Superbowl!

Yes, my team the Patriots have once again made it to the Superbowl. The "Pats" could be the first team since 1972 to go into the Superbowl undefeated and win!

Of course along with being excited about the game, I am usually just as excited about the Superbowl food. However, at this time we have no Superbowl plans. I can't very well make a bunch of excellent munchables for just the two of us. What would Jillian say? I'm sure it won't fit within my caloric range for the day at all! Well, if we end up being home by ourselves I'll snack on some carrots, rice cakes and maybe a string cheese. For the rest of you, here are some of my favorite Superbowl recipes:

Stuffed Mushrooms

1 Lb. Jimmy Dean Sausage - Hot
8 oz. Cream Cheese - room temperature
2-3 small containers of Mushrooms (this depends on how many per pkg, and the size)

Brown the sausage, drain off excess fat. Using beaters, mix into the cream cheese. Clean mushrooms and remove the stems. Fill mushrooms with filling using a spoon. Place filled mushrooms in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 min. or until lightly browned on the top. *Warning: these are really good, and tend to go fast. If you plan on eating some, stay close to the pan or you might not get any!*

Homemade Ranch Cheeseball - (My variation on a family recipe. Makes 2)

1 pkg. Original Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix (the packet of powder mix)
1/2 C. Milk
1/2 C. Mayonnaise
12 oz. Cream Cheese - room temperature
32 oz. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Grated
Crushed or Finely Diced Nuts for the outside of the cheeseball (I use walnuts)

Mix the Ranch dressing, milk and mayo together. (This is different than the pkg directions) Using beaters, mix in cream cheese and sharp cheese. Place the mixture (still in bowl) into freezer for 1/2 hr or so. Take out bowl and put half of the mixture onto a piece of cling wrap. Using cling wrap, shape it into a ball. Then, spread out nuts onto another sheet of cling wrap. Take cheeseball out of cling wrap and roll in nuts to coat. Repeat process with 2nd cheeseball. Keep refrigerated until time to serve. We like them best with triscuits or wheat thins.

If you decide to try these, let me know how you like them. I'll be thinking of you while I crunch away on a celery stick.

Reality, Schmality.

I definitely have a weakness for reality TV. Not all reality shows, but the ones I do like I am addicted to. I have to record them each week, and when I do find a moment to watch them (usually in the middle of the night) I am always at least a week behind. I usually have heard what happened before I see it, but I have to watch anyway. I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but here are my top reality indulgences in order of importance:

The Biggest Loser - Jillian rocks! I love this show!! Not only is it amazing to see the contestants lose huge amounts of weight, but I also think it's interesting to see how they "strategize" to get rid of the biggest competitors. Did I mention Jillian rocks? I just got her book and DVD's, and have never been this motivated to do anything before. That's another reason I watch, if the people on the show can do it, I can too! I can honestly say that I don't eat while watching this show!

Real Housewives of Orange County - I know, I know, it's sad but I love it. I can't help but be baffled by the fact that these women stress over botox, having parties on yachts, and which of their multi-million dollar houses they like better. I mean come on, when you are considering spending 400K on a new pool/patio area, I am riveted. Don't get me wrong, I am not envious of these women. I would not want to be them for a second. I would rather have my real life, my real friends, my real body parts (hmm, maybe not), and my real problems. But alas, the season ended last week so onto my next show.

American Idol - I promised that after the mess that was last season (Sanjaya...need I say more) that I wasn't going to watch it. But I do love watching the audition shows. We'll have to wait and see if the final contestants are worth watching, but for now it's fun to see the wierdos!

Project Runway - If you haven't watched this show, you need to at least do me the favor of seeing it one time. Between Heidi Klum (who I love) yelling everything she says, and the designers crying over their misunderstood "art", I actually think of it as a drama/sitcom.

Well, that's it, my reality must haves. One positive thing to liking these shows is that the writer's strike has had no impact on them! Some of my other favorites (that are off-season right now) are also Bravo shows: Work Out, Blow Out, and Welcome to the Parker) in case you are interested ;-) Thank goodness, because I don't have 4 hrs to watch TV every week as it is!