I have longed professed my hatred or severe dislike of football. Instead of suffering throughout the day, I decided to make it my own day where I spend much of my time in the kitchen (usually baking) and doing other things that I enjoy, i.e. watching shows & movies my fishing guide doesn’t enjoy, knitting, sewing, blogging, etc.
As the 2014-2015 season approached he kept asking me if I was excited and I would reply yes. Of course I am excited! I get to spend a whole day doing what I love and he gets to enjoy it as well (the football & the fruits of my labors from the kitchen). In the winter I am out ice fishing and the summer I am out shooting, fishing on open water, and doing misc projects around the house so the time is not as easy to find to spend in the kitchen. Thus, football season/sunday is baking season/sunday and I could not be more thrilled.
This first Sunday back I made the boys cuban type sandwiches, prepped veggies for my breakfast scrambles for the week, made beef bourguignon for dinner, and I made peanut butter balls. I do a few variations of these treats but this is my original plus the football theme.
There is nothing fantastically awesome about what I accomplished, & my art skills leave something to be desired, but it was fun none the less. Plus, apparently we won the game. I like to think it was my Vikings themed PB Balls that did the trick.
Football themed Peanut Butter Balls (makes approx. 2 dozen)
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 cup each white & semi-sweet chocolate pieces
- 2 tbsp shortening
- 1 tbsp butter
- milk or yogurt if needed
- white writing gel
- assorted food coloring
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix the butter and peanut butter together in a medium bowl. Add the powdered sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Form into 1in balls and football shapes.
Melt the semi-sweet chocolate and 1/2-1 tbsp shortening to get a fluid melted chocolate (use a double boiler or the microwave on 50% power). Dip the football shapes into the melted chocolate and place on the parchment lined sheet.
Melt the white chocolate and 1-1.5 tbsp. shortening to get a fluid melted chocolate (use a double boiler or the microwave on 50% power). Add butter and yogurt or milk if the chocolate does not become fluid. Divide into two portions. Stir in food coloring that matches your local sports team’s colors (I used purple & gold for the Vikings). Dip the balls into the melted chocolate and place on the parchment lined sheet. Take the spoon you used to stir the melted chocolate and drizzle the the other color over them.
Place the sheet in the fridge to set. Once firm, remove and draw football lines with the white writing gel. Serve to football fans and be praised.
