Historic, fuel-injected, and the fastest ticket around, the Daytona 500 will be broadcast on Fox this Sunday, February 26th starting at 12 noon EST.
Like with any big sports event, food is usually the centerpiece of the day. Whether entertaining friends or hauled up alone in your house watching the race like a junkie takes his long-awaited hit (forgive the horrendous simile, it’s been a long off-season), food has always been a vital ingredient to a winning day.
Since the coverage begins so early, not everybody is ready to start hitting the booze. The first recipe I’m offering up is for a non-alcoholic classic that harkens to Florida’s well-known crop, oranges. It’s a great start to any Daytona 500 shindig.
Orange Julius Recipe
Recipe from http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Orange-Julius
Ingredients:
• 1 can (6 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 10 to 12 ice cubes
Directions:
• In a blender, combine the orange juice, milk, water, sugar and vanilla. Cover and blend until smooth. With blender running, add ice cubes, one at a time, through the opening in lid. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately. Yield: 4-5 servings.
A nostalgic drink that many will remember from their days as mall rats as the brand name Orange Julius used to be in every mall in America. The treat is still refreshing, sweet, and very satisfying. It’s also a very reasonable drink to serve and have on hand for those who won’t imbibe.
To accompany the sweet, citrusy drink, some spicy popcorn which is rather nutritious in its whole graininess, may be in order. Try this recipe I found online!
Chili Cheese Popcorn
Recipe found on http://forthemommas.com/cooking/chili-cheese-popcorn-recipe
Ingredients:
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 teaspoon chili powder (or more if you like)
• A dash of cumin
• 8 cups popcorn – prefer air popped or pop with oil
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
In a sauce pan melt butter and mix in chili powder and cumin. Pour mixture over popcorn and toss. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and coat thoroughly. Let sit a few minutes to allow cooling, the mixture will harden on popcorn.
Personally, I would use whatever microwave popcorn I had on hand. This can be made ahead before your guests arrive (or you plant yourself in your chair in front of the television for the long haul). Again, it’s a healthier version of spicy foods that go so well on race day!
The Great American Race can be a long one, and, with the pack racing back, it just may have more than its fair share of “Big Ones” and possible red flags. You’ll need sustenance.
Try sticking to a relatively healthy yet extraordinarily tasty fish sandwich. This recipe stays in line with the Florida-themed foods you’ve got going on here, it’s rather easy to prepare, and tastes sinful without blowing your good eating habits.
Grilled Grouper Sandwich with Chipotle Tartar Sauce
Recipe from http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/grilled-grouper-sandwich-with-chipotle-tartar-sauce-10000001087005/
Ingredients:
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons diced celery
• 1 tablespoon minced onion
• 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
• 1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 4 (5-ounce) grouper fillets
• 4 teaspoons lemon pepper
• 4 Kaiser rolls, toasted on grill
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 4 Napa cabbage leaves
Directions:
1. To make the tartar sauce, combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill 3 hours.
2. Sprinkle grouper with lemon pepper. Grill fillets, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes with a fork. Place each fillet on a Kaiser roll. Top with Chipotle Tartar Sauce, tomato, onion, and cabbage.
Coastal Living
JULY 2005
As always, add what you like, omit what you don’t, and substitute with your favorite brands and variety of products. These are simply guides and ideas to get you more creative in your own kitchen, they are not laws.
Finally, as nightfall approaches, the spicy foods have settled and you’re longing for a bit of dessert, try this. I recommend making them the night before, but make a ton as they will go fast!
Chocolate Strawberries
Recipe from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-strawberries/
Ingredients:
• 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 pint fresh strawberries with leaves
Directions:
In a microwave-safe bowl, or in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, cook chocolate until melted. Stir occasionally until chocolate is smooth. Holding berries by the stem, dip each one in molten chocolate, about three-quarters of the way to the stem. Place, stem side down, on wire rack and chill in refrigerator until hardened.
I might recommend a cookie sheet lined in wax paper to place the finished product if it fits in your refrigerator.
All of these recipes are available at the sites I gave. They are all tasty, Florida foods,
relatively figure-friendly, simple to prepare, and yield big satisfaction!
Whether you are throwing a huge Daytona 500 party or simply going it alone or with a small group, I wish you an enjoyable time.
Don’t forget to look for my Daytona 500 Race Recap following the race!
Please join me tomorrow for the week ending Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.
These recipes sound perfect for a Daytona 500 party, Candice. Yum! ";o)
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