Thursday, October 15, 2009

Football Snacks











Dave LOVES the Chicago Bears. All winter long it's the Bears this, and the Bears that. I've been a Green Bay Packers fan since I was a kid (though I have to admit to being a bit conflicted as the sporty love-of-my-life, Brett Favre, is now in Minnesota). We have a big football rivalry in our house, and during the season we watch the games online, which means snacks, snacks, snacks. If Dave was left to his own devices he'd buy (and eat) the Costco sized bag of Doritos and a gallon of ice cream. I try to make alternative snacks which while maybe not being health food, have at least some redeeming nutritional value.


I made three puff pastry snacks: Olive Straws, Parmesan Pinwheels, and a sort of Zucchini Pizza. I also made Panelle (Chickpea Fritters).

For the pinwheels, Roll out some puff pastry and brush a small amount of melted butter over it. Sprinkle on some finely grated parmesan. Roll up into a log and slice into 1/4-inch slices. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

The pizza is just a piece of puff pastry topped with grated parmesan, thinly sliced zucchini, and red pepper flakes. Bake until just browned.


The olive straws are from Pastry by Michel Roux.
13 ounces of puff pastry
15 large green olives, stuffed with pimentos
eggwash, 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of water

On a lightly floured counter, roll the puff pastry out to a 12 1/2 x 6-inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Using a chef's knife, cut the rectangle into 2 pieces, one 5 1/2 x 6 inches, and one 7 x 6 inches. Place on a baking sheet and chill for 10 minutes.

Take the smaller piece of pastry, and starting 5/8 inch from the edge, lay 5 olives end to end in a line along the 5 1/2 inches side of the rectangle. Leave a 3/4 inch space, and make another line of 5 olives. Repeat to make 3 lines of olives. Brush all the exposed dough between the olives with eggwash. Cover with the large piece of dough and press the whole surface of the dough between the olives firmly with your fingertips. Chill for about 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F. With a very sharp knife, trim and neaten the edges of the dough, then cut it crosswise into straws 1/4 inch wide. Lay the straws flat side down on a baking sheet and bake for 5 to 6 minutes. As soon as you remove them from the oven, cool on a wire rack. Serve while still warm.


Panelle is a popular snack in Italy. It is cooked chickpea flour, cooled until firm and then cut into pieces which are deep fried. I love it in a sandwich best. Here's the link to the recipe:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chickpea-Fritters-231982

I hope everyone has a great football weekend!

11 comments:

  1. I don't watch football, but I would eat those!

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  2. How fun! I need to get my snacks together (and my act, for that matter). Football season is here!

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  3. Yes, come and join us on the dark side and root for the Vikings! What a fun season it is turning out to be. I'm hoping Brett takes us all the way to the Super Bowl. Your snacks look yummy.I love puff pastry, especially for appetizers.

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  4. Those all look really good. My husband is a Doritos guy too, but homemade snacks are more fun.

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  5. I agree, the snacks look really good. Will you be cooking for us on your visit next weekend???

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  6. In his youth my husband visited the USA, and instantly became a fan of the Green Bay Packers. American football isn't big in the U.K so Brett Favre would have meant nothing to me, but it does. My husband was telling me that Brett Favre has now beaten every American Football team in the USA now, is that right.

    I want to come over and enjoy all your football snacks: the olive straws, Pinwheels, Zucchini Pizza and Panelle (Chickpea Fritters) look scrummy, better than a bag of crisp I am sure of it.

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  7. these snacks would guarantee that i'd sit thru a game! zucchini pizza--fantastic!

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  8. I would sit through any football game just to eat these snacks, Michele. They look divine!

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  9. I like the recipe of football snacks. Can anybody tell this recipe is named football snacks.


    green tea

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  10. Thanks for the lovely comments!!

    Mango--how funny that your husband is a Green Bay fan. I know American style football is not very popular there.

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  11. Some of the TV Sport channels here are trying to introduce people to real American football, but I don't know if it going to work as people here love their own brand of 'futbal'. D likes American football, only because he went to America all those years ago (late 80s) and made friends with some American people his age at the time, who were Green Bay Packer fans and since has not stopped supporting them.

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