Game Day Meal: March Madness Edition – Slam Dunk!

by Amy Johnson, Managing Editor, HockeyPub.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Little by little, tiny signs of spring seem to be appearing: birds are singing, the temperatures are starting to rise, and in living rooms and pubs all across the continent screams of frustration can be heard as college hoops fans watch their strategically formed brackets crumble in front of their eyes.  Others are biting their nails and holding their breath to see if their selections can continue to climb their way towards the Final Four.  They call it March Madness for a reason!  Who have you chosen to win it all?

Today’s edition of Game Day Meal will go a long way towards helping you survive the next blowout game or buzzer beater!  We’ve got a Slam Dunk cocktail and an indulgent chocolate and peanut butter treat (which also works well as an Easter basket surprise) named after the team I have winning the championship, the Ohio State Buckeyes.  What are you cooking up for March Madness this year?  Leave your ideas for snacks and drinks in the comment section below!

Slam Dunk cocktail
Recipe courtesy of idrink.com

Ingredients:
1.5 oz Southern Comfort
4 oz orange juice
5 oz cranberry juice

1. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour the Southern Comfort over the ice cubes.  Then pour in the orange juice and cranberry juice and stir gently to combine ingredients and create a soft pink color.  Bottoms up!

Crunchy Buckeyes
Recipe courtesy of About.com – Candy

Prep time: 15 minutes
Chilling time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups peanut butter (I used smooth, but you can also opt for crunchy)
1/4 cup butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar (also called confectioners sugar)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 cups crisped rice cereal (like Rice Krispies)
12 oz chopped semi-sweet chocolate

1. Mix the softened butter and the peanut butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer and beat until soft and well-combined.

2. Add the vanilla and the powdered sugar, and mix until all of the sugar is incorporated.

3. Add the crisped rice cereal and mix together until well combined with the peanut butter.

4. Use a small teaspoon to scoop the peanut butter mixture and roll into a ball between your palms.  (I highly recommend wearing plastic gloves for this, it gets quite messy as the pb warms in your hands.)  Place the candy balls onto a foil-lined baking sheet and place in the refrigerator.

5. Using a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave by heating it for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between each time until it’s smooth and glossy.

6. Dip the bottom half of each buckeye in the chocolate until coated.  Use a toothpick inserted into each one to help keep them stable as you’re coating them with chocolate.

7. Return the candy to the baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow the chocolate and peanut butter to firm up.

8. These bite-sized treats can be kept for up to two weeks in the refrigerator when stored in an air-tight container.  Be sure to bring them to room temperature before serving.  Enjoy!

Photo credits: Amy Johnson

Have you got an outstanding game-day meal or drink recipe that you’d like to share with our readers? Email amy@allhabs.net to find out how your recipe could be featured on Hockey Pub!

Tags: basketball, Buckeyes, candy, chocolate, cocktail, cranberry juice, Easter, featured, game day meal, march madness, NCAA, orange juice, peanut butter, rice krispies, southern comfort, spring