Fixin' Supper

I was convinced after I blogged about the Cardinals in the middle of the NLCS and then they tanked in that game, that it was my optimism and loose talk that had doomed them. Apparently I’m not the negative factor. Because I haven’t said a single word about the Commodores, and we still managed to lose to unranked South Carolina today, a week after tossing off No.-16 Georgia. Between the Hedges. [I threw that in there on the off chance that Mitch Light is reading.]

Of course, I’ve been a Vandy fan long enough to know that you don’t ask questions or try to understand. You’re just grateful for what you get. Hey, Duke is next week. I’ll see what happens.

As for the Cards, Game 1 is underway. To the TV! [Apologies to Lasorda.]

It’s one of those days when I couldn’t eat. Because it was a big game day.

And what the he..? Wainwright struck out Beltran? Looking?

Holy cow! I’ll take it!

P.S. All my sports connections are working tonight. Trocchi’s running the show over at SI.com…nice headline, buddy! NYC sister is on duty at MLB.com.

Sigh.

You know I am — I’m a Cards fan. I’m putting my faith in the BG* to take me through the end of the month. [Though I fully admit that my team is already overachieving to be where it is right now.]

But you’ve got to watch these great commercials featuring Tommy Lasorda, exhorting all you Cubbies and BoSox fans [sorry, Jamie, Patrick, Patrick and Trocch] to watch the postseason anyway. They are just brilliant.

Kind of like BG.

*Baseball Genius. I have referred to Tony La Russa as the Baseball Genius for years. I am not alone. La Russa is the most maddening kind of man to have in charge of your team. Most of the time he’s doing a great job, so it’s really hard to complain, but you can never, and I mean never, figure out what the hell he’s up to. On the other hand, you hope that the other team has the same problem you do.

And, when he delivers with the results like we got in Games 2 and 3 of the NLCS thanks to his BG lineups, who’s arguing?

We all thought it was weird but of course tragic this afternoon when the plane hit the NYC apartment building. I’m not sure why it seems more personal when it’s a celebrity involved; I guess because we all feel like we know celebrities a little bit even though we don’t.

I always feel like baseball stories especially matter to me because my sister works for MLB.com, so as soon as I heard the sad news about Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle I also thought about NYC sister — who until then I’m sure was in the middle of coordinating tonight’s post-season coverage. [Believe me, I haven't called yet to ask. We actually don't call her much in October anyway. Maybe I will ask about this at Thanksgiving.] From the extensive coverage on her site, the day took a very different turn, but they have put together a great package that gives a nice picture of Lidle and reaction from around the league.

So unfortunate.

There’s little better than a sunny afternoon in the fall, a tailgate party before the big game, lots of friends, plenty to eat and drink, nothing else to do but to while away the day….

Well, a win is better.

But we Vanderbilt fans don’t get hung up on the details. As Vanderbilt has shown fits and starts of improvement the past couple of years, we’ve ended up with more TV games. For several years in the late 90s and early 00s, it seemed like no matter how highly ranked our opponent, we were a guaranteed dark week for them on TV. Now, [and also with more TV sports channels by the millisecond] I find that almost any game is likely to be moved to an obscure time for the benefit of the almighty camera.

Thus my dilemma.

While a game time of 11:30 a.m. sounds reasonable, you have to think about the side effects: a 9 a.m. tailgate? Ugh. Someone at work said, ohhhhh right. You’ll have been out so late the night before.

People. Single mothers with two young children are never "out late the night before." Unless you’re hiring me a live-in nanny for my birthday [two weeks from yesterday, get busy!], I’m always up at 6 a.m. It’s the food issue I’m concerned with, as always.

When a tailgate starts at 9 or 9:30 in the morning, and the game begins at 11:30, the party spans those uncomfortable brunch hours. Brunch is a made-up meal. [I said it here first. Let's call it my line in the concrete. I've never liked brunch.] Our bodies do not crave brunch. Inevitably, someone at the tailgate needs breakfast and others lunch. Ain’t no way to send ‘em all to the stadium happy.

I mulled over my "brunch" recipes for four days, trying to think of something that would be really the perfect dish. I do like the one I came up with but it’s still too much on the breakfast side for me. When you know that there are already going to be lots of doughnuts and sweet rolls, you hate not to bring the lunch-y side of the plate. Ah, maybe next time.

My mom got this recipe years ago from her friend Ann Mullican. Since it’s not my own invention, I don’t mind telling you: It’s amazing. You won’t believe how good it is when you taste it. It’s also great for weekend company.

Monkey Bread
3 or 4 cans 10-count refrigerator biscuits [not the kind that separate into layers] [I always made with 3 cans before, but I found a four-pack on sale yesterday and that was fine. Also, buy the cheap ones. You can't tell the difference.]
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. butter
2/3 c. sugar
1 T. cinnamon

Heat oven to 350. Coat Bundt pan with cooking spray.

Melt brown sugar and butter over low heat. Mix sugar and cinnamon well in a gallon-sized zip-top bag.

Cut or tear each biscuit in half and place in the bag. I find it works best if you put them into the bag in batches of 10 biscuits, 20 pieces, and shake to coat, but there is no need to remove the biscuits until all are finished.

Place half the biscuits in the Bundt pan. Coat with half the butter/brown sugar mixture. Top with the other biscuits and the other half of the syrup.

Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert and serve!

You can also add nuts [pecans are great] to the brown sugar mixture. Maybe you don’t have a 7yo at your house. :)

To shout out to the Memphis Tigers, who earned their No. 1 seed in the NCCA tournament. A source of speculation ever since conference play began, this is a well-deserved reward and I hope the Tigers play up to their potential and win the whole dang thing.

While I am a Vandy grad, I was raised to cheer for both schools, with my dad a Commodore alum and my mom an MSU grad. I’m one of those cantankerous folks who still calls it "Memphis State," bless my heart. I remember the anguish in ’85 when the Tigers lost to Villanova one game away fr the national championship, back in the era of Keith Lee, William Bedford, Vincent Askew and the rest….this is all before Dana Kirk left in disgrace. Oh, and convicted of tax evasion. Oops.

But back to the hardwood….These guys have been an exceptional team with heart and soul to spare. Here’s to a run to the Final Four!