College Football Week 7: Is This Real Life?
There exists a quote that has oft been attributed to intellectuals like Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein. It goes, "The definition of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting different results." Well, this week in college football proved that quote to be as off-the-mark as that one time we all thought Wesley Snipes was diligently paying his taxes.
Struggling to cook healthy? We'll help you prep.
But seriously...is this real life?!? Did anyone see this flash flood of crazy events culminating in this insane football news monsoon?? Steve Spurrier resigns; Florida's starting QB gets suspended a year for using PEDs (P.S. thanks for the great excuse as to why your Gators thoroughly beat my team, Will Grier); USC's head coach was fired for hitting the sauce too hard; and Ole Miss's Laremy Tunsil was finally told by the NCAA he could play again...next week. My friends, if there has ever been a more insanity-laden college football week in the history of 'Merica, I sure would love to hear about it. Possible silver lining: Can Steve Spurrier please replace Lee Corso when he steps down? Pretty please? He's awfully witty.
Marquee Matchup: #8 Florida vs. #6 LSU, 10/17, 7:00PM ET on ESPN
There are so many great clashes this weekend—there's the civil war in Michigan, Alabama travels to Aggieland to take on A&M, and UCLA takes on the Stanford Cardinal. But it's the Bayou Bengals versus the Gainesville Gators that I'll be keeping my eye on. Florida goes to Baton Rouge without Will Grier calling the shots behind center, while LSU boasts the unparalleled #1 player in all of college football. In this battle of best of the SEC East versus the best of the West, I'm taking the West. Leonard Fournette & Co. roll the Gators, and it's not even close. My Prediction: LSU 34, Florida 10
New Orleans GumboIf you think I spent the better part of an hour scouring the Cooking Light database looking for alligator-based recipes, color yourself correct. No worries, though! You can always substitute gator for chicken if you'd like. Make sure and prep for this recipe ahead of time—it takes almost 2 hours—and then gobble it down while you watch the Tigers gobble up the Gators. Enjoy the Week 7 excitement everyone! Cheers.
6 boneless chicken thighs (about 1 1/4 pounds), skinned1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun seasoningCooking spray1/2 cup canola oil2.25 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1/2 cup)1 1/2 cups chopped onion1 cup chopped green bell pepper2 celery stalks, chopped4 ounces andouille sausage, thinly sliced1/2 teaspoon kosher salt2 bay leaves1 (14.5-ounce) can unsalted diced tomatoes, undrained5 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth2 garlic cloves, minced1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce5 cups cooked brown rice1/4 cup chopped green onionsHot pepper sauce (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Rub chicken thighs with Cajun seasoning. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until a thermometer registers 165°. Cool chicken; shred.
3. Place oil in a Dutch oven. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Add flour to pan, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook over medium heat 35 to 40 minutes or until very brown, stirring constantly with a flat-bottomed wooden spoon. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add sausage and next 3 ingredients (through tomatoes); cook 2 minutes. Gradually add broth, stirring constantly with a whisk. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.
4. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add Worcestershire sauce. Discard bay leaves. Serve over rice; sprinkle with green onions. Serve with hot pepper sauce, if desired.
SERVES 10 (serving size:1 cup gumbo and 1/2 cup rice)CALORIES 353; FAT 16.4g (sat 2.5g, mono 4.5g, poly 9.2g); PROTEIN 18.7g; CARB 32.2g; FIBER 2.9g; CHOL 63mg; IRON 1.8mg; SODIUM 577mg; CALC 34mg
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