End of an era.....

I suppose I should edit this blog to reflect what happened.......

This guy (Mouphtao Yarou) got a key rebound, and passed to freshman Ryan Arcidiacono for a tying 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in regulation.  Villanova won in overtime.

Now, if you haven't, read why this game is so important to me.......

As 99.9% of kids do when you grow up in or around Syracuse, NY your athletic rooting interests pretty much begin and end with Syracuse University Football and Basketball.  Growing up in the 1970's and 1980's I saw unbelievable change to Syracuse University athletics and the overall connection of the University to the region.

First and foremost, Syracuse University decided to make a bold leap, and replace ancient Archbold Stadium, which was one of the oldest facilities in use at the time.  And boy did they replace it.  The 50,000 seat Carrier Dome was built on the Archbold site and became the new home for both the Football and Basketball programs in 1980.  I happened to be attending Syracuse University basketball camp in the summer of 1980, and took a tour of the new building the day before they inflated the roof! 

Secondly, Syracuse was a charter member of the Big East Conference in 1979.  This new league consolidated the best East Coast basketball programs into a monster that would eventually land 3 teams in the 1985 Final Four.  The basketball program at Syracuse went from playing to roughly 9,000 at wonderful Manley Field House to its official capacity for basketball at 34,616.

Syracuse basketball was good before the Big East.  Syracuse basketball became a national power in the Big East and because of the Big East.

I decided to skip town for college, and ended up somewhere very familiar from a basketball standpoint:  Villanova.

Syracuse - Villanova games have always meant a little bit more to me than any other games I watch or attend.  Only time I'm not rooting for Syracuse is this game.  There have been many special games in this series, and Villanova carries the best winning percentage of any Big East team in the Carrier Dome.  The top-3 crowds ever in the Carrier Dome are for Villanova.

Due to the conference landscape radically changing due to football television revenue realities, Syracuse is leaving for the Atlantic Coast Conference next season.  Villanova will be moving forward into a new league after next season.

This means that this Saturday's Syracuse - Villanova game in Philadelphia is the last time these teams will meet in a Big East conference game.  As someone who was weaned on Big East basketball, weaned on Syracuse basketball, and now a Villanova basketball fan, this is a sad, sad thing. 

I remember being at the Big East Tournament at the Carrier Dome in 1981 (that's right, the tournament was not always held at Madison Square Garden).  I saw Leo Rautins elevate Syracuse to victory and the Big East Championship in triple overtime over, you guessed it, Villanova.  I remember coming back to Syracuse in 1989 to see Villanova beat then #1 and undefeated Syracuse by 19 points.  I've seen every great player for both sides over the past three plus decades.

Pearl Washington, Ed Pinckney, Derrick Coleman, John Pinone, Lawrence Moten, Kerry Kittles, Roosevelt Bouie, Tim Thomas, Sherman Douglas, Scottie Reynolds, Carmello Anthony, Randy Foye and so many more.  Jim Boeheim has been a constant on the Syracuse bench.  Villanova has had the incomparable Rollie Massimino, to Steve Lappas and now the dapper Jay Wright.  So much history.  So many memories.  For one last time.......

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Inside the Thought Process

First Blog post in a while, and the first of 2013.  I hope to bring much more to the blog table in 2013.

As I've talked about before, I really enjoy cooking (and eating, of course).  It seems based on Facebook posts from friends that I know many other foodies.  Several friends also have dedicated food blogs.  Pretty cool, actually.

Thought I would walk those interested through my personal approach to creating and trying to make something new.

This past Sunday, the family went for a full grocery shopping excursion to our local Giant.  We haven't done a full run in a long time.  Got all the necessary staples to restock our pantry and fridge properly.  Got supplies for a weeks worth (and more) of breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  Only issue is that our Giant has very basic "proteins" aka meat and seafood.  I was food-jazzed, and the Giant just didn't cut it.

So, after unloading and unpacking all our stuff, I declared that I was going up to the Collegeville Wegmans to find something "fun" to make.  No recipe in mind, just looking for inspiration.

My first job was as a Produce Clerk in the Liverpool, NY Wegmans.  I've been preaching the Gospel of Wegmans here in Philadelphia for decades.  Used to visit Wegmans on my visits back to Syracuse, and would marvel at how much better it was than the portfolio of groceries in the Philadelphia area.  Now, Wegmans has come to me, and is my "go-to" spot for special meal supplies.

Now, what to make?

Wandering through the hot food areas for ideas.  ooooh.....Sushi area.   Look at those crabcakes.  Venturing down to meats....Berkshire Pork.  Wagyu!!!!!  Cowboy Veal Chop.  So many options. Wegmans carries duck, so I meander over there.  No duck.

But wait.....

What can I do with Duck Bacon????  That sounds yummy.  So, I look around some more.  Notice boneless turkey breasts.  Brain working.  Turkey is next to chicken.  TURDUCKEN!!!!!  Thank you Paula Deen. Now, how can I incorporate chicken without having something that will take 5 hours to cook?  Wegmans has various chicken sausages.  BANG.  Apple-Maple Chicken Sausage - precooked even.  Will add a nice complement to the richness of Duck Bacon.


Now, what delivery vehicle?  Clearly, a Roulade!  As close as you can get to taking these things and stuffing them in each other.  First step, lay out the bacon.  Second step, take thinly sliced turkey, and lay on top of the bacon.  I seasoned with Lowry's salt and Herbs de Provence......

Next, place the Apple-Maple Chicken Sausage roughly in the middle.......

Finally, use the edges of the foil to help roll this into the desired "roll" end shape.  I refrigerated the wrapped up roll for about 30 minutes before placing in the pan.

Then,  I placed in a preheated 400 degree oven.  Wasn't quite sure how long to cook this thing for, so I set the timer for 30 minutes.  Wanted to reach an internal of 165.  Checked at 30 minutes, and we were at 148, a little low for my liking - even remembering that the temp will go up 10 degrees while resting.  Put it in for 10 more minutes.  That did the trick, got up to 158, resting would do the rest.  Placed on serving platter to look pretty.....

There was no greater feeling than cutting and plating these succulent roulades.  Looked and smelled spectacular.  Served with buttered baby red potatoes and sugar snap peas with garlic and mint......

Everyone loved it - including our six year old.  It was incredibly moist and flavorful.  The apple-maple chicken sausage really did cut the richness of the duck bacon.  The turkey stood out on its own as well.  So, I think I've stumbled upon a great way to take the mysterious Turducken, and make it accessible enough for a family dinner.

Hope you enjoyed this, and let me know if you try this yourself!!!!