MOBeef Update

This weekend is Mizzou Homecoming; and I’m awfully excited about hosting some of my old friends from college to root for our alma mater. Of course, when a long-time employee of the Beef Council hosts a party, great food featuring America’s favorite protein is always expected. Like many party hosts, I can spend a lot of time putting a menu together to make sure there are a wide variety of foods and all the flavors partner perfectly.

So whether I’ll see you this weekend and you’d like a preview of the weekend’s menu- or if you are hosting a football celebration of your own- here’s some ideas. All of the beef recipes can be found on the website www.mobeef.org.

All-American Theme (for guests the night before the big game):
Brew Burgers (secret sauce is beer and steak sauce)
Parmesan Potatoes (recipe from Kraft, basically broil potato slices- I use a mixture of white and sweet- with Italian Dressing and Parmesan Cheese.)
Fresh Cut Veggies- I like to include the classics like carrots and cucumbers, but will also add a little extra flair by including zucchini, yellow squash, cooked and chilled asparagus.

The unique sauce is a blend of beer and steak sauce

We typically tailgate with finger (or toothpick) foods. I know it’s non-traditional, but that way we don’t have to worry about a bunch of toddlers around a hot grill.
Of course, we’ll pull out those fresh cut veggies again, but this time they’ll be offered with hummus as a dipping sauce- it’s high fiber and very filling.
Slow Cooker Meatballs- I use the frozen meatballs and use a mixture of barbecue sauce and pepper jelly for a unique sweet and sassy flavor.
The Beefy Taco Wrap is refried beans with deli beef, tomatoes, lettuce and cheese wrapped together in a hand-held kid pleaser. The great part about this is it’s loaded with nutrients like Zinc, Iron and Protein so you won’t feel the need to over-indulge in the nachos once you get to the stadium!
To satisfy my sweet tooth, I’ll put out a block of cream cheese, top it with raspberry pepper jelly and serve it with a side of whole wheat crackers. It’s super easy and complements the meatballs. Don’t like Pepper jelly? Top the cream cheese brick with chili and you have a unique, hearty appetizer.

Hope this helps with your menu planning- for more great ideas, visit www.mobeef.org or www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com.