Today is Superbowl Sunday 2021. In days past, it was an opportunity for friends and families to have a get together for food, drink, and socialization.
This year, things are on the low down because of COVID restrictions
and protests across our land with people taking a knee when the National
Anthem is sung. In fact, many followers of professional sports have
now turned off their televisions, quit supporting the athletes, and could care
less if the tv is on or not at the same time, many people still enjoy the
events, place their bets, have family, and friend get-togethers, and partake in
good food and drink.
Today's post isn't about my views one way or the other where sports and people are concerned. I am married to a person who breathes sports, all of them. In fact, it sounds like he is watching basketball now as I write my post! He has his own opinions and we just leave it at that. Since COVID hit, we don't watch many sports like we did in the past. Some just don't interest us anymore and that's okay with me (giggling out loud).
Nonetheless, we are going to have my youngest daughter and her small family (husband and their soon-to-be one-year-old) over to watch the BIG game. It's not a rare event that they come over as they frequent our house regularly. We partake in meals with one another and play family games. Today will be no different.
The only difference is, we aren't doing the traditional Superbowl party type foods. For Christmas, we had an Italian themed meal. I made two Lasagnas from scratch.
One we ate the day of, and the other I put in the freezer.
Today, we are going to break that extra one out and pop it in the oven for
the big game. We will add a Caesar Salad, Calamari,
Jalapeno Poppers, French Bread, and Bagna to our spread.
How many of you have ever eaten Bagna? I hadn't until I married my current husband in 2000. Later this month, we will be celebrating 21 years.
When he would tell me about Bagna, he would say, "people will know we have eaten Bagna because it will come out of your pores for days". I asked why and his reply was, "the amount of garlic and anchovies used". I don't have a problem with the garlic at all. I love garlic. I cook with it regularly. The anchovies I had to get used to and even now - - still takes me back a bit...but they dissolve and it's ok.
When we take a trip up to Illinois where my husband is from, there is always a family party in his honor. They celebrate his return even if it's for a few days. It's a given there will always be a crockpot or two of Bagna. Alongside of the crockpots are loaves of bread, French bread, and assorted vegetables. That's what people use when they are eating Bagna.
It isn't a thick consistency. It is more of a liquid and I normally just dip my bread in it. I suppose if you wanted to make it thicker, you could. But I mostly just follow the recipe without deviation.
My daughter and her family were over a few days earlier this last week. I made a batch of Bagna. (it freezes well too, so any that's left can always be kept in the freezer for a few months). As I was working on gathering the items needed to begin the long-drawn-out process of cooking the Bagna, my daughter walked into the kitchen.
This dip needs to be cooked slow and steady for a few hours.
The longer it is cooked, the better it is...stir, stir, stir. Have the heat
turned down and stir, stir, stir. Low and slow...
I was in the process of peeling heads of garlic...you can see them in the photo. I have used jarred garlic before, but it isn't the same. I prefer the real thing!
I grabbed my cast iron skillet and began melting the butter on low heat.
Once the garlic and the butter were completely dissolved
together, it begins to stick to the sides and the bottom. (Be sure to scrape the bottom and the
sides throughout the process). Sir, stir, stir...low and slow. One must have
the patience to make Bagna.
The garlic is dissolved, now we will add the anchovies. (sometimes, I will substitute them with sardines). My daughter isn't keen on either one...so I don't use as many as I normally would. Stir them into the butter and garlic mixture until they also dissolve. Slow and steady, continually scraping the sides, the bottom, and the sides again. Slow and steady...patience.
Once the anchovies were dissolved, we added Half and
Half and the heavy cream. Stirring, stirring, stirring, scrape, scrape, scrape. Don't
slosh!!!
We, or should I say, SHE stirred the Bagna while cooking it
for about 2 hours or so. She would make these comments that she didn't see the
need to cook this that long and why does it need to be on low? I stressed to
her again, the longer it cooks, the better it is...low and slow.
She continued to stir...and she stirred...and she stirred. It's finally finished, we cut up a loaf of French bread and dove in. YUM, YUM, YUM!!! (the rest went into the freezer for Superbowl Sunday). I guess I better go take it out of the freezer. I'll throw it in the crockpot this afternoon.
BAGNA RECIPE
3 sticks of butter
1 pound of chopped garlic
(about 6 heads - use every clove)
3 cans of Anchovies
(can substitute Sardines)
1 pt. Whipping Cream
1 pt. Half and Half
In a cast-iron skillet, melt the butter one stick at a time on medium to low until all three sticks are melted.
Add the chopped garlic. Stir constantly, scraping the bottom and the sides until all the garlic has dissolved into the butter. (The garlic will begin to stick). At this time, you can add more butter if needed.
Add the Anchovies/Sardines, stirring until they dissolve. Still on low-medium heat...scraping the sides and the bottom.
Next, stir in the Half and Half and the Whipping Cream. Stirring constantly and slowly. Scraping, the sides and the bottom. A crust will begin to make. When this happens, you know your Bagna is done.
Serve Bagna with toasted French bread, loaves of white bread, celery, cabbage, broccoli, and other vegetables you like.
If you are having a party such as Superbowl or anything else, you can make this on top of the stove, then transfer it to a crockpot to keep it warm. Turn it on the low or warm setting, stirring it from time to time.
Eat and enjoy...what's left can be
thrown in a bowl and frozen until a later time.
Facebook: H2hsc2020
Twitter: H2hsc2020
Instagram: Heart to Heart Soul Creations
Pinterest: Heart to Heart Soul Creations (H2hsc2020)
