FSU National Champions at Football!!!

Even though it's been a few days since the BCS National Championship Game, it's still hard to believe that FSU really won. Perhaps this comes from too many years of being a Cleveland sports fan, during which none of my teams have made it to the finish and won that big game when it mattered most, but it's hard to even take in the moment. I guess we'll just have to celebrate a little.

We have been season ticket holders for ten years now. The team has always been good - never below .500, always invited to a bowl game. We've been to big games that they've won and to big games that they've lost. We've sweated and nearly gotten heat stroke at some games and gotten soaked to the bone in the rain at others. It's always fun and such a blessing to have the opportunity to experience great college football in person.

I'm going to be totally honest and admit that I didn't have the fortitude to stay up and watch the whole game Monday night. The anxiety was about killing me. I kept taking breaks to clean the kitchen and do other chores to distract myself from what looked like it might turn into a full-scale implosion. I also knew that if anyone could rally, it was this team. That's why I'm not surprised that I woke up to hear hubs yelling at the top of his lungs at the television when Kermit Whitfield returned the kick off for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. I got to see the celebrations after the game which was awesome.

I wanted to share a few things in honor of the big win. First the video post-game summary and second a little video of our new championship flag.

Breakfast Tailgating

FSU hosts Boston College today at noon, so we'll be out tailgating early this morning! Here's what's on the menu:

Bagels, cream cheese, coffee,
Bagel sandwiches, fruit salad, mimosas
Muffins

Ina's Bloody Marys

Ingredients
3 large stalks celery from the heart, including leaves, plus extra for serving
36 ounces tomato juice (recommended: Sacramento)
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon grated yellow onion
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
12 dashes hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco), or to taste
1 1/2 cups vodka

Directions
Cut the celery in large dice, including the leaves, and puree in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until finely minced. In a large pitcher, combine the rest of the ingredients except the vodka. With the food processor running, pour 1/4 of the tomato juice mixture into the food processor through the feed tube. Then pour the contents of the food processor into the pitcher with the remaining tomato juice mixture. Add the vodka and chill. Serve in tall glasses over ice with a stick of celery.

Makes 6 drinks.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup peanut butter

1 egg

1 ¼ cup milk

¾ cup chocolate chips

Directions

In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, egg and milk until smooth. I find a whisk works best.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt and baking powder) and mix well.

Dump dry ingredients into wet mixture and blend just until moistened. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into muffin tins lined with muffin paper cups. Bake at 350 about 15 minutes, until top springs back when touched.

Makes 18-24 muffins.