G! Gets Zesty: Game Time Grub

Nothing says ‘Are you ready for some football?’ quite like DIY pub grub

By Zestycook (aka Cory Gallant)

 
It’s Sunday afternoon and the countdown is on until kickoff. The big question isn’t who’s going to win, it’s what are you going to eat? Entertain like a pro with pub fare that’ll have your neighbours running to your sectional for prime seating.

Here’s your winning game day lineup.

Beef Nachos (First Quarter)

 

We all have our own ideas as to what makes the perfect nacho. It could be the toppings, texture, flavour or the amount of cheese attached to the nacho chip itself. For me, it’s all about treating each nacho with love and attention.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and ordered a heaping pile of nachos, only to be sorely disappointed when they land on your table because the topping-to-chip ratio is all off? Nothing bugs me more than neglected nachos. I like to top each nacho chip individually (yeah, it may take a little longer, but it’s well worth the effort). That way every nacho is dressed and made just the way you want it. This also makes it easy to customize the nachos based on taste.

These beef nachos are absolutely delicious – don’t count on having any leftovers for the second quarter!

Zesty tips on building the perfect nacho: There are three imperative ingredients to consider when creating the perfect plate of nachos and those are chips, cheese, and toppings.  Choose large chips with a big surface area, not too salty that the other flavours are overpowered. Pick a cheese that can melt evenly and not produce a large amount of grease ( avoid store bought, pre-shredded cheese).  As for the toppings, it’s free reign. I like fresh tomatoes, green onion, guacamole, jalapeno peppers, and a little sour cream.  Try these and you won’t be disappointed.

 

Onion Rings (Second Quarter)

Simple things in life make me happy. Take a few onions, slice them thick, season with salt and pepper and dredge them in a little buttermilk. Toss them in some panko breadcrumbs and roast them in your oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Talk about a killer snack your peeps will be fighting for! The crunch and flavour of these golden rings are guaranteed to be a hit. I like to dip mine in ketchup, but feel free to dip these in whatever your heart desires.

 

Cheese Quesadillas (Third Quarter)

 

Half-time may be over, but that means it’s time for a little more cheese!  Add some Mexican flare to your man cave eats with cheese quesadillas, topped with some homemade salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. Crunchy on the outside, ooey gooey cheese on the inside – what’s not to love?  I love ‘em and they’re definitely a crowd pleaser for picky eaters.

 

 

 

 

 

Baked Chicken Wings with a Spicy Glaze (Fourth Quarter)

Ever just crave a chicken wing that’s not greasy but is still crispy on the outside? Now don’t get me wrong, I love a nice, deep-fried chicken wing but at home I always go for a baked chicken wing in the oven and finish it off with a glaze. The process is really simple and you can use whatever you like as the glaze.  For this batch, I went with a spicy glaze cause I was craving something hot; not “burn your lips” hot but a nice balance of sweet and heat.

Make sure to stock up on wings as you’ll find yourself quickly eating as many of these bad boys as you can get your hands on and going through tons of paper towel (Thank god for the Select – A – Size). Best served with an ice cold beer or you can always go with a nice glass of water to offset any tingling lips.

Ingredients

chicken wings (tips removed)
salt
pepper
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons of brown sugar
splash of vinegar
1/2 cup sweet chilli sauce
2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1/2 cup water

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Season chicken wings with salt and pepper.  Place them in the oven and cook for 40 to 50 minutes.
2. In a separate saucepan, set heat to medium and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer. Once everything is combined thoroughly, bring to a boil.
3. Remove wings from the oven and place in a large bowl.
4. Add the sauce over the wings and toss to coat.
5. Serve with some fresh veggies and your favourite drink.
6. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: When making the sauce, if you find it’s a little too thin, bring to a boil and add a slurry of 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water together to thicken the sauce. You want the sauce to be thick enough to both coat the wings and stick to your ribs.

Ok, so the game is over and your team lost, but does it really matter?  All I can think of is wonder how I’m going to button my pants in the morning for work after eating so much.

For pub grub recipes and more, check out zestycook.com.

Take care,

Zesty

Football not your sport? Who cares! Zestycook’s pub grub menu works with any sport – hockey, basketball, soccer – a sports fan’s gotta eat, right? Just make sure to wear your stretchy pants.  

Nothing says ‘Are you ready for some football?’ quite like DIY pub grub By Zestycook (aka Cory Gallant)   It’s Sunday afternoon and the countdown is on until kickoff. The big question isn’t who’s going to win, it’s what are you going to eat? Entertain like a pro with pub fare that’ll have your neighbours [...]

