Immersion Effect: September 22nd Edition

I took last week off due to some interesting changes in life, but I'm back. I don't think anybody actually follows this week to week, but it's new, so it'll take time. This week's games are okay, but nothing stands out as *the* game to immerse yourself in. However, with LSU already being a subject of this series two weeks ago, it made it easier to pick this weekend's immersion game.






Alabama was a team I pegged back in March as a darkhorse this fall, and Phil Steele made the same assertion. Their win over Arkansas was both dramatic and important. Saban and the Tide needed a victory like that - a game they would have lost last year, but won. They scored 41 points, something they did only once last year - against Louisiana-Monroe. You have to worry a bit about their defense, giving up 38 points and all. But, the Hogs offense, as everyone knows, has the stud running backs and a good offensive line. This week, with a more straight forward offense, I doubt Georgia scores too many on Saban's D, maybe 20. This game is much more important than the Florida State game next week, and Saban knows it. To stay with LSU in the SEC West, he needs to have his team win this game no matter what. How great would it be for these players and fans to see their team beat two SEC teams they usually would lose to? For Georgia, they need to bring the same defensive intensity they did 2 weeks ago in the loss to South Carolina. Alabama's offense is better at almost every position over the Cocks, so Georgia will be tested. I see this game staying close.

Georgia 20, Alabama 28

Drink of the Week
Crimson Tide
You'll need:
1/4 oz Southern Comfort
1/4 oz Sprite
1/4 oz Vodka
1/4 oz Coconut Rum
1/4 oz Raspberry Liqueur
1/4 oz Cranberry Juice
1/4 oz Maui Blue Hawaiian Schnapps

This one could get a little expensive, but a few things: 1.) You should have most of it anyway and 2.) Get the entire party to pitch in - it's the damn IMMERSION EFFECT people! Anyway, combine all that crap, chill over ice, and strain it into an old fashioned glass. Voila!

Recipe of the Week
Southern Grilled Barbecued Ribs
You'll need:
4 pounds baby back pork ribs
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup prepared mustard
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place ribs in two 10x15 inch roasting pans. Pour water and red wine vinegar into a bowl, and stir. Pour diluted vinegar over ribs and cover with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Baste the ribs with their juices halfway through cooking.

In a medium saucepan, mix together ketchup, water, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, butter, brown sugar, hot pepper sauce, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer barbeque sauce for 1 hour.

Preheat grill for medium heat.

Lightly oil preheated grill. Transfer ribs from the oven to the grill, discarding cooking liquid. Grill over medium heat for 15 minutes, turning ribs once. Baste ribs generously with barbeque sauce, and grill 8 minutes. Turn ribs, baste again with barbeque sauce, and grill 8 minutes.

Also, if you don't like your sauce TOO tangy or "vinegary," add a glop of honey and another spoonful of brown sugar to the sauce part of the recipe.

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The ribs are going to be amazing, and I hope you can get all the necessary alcohol for the cocktail. If not, google "Crimson Coma" and you'll find a really simple, red cocktail.

Immersion Effect: September 8th Edition

I hope you took advantage of the immersion effect last week. This week, and weeks to follow, should be a lot better, considering the Bay Area isn't a rich college football area. This week's game has taken a hit, after a lackluster showing by one of the teams last week. Still, a top 10 game against two gritty teams makes for an exceptional immersion weekend.




LSU is coming off a simple victory over Mississippi State where the Bulldogs gave LSU everything they needed to whip their asses. LSU didn't show much, and didn't need to. Virginia Tech is coming off a tough win on an "emotional" day over East Carolina, who has become a thorn in the side for many big time schools. If Virginia Tech plays like they did against ECU last week, LSU will win by 3 touchdowns. Something tells me that they'll arrive in Baton Rouge ready to play and this game will be a great one.

Matt Flynn won't have the pleasure of throwing with no hands in his face, as the Hokies always have an excellent defense. Their D blitzes like they were being outlawed the next day. On the other side of the coin, Sean Glennon, who's average as it is, gets to face one of the two best defensive lines in the country. Brandon Ore will need to find a way to help alleviate the pressure on Glennon, but against the LSU defense? Good luck.

My prediction: LSU 17, Virginia Tech 10

Drink of the Week
Hurricane
You'll need:
Light rum
Dark rum
Passion fruit juice
Lime juice
Cherry
Pineapple spear
Froofy paper umbrella

Grab your hurricane glass, or if unavailable, a Collins glass or a highball. A tall glass, okay? Fill it with ice. Add 1 oz. of your dark rum, 1 oz. of your light rum, 1/2 oz. of passion fruit juice, and 1/2 oz. of lime juice. I usually stir for a little bit. Then, if you really want to, add a squeeze of lime (I just add a touch of the lime juice), add the cherry, and add the pineapple spear on the side of the glass. Then the umbrella. This is the drink of Mardi Gras. Drink up, but be ready for hangovers.

