The NFL playoffs are here - time for snacks!

Jan. 3, 2010

Another NFL regular season is in the record books, meaning the playoffs - and lots of tasty snacks - can't be that far off.

As Punditty Project personnel discovered that the Punditty Pantry was fresh out of bread and bagels over the weekend, panic nearly set in. The Punster of Dit was craving a bagel with cream cheese and turkey bacon (sorry you bacon purists, I just like the taste of turkey bacon better) when he recieved word of the supply shortage.

Fearlessly, he stormed into the kitchen to look for supplies, finding a box of crackers that had been hidden behind a box of cereal.

"This will have to do," he said, "no time to get to the store before the second half of the Chiefs-Broncos game kicks off."

With a sense of adventure unseen since the days of The Galloping Gourmet, Punditty's servants began cooking. And what a fine snack it was!

In fact, ole Punditty may not even wait for the playoffs to make more. Yummy!

So whether you are a fan of the Jets, Bengals, Ravens, Patriots, Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, Cardinals, Colts, Chargers, Saints or Vikings (or even the Chiefs, like Punditty), the following recipe will be a nice change from the overpriced pizzas that arrive cold and soggy because the delivery driver dropped the box in the snow on his way to your front door.

You will need:

1 package of bacon (turkey or pork)

1 box of Triscuit crackers (I prefer cracked pepper and olive oil; you may have another favorite)

1 container of Kraft Cream Cheese

1 red onion (optional)

Fry bacon in cast-iron skillet (or use your preferred method).

As bacon is frying, arrange crackers on plates and spread a layer of cream cheese on them. Slice onions as time permits.

When bacon is done, put it on paper towels to soak up the grease.

Place sliced onions in skillet to soften as you break the bacon into pieces that fit easily onto crackers.

When you have all the crackers covered with cream cheese and bacon, use tongs to place onion slices atop each cracker.

Bring plates to hungry football fans, eat.

Serves at least four people, maybe more if there is other food around to nibble on.

Total cost: Less than $12.

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