Game time!Recipes for before and after the big contest

Football season is in full swing and whether you are tailgating or wanting something delicious to eat while watching the game on the couch, think bold flavors. Ditch your boring chips and dip and go for some of these inviting recipes.

Big flavor for the big game

Looking for a way to kick up the flavor for your game-day party? Add great taste to the menu with a versatile cheese such as Jarlsberg.

Try some of these ideas to score big with your guests:

n Super Sliders: mini beef, turkey or bison burgers topped with sliced Jarlsberg (or Jarlsberg lite).

n Deep Fried Cheese Sticks: creamy goodness battered and fried; take their flavor up a notch with marinara sauce for dipping.

n Ham and Cheese Calzones: salty, smoky ham and gooey melted Jarlsberg all wrapped up in a munch-and-carry pastry.

n Kickin’ Kebabs: skewer great taste by alternating cheese cubes with pickled vegetables and chunks of cured ham or smoked sausage.

This recipe for cheese stuffed jalapeño peppers is an easy way to bring some heat to the game.

Cheese Stuffed

Jalapeño Peppers√

(Makes 16 appetizers)

16 Pickled jalapeño peppers, rinsed and drained

2 4-ounce logs fresh goat cheese

1 Cup grated Jarlsberg cheese

1/2 Cup grated manchego cheese*

1/4 Cup diced green onion (scallions)

Dash of hot sauce

Cilantro leaves

Optional garnish: pickled mini hot red pepper

Using small sharp knife, cut slit down one side of each pepper. Leave stem intact and remove seeds and veins. In bowl, mash goat cheese with Jarlsberg, manchego, onion and hot sauce. Divide among peppers, stuffing each generously. Refrigerate.

Arrange peppers in heavy aluminum foil packet. Grill 8-10 minutes until cheese begins to melt. Garnish with cilantro and, if desired, hot red peppers.

NOTE: If you can’t find manchego, use 1-1/2 cups Jarlsberg cheese.

Score touchdown with beef

Beef and tailgating are a winning team. So when the time comes to bring friends and family together for the big game, you’ll have the best hand-off of the day with a parking lot-friendly bruschetta burger.

Bruschetta Burgerπ

(Makes 4 servings)

1 Pound ground beef

1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tablespoons minced green onions

1 Teaspoon minced garlic

Salt and pepper (to taste)

4 Slices rustic crusty bread, cut 1/2-inch thick

Olive oil (to taste)

Bruschetta Topping

3/4 Cup chopped red tomatoes

1/2 Cup chopped yellow tomatoes

1 Tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil

1/4 Teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 Teaspoon salt

Pepper (to taste)

Combine bruschetta topping ingredients in medium bowl; set aside.

Put ground beef, cheese, green onions and garlic together in medium bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape into four, 1/2-inch thick patties.

Place patties in center of grill, over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, 11 to 13 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 7 to 8 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160 degrees F turning occasionally.

Meanwhile, brush both sides of bread slices with oil. About 3 minutes before burgers are done, place bread on grill. Grill until lightly toasted, turning once.

Season burgers with salt and pepper as desired. Place 1 burger on each bread slice; top each with ¼-cup bruschetta topping. Serve open-faced.

NOTE: If using 95 percent lean ground beef, combine ground beef with 1/4-cup soft bread crumbs, 1 egg white and ingredients as directed in step 2.

Source: Family Features

You can e-mail comments to Jessica Williams-Gibson at Jessica-recorder@indy.rr.com.

Tailgating 101

Here is everything you need to make tailgating easy

n Bottle opener and corkscrew

n Water to douse hot coals or an ash can to discard them

n Trash bags

n Paper towels/napkins and moist towelettes

n A slicing knife

n A tablecloth

n Frozen bottles of water

Tailgating opportunities

Indianapolis Colts

Next game: Nov. 1 vs. Houston Texans

Indiana University

Next game: Oct. 23 at Illinois; Oct. 30 vs. Northwestern

Purdue University

Next game: Oct. 23 at Ohio State; Oct. 30 at Illinois

University of Notre Dame

Next game: Oct. 23 at Navy; Oct. 30 vs. Tulsa

Indiana State University

Next game: Oct. 23 at North Dakota State; Oct. 30 vs. South Dakota State

JESSICA WILLIAMS-GIBSON

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