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SiFTcast in Print: Jersey North Shore

Brian Langille’s collection of hockey jerseys make more than just a fashion statement

When it comes to fashion, specifically guy fashion, there aren’t nearly as many questions to answer as there are for our female counterparts. There’s no, “Do these shoes go with this skirt?” There’s no “Does this hat go with these gloves?” And there’s definitely no “Do these pants make my as…” oh, never mind.

See, it’s not that guys don’t care about fashion and it’s not that guys don’t care about looking good. Clearly we do, it’s just that we take a different approach. Normally it’s, “Is this clean?”, “Where are we going again?”, or “Are the Leafs playing tonight?” You know, the basics. (After all, you wouldn’t want to wear a jersey of a team that isn’t playing, right?)

See, we mention jerseys because our resident jersey collector Brian seems to have the ability to polarize a crowd with his jersey choices. It’s kind of like if two women show up at the same event wearing the exact same dress; people stop and they notice and they talk. It happens…and it happens to Brian, too.

Brian’s gimmick is that he wears hockey jerseys…a lot. He wears them on his YouTube show, The Langille Show. In fact, it’s rare that you don’t see him in one on TLS. He also wears them to local events – it’s how most people recognize him for the most part. So his fashion question isn’t so much, “Does this jersey go with these jeans?”; it’s more like, “Do I wear the Calgary Flames Heritage Iginla jersey, or the Boston Bruins Tim Thomas Finals?”

This year, we saw firsthand how the wrong jersey choice can be disastrous. While covering the ECMAs for SiFTcast, Brian was complimented, photographed and even offered money for his Calgary Flames Heritage jersey. However, during the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, he was jeered, mocked and cursed at for wearing the exact same jersey.  That’s not to say that he wasn’t complimented there either; it just goes to show how the perspective was completely different.

Earlier this month, while attending an IHW wrestling event in Moncton, New Brunswick, Brian was told that he wasn’t getting in wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey…over the loud speaker, no less. People seem to really go out of their way to either “yay” or “nay” a fashion choice.

So ladies, we feel for your dilemma. Really, we do. However, as guys, we also have a bit of advice: whatever you do, it’s in poor taste to wear white after Labour Day… unless it’s an away team jersey.

Brian Langille’s collection of hockey jerseys make more than just a fashion statement When it comes to fashion, specifically guy fashion, there aren’t nearly as many questions to answer as there are for our female counterparts. There’s no, “Do these shoes go with this skirt?” There’s no “Does this hat go with these gloves?” And [...]

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Roar!

Navigate the urban jungle with ferocious animal-inspired accessories

Photos and Story by Kimberly Rashed

I’m a little “wild” about animal prints (pardon the pun). I have many a dress, blouse and skirt dedicated to this fierce trend. It’s a very sexy style that requires confidence to carry it well; I’ve got to be feeling really good to pull these items from my closet. If you’re still working up the nerve to incorporate this daring look into your wardrobe, then you’re in luck. This season, the call of the wild is trending in bags, shoes and scarves.

Alligator and crocodile inspired bags are popping up in very structured looks. The animal skin gives this rather corporate shape some added sex appeal. Dior, Gucci and Valentino unleashed handbags in colourful and subdued python prints during their runway shows for fall and winter, while Dolce & Gabbana went wild with zebra. Party animal or beast in the boardroom, spice up any look with an exotic animal print.

Same goes for shoes; python adorned flats and pumps are big this season. While flats may not be considered “sexy”, by adding a little python texture into the mix, you can make any cute ballet flat super flirty. Dare to show your ladylike wild side.

Scarves are still considered one of the top accessories of the fall season; the variety of colours, styles and textures on the market is outrageous. Make a point of adding an animal print scarf in a leopard, cheetah, zebra or tiger print (or one of each, depending on what animal you feel like unleashing that day) to your fall collection. No question, this addition to your wardrobe can take an everyday look and give it some real sophistication and impact.

Animal prints can be worked into the most casual of looks or taken to the wee hours of the night. Don’t be weary to mix and match; it’s perfectly acceptable to pair elegant python pumps with a cheetah scarf. The look you want to achieve this season is sexy yet subtle. However, I don’t suggest going with a head-to-toe look – we’re not auditioning for the circus here. You’re goal is to attract your prey, not frighten them away. Keep your look simple with one or two prints, play with colour and you’ll look ready-to-wear fabulous!

Kimberly Rashed unleashes her wild side with the latest fashion trends and styles each month in G!

Navigate the urban jungle with ferocious animal-inspired accessories Photos and Story by Kimberly Rashed I’m a little “wild” about animal prints (pardon the pun). I have many a dress, blouse and skirt dedicated to this fierce trend. It’s a very sexy style that requires confidence to carry it well; I’ve got to be feeling really [...]

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