Game Day, Tailgating and Lasagna Cupcakes

“We’re not here for the game. The game is nothing. The game is crap. The game makes me sick. The real reason we Americans put up with sports is for this: Behold, the tailgate party. The pinnacle of human achievement. Since the dawn of parking lots, man has sought to fill his gut with food and alcohol in anticipation of watching others exercise.”

Matt Groening via Homer Simpson

      My parents never bought into the religion of sports, so I didn’t really experience the whole game day phenomenon until later on.  I attended my first pro ball game and first Super bowl party when I was living in Baltimore.   Serendipitously, the Ravens were playing in that bowl game.  I can’t tell you any stats or details about that game or the season, but what I can remember vividly is at night the week before the game, all the skyscrapers downtown were lit with purple spot lights creating a beautiful, magical amethyst city…that and “Purple Haze” played  every other song on the radio.  Mr. Hendrix’s estate must have been ecstatic! 

    

      Now tailgating is something my parents could have embraced. The challenge of hosting a full-blown party on an asphalt island with limited resources would be right up their alley, plus I learned that 35% of all tailgaters never enter the stadium.  In Baltimore, our game host preferred to do his football tailgating at a bar next to the field, which was fine with me since ”outside” at a Raven's game often meant rain freezing on my face, slushy iced beer and me hanging with the guys pretending to be a much better sport than I really am. 

     

      On the other hand…Camden Yards on a beautiful, warm, opening day against the Red Sox was a pretty special place to be.  I don’t think Gandhi, Jesus, and Abraham Lincoln combined could have gotten the same fanatical adoration as when Cal Ripken took the field...pure Norman Rockwell Americana.  

Lasagna Cupcakes

1/2 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
24 wonton wrappers
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup pasta sauce
 
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Brown the sausage, garlic and Italian seasoning in a small sauté pan over medium heat…stir frequently so the meat is broken up and crumbly…drain off the drippings.
Cut the wontons into muffin tin size circles with a biscuit cutter or trim around a glass.
Prep the muffin tins with cooking spray.
Press a wonton wrapper into the bottom of each muffin cup.
Sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese in each.
Top with a little meat and a teaspoonful of pasta sauce.
Repeat the layering again…and finish with a bit of extra parmesan and mozzarella.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are brown.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
When you are ready to serve, use a knife to loosen around the edges. 

From "Warm Hearth" by Mango Dragonfly. Available on Amazon.com

www.mangodragonfly.com