There is a thing that happens in high school where you have to either like sports and participate in the adolescent status quo, or you are too weird to fit in so you start skateboarding and drawing on your Chucks in French class. This was my particular experience but it is by no means unique, everyone that I have become friends with since the age of fourteen has fallen into the latter category with perhaps different hobbies but likely the same shoes. Within the last few years I came to realization that I actually like watching football and it doesn't define my social group like it would have in high school or college. Watching a sport is so unlike anything else I do in my life and that is refreshing once a week for a few months of the year. Competition! Team sports! Cheering! I also love the Packers. I am from Michigan and live in Chicago but I don't like either of those teams. This is why I started to love the Packers, it's threefold:
1. Public domain! They are the only publicly owned team in the NFL. Owned by the fans/shareholders instead of mega rich individuals. Community, people, that what it's all about.
2. Superfans! Season tickets have been sold out since 1960 and can be passed down like the family heirloom they are. There are currently 81,000 people waiting in line.
3. Team building! They pick great quarterbacks but more importantly they retain them. The Packers have had two quarterbacks since 1993, in that same time the Bears have had 13. Imagine the teams are dudes and the quarterbacks their wives, which one would you marry? Just saying.
All that being said, just because I like football now doesn't mean I'm going to eat weird, processed food whilst watching it. I will show some team spirit, but it will be on my terms (I just wrote that on my Chucks).
Pumpkin, Corn, and Lemongrass Soup
I used chicken stock instead of water and I added a bit of cayenne for some spice. Also, probably more salt than they list, I season to taste.
Cost
lemongrass stalk- $ .99
onion- $ .82
butternut squash- $1.69
Trader Joe's organic frozen corn- $1.09
Organic, free range chicken broth- $1.99
butter, oil, cayenne- $1
Total per serving (8 servings)
$ .95
Arugula Salad with Roasted Golden Beets and Goat Cheese
Peel and dice 1 1/2 pounds of organic, golden beets, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and spread evenly in a roasting pan. Roast on the top rack at 400 degrees for 30 mins until tender.
Whisk together 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 6 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon dijon, 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped shallot, salt, and pepper. This will be more than is needed for one serving so dress according to taste.
Place a portion of the cooled, roasted beets on a arugula, crumble some herbed goat cheese, and drizzle with lemon dijon dressing.
Cost
Organic arugula- $2. 98
Organic golden beets- $1.92
lemon- $ .49
goat cheese- $2.49
Total per serving (6 servings)
$1.31
