Feature Writer Susan Roe – NFL Conference Championship Snack Feast
Here we are once again looking forward to another Sunday of planning a meal along with watching the top two NFL divisions go head to head for the NFC and AFC Championship titles. It’s the Green Bay Packers vs. the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets vs the Pittsburgh Stealers. We decided to watch Green Bay and Chicago, knowing that these two teams were the longest running rivals in NFL history.
Now that we decided which game we were going to watch, it was time to do some early prepping for the food we would be eating. When Matt came home this morning from his night shift, he made the spinach dip before going to bed. The dip is very easy to put together, requiring only 16 ounces sour cream, 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1 envelope Knorr’s spring vegetable soup mix and 1 box of frozen spinach thawed. Mix everything together with only half of the sour cream at this time and then set aside in the refrigerator for later. Wen you’re ready for it again, check the dip’s thickness. If you want to use it as a dip for chips or bread, add the remaining sour cream, or if you want it thick enough to spread on crackers, just leave it like it is.
Around noon, my sister Pattie and I baked a double batch of butterscotch brownies. I was afraid one of two things were going to wake Matt upstairs, the heavenly aroma of the brownies baking or our little dog Quincy barking for the butterscotch chips. Here is the easy brownie recipe.
Better Butterscotch Brownies
1 batch makes nine, 3-inch square brownies
Ingredients:
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick creamy unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt, mix well. Add butter, water, vanilla and eggs, and blend well. Spread the mixture evenly into your prepared pan. Sprinkle with butterscotch chips.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
After reading an article in the Janesville Gazette about the quarterbacks for the Bears and the Packers, and the off-field friendship they shared, I wondered if those two guys ever realized in their past that they would be where they are today, playing on opposing teams in the NFC Championship. With the outcome of these two rival teams yet to be determined, let’s hope the losing friend is planning on watching the winning friend be championed once again in the Super Bowl in two weeks.
Here’s a brief recap of the NFC Championship Game – Green Bay vs. Chicago at Soldier Field
1st Quarter:
Touchdown! Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers rushes for 1 Yard
7 to 0, Green Bay
No Surprise Green Bay is first to cross the goal line, but Chicago later pushes Green Bay out of field goal range.
2nd Quarter:
Touchdown! Green Bay, J. Starks rushes 4 Yards
14 to 0, Green Bay
Chicago needs not to panic and rally their defense, but they are having trouble stopping Green Bay quarterback Rodgers.
Half Time:
Now that halftime gives us a brake in the game, we can put together the rest of our finger foods. Matt sets up our plates with slices of smoked turkey, Genoa salami, pepperoni, smoked Swiss and Darrymore aged cheddar. Topped off with two kinds of Triskets, rosemary/olive oil and cracked peppercorn/olive oil, along with thinly sliced French bread for the spinach dip. We also treated ourselves with a glass of Duplin scuppernong white wine. Now with our plates full and a brownie waiting on the side, we were ready for more football.
Second Half
3rd Quarter:
Chicago just can’t seem to stop Rodgers, yet their defense is showing signs of picking up.
4th Quarter:
Chicago is making a comeback with their third string quarterback who is trying his best to make a game of it.
Touchdown! Chicago Bears, Chester Taylor for 1 Yard
14 to 7 Green Bay
Touchdown! Green Bay, BJ Raji grabs an interception and runs it back 18 Yards
21 to 7 Green Bay
Touchdown! Chicago, Earl Bennett for 35 Yards
21 to 14 Green Bay
Final Scores of the day:
NFC Champions: the #6 Seed, Green Bay Packers, 21 to 14
AFC Champions: The #2 Seed, Pittsburgh Steelers, 24 to 19 over the New York Jets
Great, now off to the Super Bowl in Texas, for Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh. Now I have a Super Bowl party to plan for and guests to invite!
Yay, go Packers! Go Steelers!