Guest Post: Laurie's Game Day Food

Let's be real. I don't know how to handle myself at sporting events, so for your upcoming super bowl needs, we've got expert advice from a dear friend. Fussy health food is clearly out of place in this situation, so man up and enjoy.

Greetings from the Mile High City! While I was sad to leave the Peach State, taking a year off from med school to do research has given me ample time to pursue two of my favorite past times: cooking up a storm and taking in the daily breath-taking views of the Rockies. A little about me: I'm a med student who loves preventive medicine, a devoted dog mama, a major Notre Dame fan due to my husband's slightly unhealthy obsession, and a lover of whisking away in the kitchen! My mom is the best chef I know, and now that I'm lucky enough to live near her, I'm soaking up all her skills to occasionally share with y'all!

So for my first contribution: a Southwestern-inspired Game Day menu. If you have ever loved a sports team having a slightly depressing season, you know the importance of quality snacks to balance out the tears shed as your team struggles. My guaranteed wins in the food arena: Rat Toes and Chicken Chipotle Nachos. The only thing not to love about Rat Toes is the slightly suspect name. Once you hear the ingredients, your mouth will water with Pavlovian excitement: jalapenos, shrimp, cream cheese and BACON. The bacon alone is sure to get most tails wagging with excitement.

Chicken Chipotle Nachos will keep the crowds roaring for more: Tortilla chips topped with smoking chipotle pulled chicken and a dollop of guacamole...a recipe for a touchdown every time! Both of these recipes are easy and you can do much of the prep work the night before so to have a relaxing game day.

Chipotle Chicken Nachos

1 cup cooked chicken, about 1 large chicken breast
3 tablespoon red onion, coarse chopped
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups Monterey jack cheese, shredded
2-3 large chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
2-3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin

1. Cook chicken (any way you desire, including baking or poaching) and cut into chunks.

2. In a food processor, blend cream cheese until smooth. Add chicken, red onion, cheese, chipotle chilies, garlic and cumin. Process until smooth.

3. Spread onto sturdy tortilla chips and bake at 400 degrees until melted.

4. Garnish each nacho with Kathy's Guacamole and cilantro.

Kathy's Guacamole

3 avocados
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1.4 teaspoon onion powder
salt to taste

Cut avocados, add lemon juice, mayo, garlic and onion powder. Mix vigorously.
Chill until cold and enjoy!

Rat Toes
Adapted from Six Feet Under's recipe

24 jalapenos
1 pack reduced fat cream cheese (go full fat if you dare)
1 bag  pre-cooked shrimp (defrost in cool water if frozen)
bacon. bacon. glorious bacon.

1. Clean out jalapenos by chopping off top and removing insides and seeds. Save as many seeds as you desire, these bring the heat. De-tail shrimp.

2. Put shrimp and cream cheese in food processor. Mix until combined. Add as many of the jalapeno seeds as your heart desires and pulse several more times.

3. Stuff jalapenos to the limit. Do not be shy during this step, the more spicy cream cheese wonderfulness to complement the bacon, the better.

4. Take uncooked bacon and wrap around jalapenos.

5. Broil at 500 degrees, flipping every 5 minute. Remove when bacon is too irresistible to delay eating. Or until bacon looks cooked, either way.