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March Madness, feed the NCAA hunger
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Logo courtesy of NCAA.org
March Madness is the slapped-on-the-butt nickname given to the fan-frenzied National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments, which, when all are said and done, determine the winner of college basketball’s biggest prize.
If you’re one of those mad-about-NCAA enthusiasts contributing your fanatic obsession to the March Madness name, you’ll need some good eats to get you through those edge-of-your-seat, buzzer-beating plays:
Artichoke and spinach dip
Ingredients:
1 (14) ounce can Artichoke hearts (packed in water, drained, chopped)
1 cup Frozen chopped spinach (thawed, drained well)
16 ounces cream cheese
16 ounces White sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
10 cloves Garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon Onion powder
2 tablespoons Anchovy paste (optional)
3/4 cup Pale Ale
4 dashes Hot sauce
Salt to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Drain artichokes and chop into 1/4” pieces. Thaw spinach and squeeze the water out of the leaves until the leaves are still moist, but not dripping with water. Soften the cream cheese in the microwave for 30 seconds. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mixing with a large wooden or metal spoon until well incorporated. Do not use a hand or standing mixer. Taste for salt and hot sauce, adding more if needed. Spoon into a large ramekin or baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until the top is brown and bubbling.
Serving suggestions:
Serve as a hot dip with chunks of bread, bread sticks, pita chips, or vegetables.
Smear on slices of sour dough bread and make grilled cheese sandwiches.
Stuff into tubes of macaroni and bake with tomato sauce.
For up-to-the-minute March Madness 2009 scores and schedules, visit www.NCAA.org.
Dawn Viola is a nationally recognized artist, competitive cook and food writer. Read more of Dawn's Examiner articles, or follow her blog, Wicked Good Dinner, and onTwitter.
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