Thursday, July 19, 2012

Tantalizing Thursday-NASCAR/Racing-themed Party Foods

Welcome to Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series has a week off as the Camping World Truck Series and the Nationwide Series are running at Chicagoland this weekend.

I always use the venue of the Cup race to base this post on so I’m using this off period as a way to explore racing-themed recipes for party ideas.

If you have loved ones with a birthday coming up (or want to file this away for future use) this will help keep NASCAR/racing as the center of the celebration.


Use your favorite team's colors as the color-theme for partyware dishes, flatware, napkins, and balloons. The team numbers can be used for decoration as well.


Whereas I usually begin with appetizers or main dishes, I’m starting at the end and moving forward, like crew chiefs do when they attack road courses!

Checkered Flag Cookie recipe
Recipe found on http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Checkered-Flag-Cookies




Ingredients:

1 cup butter, divided
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 packages (17-1/2 ounces each) sugar cookie mix
2 eggs
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
36 wooden skewers (5 inches)


Directions:

In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine 1/2 cup butter and chocolate chips. Cover and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until melted; stir until smooth. Add the contents of one cookie mix package, 1 egg and 2 tablespoons flour; stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until dough is firm.


Meanwhile, place the remaining butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and heat on high for 1 minute or until melted. Stir in the remaining cookie mix, egg and flour. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.


On waxed paper, roll out the plain and chocolate dough into separate 9-in. x 5-in. rectangles. Cut each rectangle into nine 1-in. strips. Stack the strips in groups of three, alternating plain and chocolate strips, and forming six separate stacks.
Form two blocks by placing one plain-topped stack on each side of a chocolate-topped stack and one chocolate-topped stack on each side of a plain-topped stack; press together gently.


Cut both stacks into 1/4-in. slices. Place 3 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Immediately insert a skewer into each cookie. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Checkered Cookie Clues




To give cookies a checkered look, cut the plain and chocolate-flavored dough into nine 1-inch strips.
Stack the strips alternately to form two 3-strip x 3-strip blocks. Cut the blocks into 1/4-inch slices.




Although there are far more steps than most of the recipes I find to share, the simple fact is, these look too cool to pass up if you are indeed doing a NASCAR racing themed party. The “Wow” appeal is worth the extra effort.


Another dessert I found that would be delicious with the Checkered Flag Cookies or on its own is…

Race Day Recipes – Fried Ice Cream by Anne B.
Recipe found on http://nascarwidows.com/race-day-recipes-fried-ice-cream-by-anne-b/




Ingredients:


6 Cups (before crushed) frosted flakes
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar


Optional Ingredients:


1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup coconut


Directions:


Mix above ingredients
Add l//2 cup butter, melted
Mix above ingredients, until crumbly
Cut 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream into 12 sections
Roll ice cream in crumbly mixture. FREEZE, a few hours before serving.
Serve with chocolate and/or carmel syrup and whipped topping.



Now it is on to a main dish. It’s a party; nobody wants to work too hard because everybody just wants to have fun! This recipe is perfect for a brunch, a light supper, or, of course, a breakfast. Served at the beginning of the party, it pairs well with a tossed salad and leaves room for the awesome desserts you have waiting in the wings.

Let’s face it, dessert is what the little rascals are after!

The Lazy Meat and Egg Bake
Recipe found on http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=2939974&page=1#.UAaIBrRfH-s




One race day morning I decided I wanted an omelet for breakfast, but I really didn't want to stand over the stove flipping and paying close attention to a soft, fluffy-egg breakfast. So I came up with this semi-quiche — a lazy way to make an omelet pie. I guess the fancy name for this is frittata, but I like my name better. ~Angela Skinner, author of Race Day Grub and wife of racer Mike Skinner




INGREDIENTS:


1 pound bulk sausage
1 small onion, diced
6 large eggs
Splash of milk
1 ½ cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 small can sliced mushrooms (or ½ cup fresh mushrooms, sliced)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Hot pepper sauce and toast, for serving


PREPARATION:


Preheat the oven to 375 F.
In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat. When the sausage is halfway cooked through, stir in the diced onion.
While the sausage cooks, beat the eggs with a whisk or fork and add a splash of milk.
Remove the cooked sausage from the skillet and place on paper towels to drain. Add the sausage mixture to the egg mixture. Add the cheese, mushrooms, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Blend all the ingredients together and pour into a greased, 9-by-2 inch round glass baking dish.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Slice and serve with a little hot sauce and toast!
Makes 4 to 6 servings.


Served with a tossed salad and/or a fruit salad, this is a meal that will satisfy a great many with little effort and big effect.


Celebrating anything with a racing theme adds flair, fun, and freshness to a party. These recipes are perfect for children of all ages!


Please join me tomorrow for the week ending and always popular Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.


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