Game Day!

Saturday post
It's FINALLY football season. Whoo-hoo! I've waited all summer to see my boys in action and here they are!!

And, of course, along with football comes the food. My team was playing away today so no tailgating but that didn't stop me from going a little crazy in the kitchen. I whipped up a batch of Buffalo wings, bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos*, and for a sweet, chocolate cheesecake. And yes, it was all diet-approved deliciousness!!

First off, the Buffalo wings, courtesy of this recipe from MDA. The first batch I followed the recipe exactly, the second batch I added a lot more hot sauce-fire in the house! I really had trouble limiting myself to three, they were so good.

Second was the jalapenos. After a slight malfunction when I accidentally rubbed my eyes while cleaning the peppers (it is possible to laugh and cry at the same time, though my eyes are still red even as I type) these came off perfectly! The crispy, salty bacon offsets the cream cheese and both help to mellow the spice of the pepper that it is very easy to get a little carried away nibbling on these bad boys.

Last was chocolate cheesecake, made with 100% cocoa, cream cheese, an almond flour and butter crust, and a little bit of xylitol for sweetening mmmmmmm-MMMMMM! A perfect end to the day's gorging (which after nibbling here and there, plus actual meals, I felt like I'd overdone things by the time the last game was over.)

Not much exercise happened, though we did get the pool flipped upside down so it could dry completely and put away the pump and toys. There is now a huge bare spot in the yard but the grass underneath is already starting to green up. Hopefully it will grow back before the fall rains hit. And my boys lost...*sigh* but otherwise it was a great day!



*Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapenos

Ingredients:
As many jalapenos as you can scarf down (I used 6 since they were huge)
Cream cheese (depending on how many jalapenos you'll need more or less, I used about 3 ounces)
Bacon (at least one piece per jalapeno)
Toothpicks

Heat oven to 450 degrees
Slice jalapeno in half and remove seeds
Stuff as much cream cheese in the two halves as can fit
Fit the two halves back together (I found if I scrap off any excess cream cheese the halves will fit snugly back together)
Wrap a slice of bacon around the jalapeno, secure with toothpick
Lay on foil covered cookie sheet
Bake for 15-20 minutes (basically till the bacon is crispy)
Let cool completely
Scarf down!