will satisfy the finickiest kid.
TO ENTER THE CONTEST YOU MUST:
Create and photograph your own turkey recipe and share the photo of your image on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter using #TurkeyMadness and email your recipes and photos to turkeymadness@lifeofdad.com
SHADY BROOK FARMS and HONEYSUCKLE WHITE will choose the winners based on:
- How creative you get with your dish
- How hungry your photo makes them
- How well you use turkey in your recipe
- How your recipe fits in with the week’s theme
- Bonus Points: Using Shady Brook Farms or Honeysuckle White turkey in your recipe.
Need more information, go to http://TurkeyMadness.LifeOfDad.com.
Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad and Shady Brook Farms / Honeysuckle White for this promotion.