College Football Saturday EXTRAVAGANZA

Around these parts, we like college football - most of us prefer the SEC, but we are open to watching all games if someone has a favorite. My roommate and I decided to have some friends over and enjoy a day of football.

Here is what was on the menu: 
Spicy Crab Mac & Cheese
Fried Green Tomatoes
Brats
BBQ -- (Made by our friend Laura)
Chips & Dip
Cranberry Spicy Chicken Wings  -- (Made by our friend Jessica)

I feel like I failed because I didn't take any pictures of any of these things, but I can promise you they were all delicious.

Spicy Crab Mac & Cheese
Ingredients:
1 throw away lasagna pan from the store
1 box of pasta (we choose elbow, you can choose whatever you like)
4 tablespoons of butter
3 tablespoons of flour
1 bag sharp cheddar cheese
1 bag mild cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon of chili oil
1 egg
1 yellow onion (or half, depending on your likeness for onions)
3 cups of milk
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
red hot pepper flakes (to taste)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can of claw crab meat (or any other section will taste awesome)
2 tablespoons Texas Pete Hot Sauce
Panko Bread Crumbs

Directions: First, cook the pasta to al dente - which means you don't cook it all the way. Drain it and let it sit on the side.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Second, while the pasta is cooking, take the butter and melt it in a big pan. Slowly add the flour and whisk it in until there are no lumps - about 5 minutes. Next add, the milk in gradually, keep whisking to avoid lumpage. Add the chopped onions, seasonings/spices, texas pete, egg, AND chili oil - while you are adding the milk! Keep stirring. Add the can of crab meat and keep stirring. Lastly, add the cheese and mix it in. This should be lumpy from the veggies and the crab meat, but otherwise smooth.

Take the pasta that has been drained, and dump some on the bottom of the pan. Then take a measuring cup or cup of some sort and scoop out the cheese mixture and dump it over the pasta. Spread it over the pasta then add another layer of pasta and repeat until you reach about .5 inches from the top of the pan.

Spread panko bread crumbs on the top and put in the oven for about 45 minutes or until it is crispy on the top and/or browned.

This is one of my favorite recipes that I love to make. It brings me back to coastal South Carolina (even though my mom never made this recipe because she can't have shellfish). It was also freezing cold on Saturday and it was nice to have something warm.

Fried Green Tomatoes (from our dear friend and classmate, who taught us how to do this in about 5 minutes - THANK YOU)
Ingredients:
2 Large Green Tomatoes
2 Eggs (for egg wash)
Olive Oil
Corn Meal
Panko Bread Crumbs
Salt
Pepper
Italian Seasoning

Directions: First, slice up the tomatoes as you would for a sandwich or caprese salad (thick but not too thick). Next, beat the eggs in a bowl until they are blended. Then add the salt, pepper, corn meal, panko bread crumbs and italian seasoning in another bowl.

Heat a skillet up to about medium heat. If you don't want to use olive oil, you can use a non-stick spray - it will work! Take the tomato slices and toss them in the egg wash, then generously coat them in the dry mix. Place on the skillet and repeat for the rest of the tomatoes. Check them periodically so they don't burn. Violà!!

These were pretty excellent and it was the first time I had EVER made them.

Give these a try if you want! Have a great week.