Kap & Mina's Sunday Afternoon Tailgate: Week 4

The start of October can only mean one thing: pizza week. This tradition dates back to our very first tailgates two years ago, and has continued on since then.

​Our goal is simple: to redefine what goes on a pizza. Anyone can throw on marinara sauce and mozzarella, but it takes real vision to dig deep into the refrigerator and come up with the outlandish pies we're featuring this season.

Still, it never hurts to have a few "traditional" pies on hand to feed the less adventurous. . . .

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"UNIQUE PIZZAS"
The Return of Pizzagating

You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six.
                                                                                                           - Yogi Berra
                                                                                                                    (R.I.P.)

Elvis lore tells of a certain sandwich that The King loved more than any other: a fried peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich. This pizza takes its cues from that sweet and salty hunka hunka burnin' lunch.

- Kap

THE GRACELAND

• Pizza dough (if you don't make your own, you can use a pre-made dough, such as Mama Mary's)
• 1-2 bananas
• 1-2 TBSP Honey
• Cinnamon, to taste
• 2 TBSP olive Oil, divided
• 1 c. Smooth Peanut Butter
• 3/4 c. Heavy Cream
• 1/4 c. Light Corn Syrup
• Salt, to taste
• 1 lb. Bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 lb. Provolone, shredded
• Corn meal, for dusting

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Drizzle 1 TBSP olive oil lightly in a skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange banana slices and cook for 3-4 min. on each side.

Meanwhile, whisk together honey and 1 TBSP water. Pour mixture over bananas. Allow to cool and sprinkle with cinnamon.

In a separate pan, over medium heat, combine peanut butter, heavy cream, corn syrup, and salt. Stir frequently until combined. Do not overcook or the sauce will become thick. Use water to thin, if necessary.

Rub remaining oil on both sides of the pizza crust. Dust the bottom of the crust with corn meal. Cover the top with peanut sauce, provolone, bananas, and bacon.

Cook in oven for 8-10 mins. Slice and enjoy!

Such an amazing cultural heritage tailgate is a tough act to follow, but this pizza combines my Italian and Irish heritage in a different way, this week! It's my favorite parts of a traditional Saint Patrick's Day meal, put on a pizza. 

- Mina

IRISH PADDY PIE

• Pizza dough (again, if you don't make your own, you can use a pre-made dough)
• 1/2 stick Butter or Margarine
• 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
• 1/4 tsp. Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper, to taste 
• ​2 TBSP Olive Oil
• 1 Leek, chopped finely
• 1 head Cabbage, chopped finely
• 5 TBSP Guinness Stout
• Irish Cheddar, shredded
• Smoked Gouda, shredded
• Parmesan, shredded
• 1/2 lb. Deli Corned Beef, sliced thinly and chopped finely
• 1 Potato, peeled and cubed finely​
• 1-2 sprigs Rosemary

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Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Combine butter, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl. Heat in the microwave and then spread over the pizza. Garnish, as desired, with freshly cracked black pepper.

Meanwhile, boil cubed potato in salted water for 8-12 minutes, until fork tender. Drain.

Also, heat oil over medium heat in a pan, and add cabbage, leek, and 5 TBSP Guiness. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook until cabbage wilts, about 10 min. Do not overcook.

Top pizza crust with garlic sauce, cheeses, corned beef, potato, and wilted cabbage-leek mixture. Garnish with Rosemary.

Cook in oven for 8-10 mins. Discard rosemary sprigs. Slice and enjoy!

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When it comes to all this pizza, we always feel better throwing in a salad, just to even things out. This time, we returned to an old favorite: our Green Flag Broccoli Salad from last year's Daytona 500. Go check it out!

- Kap & Mina

Punches are fun because they are normally easy to mix and ideal for feeding large groups of people. With Halloween coming up, we decided to go "occult" on this one, using Anheuser-Busch's latest lager, brewed with agave and citrus and aged on tequila barrel staves. They have a mild tequila flavor that blends well with pineapple juice and sprite.

​- Kap & Mina

OCCULT PUNCH

• ​4 bottles of Oculto Lager [6% ABV]​
• 2 c. Pineapple Juice
• 8 oz. Sprite
• 1 Lemon, sliced
• 1 Lime, sliced
• 1 Orange, sliced
• A dozen Mint leaves

Combine ingredients in a punch bowl and stir. Serve in a mason jar.

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PREDICTION

Win vs. Washington!

Does any team have more uncertainty behind center than Washington right now? They managed to ruin injury-prone Robert Griffin III a few years ago. Now, he's riding pine in favor of turnover-prone Kirk Cousins. They were embarrassed by a lousy Giants team last week, and they look poised to make the bottom of the NFC their home again this season. I expect the Eagles to extend their winning streak to two in a row here.

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Kap's Season Record: 1-2

It won't matter who the QB is

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Back in two weeks after next week's Bye Week!

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All recipes listed above come from our own imaginations unless otherwise indicated. If you try one of these recipes in your own kitchen, leave a comment below and tell us how it goes. And, of course, share your modifications, enhancements, improvements, etc.