Recipe of the Week
Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
You'll need:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 pound andouille sausages
1 large onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
3 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add sausages and cook until browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer sausages to cutting board. Cut sausages into 1/4-inch slices. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan.

Add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic to saucepan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add rice, broth, sausage, cayenne, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in chicken. Cover and simmer until chicken is just done and rice is tender, about 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, about 2 minutes.

Recipe reprinted by permission of Food and Wine. All rights reserved.

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I was going to post a gumbo recipe, but I think this should do you just fine for this weekend. I know I'll be having both the drink and the jambalaya starting Friday night. Hope this makes your weekend more of a blast!

Immersion Effect: September 1st Edition

This is something I've been waiting weeks for. The weekly staple of this blog that I think people will really enjoy. I know that every Saturday, especially when my alma mater is playing a scrub, I like to get immersed into the game of the week. I like to eat what people at the game would eat, drink what they'd drink, etc etc etc ad nauseum. So, I'm bringing that to you every week with at least 1 recipe and 1 cocktail recipe (unless the home city of the GOTW has a beer or wine specific to it). Anyway, so, this week, we're dedicating the Immersion Effect to the only game that truly lives up this weekend.




We all know what happened last season. Tennessee was coming off a 5-6, non-bowl, 365 day meltdown season. California was also coming off a disappointing, albeit, winning season. However, Cal had a Heisman candidate at running back, along with 999 yard rusher Justin Forsett, three good wideouts, and finally a defense to go along with the offense. Cal was ranked #9 in the AP poll, with Tennessee at #23.

Then Cal crapped their pants in Neyland Stadium. After Cal forgot how to pass protect, tackle, and focus, Tennessee was up 35-0 midway through the 3rd quarter. Now Cal wants redemption, in their home stadium/domicile. Cal and Tennessee are both ranked in the teens, and the winner of this contest will have momentum and the biggest win of the season to hang their helmets on.

Now that I've built up the game horribly, here is what you should be eating and drinking this weekend, and by weekend, I mean starting Friday at 5pm through Sunday 2am.

Drink of the Week
Bear Juice
You'll need:
Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey
Peach Shnapps
Cranberry juice

Get your shaker, load it up with ice, and add 1 oz. of the Whiskey, 1 oz. of the Shnapps, and 1 oz. of the cranberry juice. Put the cap and shake that sum'bitch until your hand cannot be felt anymore. Strain the Bear Juice into an old fashioned glass, or what I would do, is strain it into a lowball glass. Drink drink drink many of these. But drink responsibly.

Recipe of the Week
Sourdough Bread
You'll need:
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
3 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F), divided
7 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
Cornmeal

In a 4-qt. non-metallic bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 cups warm water; let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups of flour until smooth. Cover loosely with a clean towel. Let stand in a warm place (80 degrees F-90 degrees F) to ferment for 48 hours; stir several times daily. (The mixture will become bubbly and rise, have a "yeasty" sour aroma and a transparent yellow liquid will form on the top.) Stir in milk powder, butter, sugar, salt, remaining water and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. (Do not knead.) Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. Turn onto a floured surface; punch dough down. (Do not knead). Divide in half. Shape each into a round loaf. Heavily grease baking sheets and sprinkle with cornmeal. Place dough on prepared pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. With a sharp knife, make three diagonal slashes across tops of loaves. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Brush loaves with cold water; bake 35-40 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Joe's Special
You'll need:
6 large eggs
Splash or two of Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried basil or oregano
1/2 teaspoon freshly milled black pepper or more to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1/2 pound lean freshly ground beef, preferably chili grind (a bit coarser than hamburger grind)
3/4 to 1 pound fresh spinach, preferably the crinkly savoy variety, trimmed of stems and chopped, or one 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

Crack the eggs into a small bowl and add the Tabasco, salt, basil, and pepper. Whisk just enough to combine; you should still see large bubbles. Set aside.

Warm the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter melts. Add the onion and sauté until soft but not beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the ground beef and continue cooking until uniformly brown, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Cover with the spinach, place a lid over the mixture, and cook for about 3 minutes, just until the spinach wilts. (If using frozen spinach, cook, covered, for 1 minute, just to take off its raw edge.)

Stir the spinach into the meat, cooking briefly to eliminate excess liquid if the mixture seems watery. Pour the egg mixture over all, stirring with a spatula from the bottom until the eggs begin to set. Remove from the heat and stir a few more times, as the eggs cook through from the residual heat. Serve immediately.

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There were so many possibilities for this week's immersion recipes. If you truly dedicate yourself to immersing yourself into Bay Area foods, you'd want to make a sourdough bread BOWL with clam chowder in it, but I really don't think anybody is going to do that this week.

Joe's Special originated in San Francisco, but you could also make cracked crab, or the Italian dish, cioppino. Hell, you could even make a San Francisco mission style burrito.

I hope that this weekly feature is something college football fans will really get into. Enjoy the immersion, gents.