NFL London Gameday Eats

If there is one thing we know about our brothers and sisters across the pond, it’s that they know how to have a good time on game day. Whether it’s a Saturday Man U vs. Man City Derby or the Americans coming over and bringing our version of football with us, these folks know how to get down. Here are some traditional English recipes to help you get your Sunday started off on the right foot, but with a little bit of an English twist! 

Cocktails

A Bloody Good Bloody Mary:

• 2 oz. gin
• Just a splash of Worcestershire sauce
• A few drops of tobacco (to taste)
• Juice of 1/2 of a lemon
• Tomato Juice
• Celery for garnish

1. Combine gin, Worcestershire, Tabasco, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well. 
2. Pour into a glass with ice and top with tomato juice. 
3. Garnish with celery stalk and stir. 

A Cup of Tea:

• 5 oz. cold Earl Grey tea
• 1 1/2 oz gin
• 1 1/2 oz honey syrup
• Juice of 1/2 of a lemon

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Shake well. 
2. Pour cocktail over ice into a tumbler or highball glass for best taste. 

The Black Velvet:

• Champagne or Prosecco
• Guinness

1. Fill champagne flute halfway with Guinness. 
2. Top with champagne or Prosecco. 

The Traditional English Breakfast Cocktail:

• 1 oz Dry Gin
• 1 oz Elderflower Liqueur
• 2/3 oz of cold Black Tea
• 1/3 oz lemon juice 
• 1/2 oz chilled water 
• Orange for garnish

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. 
2. Garnish with orange zest or twist. 

Lil Bites

Boozy Bacon Cheddar Bites:

• Preheat oven to 425 F 
• Cut bacon into matchsticks
• Add pieces to a pan on medium heat
• In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, and beer. Stir together. 
• Add in cooked bacon pieces and cheddar cheese. 
• Get a baking sheet and line with parchment paper (for easy cleanup later)
• Separate a package of English muffins and lay them out on the pan
• Add a large scoop of the above cheese mixture to each muffin half and spread to the edge. 
• Place pan with muffin halves in the over and bake for 6-8 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble. 
• Once cooked, cut muffins into quarters and serve hot! 

Angels on Horseback:

• Grill (and skewer, if desired) bacon-wrapped oysters
• Drizzle with fresh lemon juice
• Serve on toast with Hollandaise sauce for a traditional English appetizer!

Devils on Horseback:

• This one mimics the previous Angels on Horseback, but with the oysters subbed out for prunes (or dates), for you health minded folks! (But it’s still wrapped in bacon so deal with it, lol)
• You can glaze the bacon wrapped treats with a maple-sriracha sauce for an added kick. 
• Often served with bleu cheese as a dipping sauce 
• This one, in my experience, pairs particularly well with The Black Velvet cocktail above! 

Figs with Bacon and Chile:

• 5 oz. slab bacon
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 8 ripe figs, halved
• 2 tbsp sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, finely chopped

1. Cook bacon pieces until brown and crisp
2. Pour off all fat from bacon, save 2 tbsp of this fat in the pan. 
3. Add maple syrup to hot skillet from bacon cooking. Swirl to combine with fat. Arrange figs on skillet in single layer. Cook, swirling occasionally, until figs are softened slightly and caramelized. 
4. Arrange figs on serving platter, cut side up, and press pieces of bacon onto the surface of each fig. 
5. Set skillet over medium heat, add vinegar and stir into juices remaining in pan from previous cooking. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, for 1 minute or until syrupy. Drizzle syrup over figs and sprinkle with red pepper flakes.