Oh hey.

Have you heard?  My favorite season is here.  NBD.

It’s only the best season ever.  No, not fall (which I do love) but a different kind of season.  Tis the season where large men don exoskeletons of protective pads, skin-tight spandex pants, thick plastic helmets and beat the living crap out of each other.

The season where I root for players on teams I’d normally rather throw hot garbage at, only to earn bragging rights among my friends for a week of standing victoriously in the winner’s circle of our fantasy league.  Smack talking never sounded so good.

The season where freezers are filled to the brim with an astronomical amount of chicken wings and refrigerators are packed to the gills with beer.  A time where it’s acceptable to start drinking at noon (“I’m sooo stressed about the game!”) and eating nothing but various types of grilled and fried meats is par for the course.  (Speaking of spandex pants…)

That’s right y’all.  It’s football season.  I will probably lose at least 50 twitter followers by the time it’s over due to my constant updates and slanderous Cowboys remarks, but that’s cool, it’s how I roll.  So in honor of my favorite season, I’ve decided that each week I will highlight a recipe that is a delicious alternative to the heavy wings and pizza that will no doubt surround you.  And which I might add, you should continue to enjoy, because, hey…  Let’s be honest.  Football is just more enjoyable when there’s wing sauce on your chin.

Garlic White Bean and Dill Dip
Prep time: 45 min to roast garlic, less than 5 min. to prepare
(Adapted from How Sweet It Is)
You’ll Need:
15oz can of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
Large handful of fresh dill, stems removed
2 bulbs roasted garlic
4 T olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Directions:  In a food processor or blender, combine beans, dill, garlic, salt, pepper and cumin, slowly adding olive oil.  Spoon into a medium bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil and garnish with a sprig of dill.  

Printer-Friendly Recipe

This has quickly become one of my new favorite party foods.  It’s very garlic-y, so if you like, you could probably just use one bulb.  I choose to enjoy as much garlic as possible at all times.  Some days I am surprised my husband actually kisses me…  But then I do make his coffee every morning and sometimes I’ll throw his wet clothes in the dryer for him, so I suppose it’s just another example of marital compromise.

Thankfully this was pretty much the perfect storm of an opening weekend in my opinion.  Eagles won, Cowboys lost and so did the Giants.

And on a quick serious note…

I just want to say… I love you guys.  Words cannot express how much all your kind words and outpouring of support means to me, and how much it truly helped me through what has been one of the hardest weekends I’ve ever had.
When I started blogging, I knew that there would be a million things I would love about it, but the people I’d meet… well, I just never imagined how many amazing new friends I’d get out of the deal.  So thank you times infinity with sugar on top.

Quick, change the subject before I get all weepy again…. Who’s your NFL team?