Football Bourbon Balls + Boozy Lemonade #FoodieFootballFans

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With the football season coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about Big Game parties and inevitably, the recipes you will make and bring to yours! In preparation, I’ve teamed up with my football blogger friends in one final collaboration to bring you some brilliant Big Game recipe ideas. We’ve made appetizers, entrees, desserts and even drinks. Prepare to be inspired, and be sure to check out their links below!

• Classic Potato Salad by Celebrating Family
• Chili Cheese Burritos by Love Bakes Good Cakes
• Fruit Spring Rolls with Key Lime Cheesecake Dip by Body Rebooted
• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders by Dash of Herbs
• Mediterranean Seven Layer Dip by The Culinary Compass
• Chicks in a Blanket with Apricot Sauce by Mom's Messy Miracles
• Jalapeno Pale Ale Chili by Beer Girl Cooks
• Jalapeno Popper Pull Apart Bread by The Life Jolie
• Sausage Pepperoni Pizza Dip by Feast + West
• Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls by Family Food on the Table
• Mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Balls by Honey & Birch
• Cookie Dough Cheese Ball by Bread Booze Bacon
• Hawaiian Pizza Jalapeno Poppers by Love & Flour
• Meatloaf Sliders by Foodtastic Mom
• Wonton Taco Cups by A Mind Full Mom
• Pancetta and Smoked Mozzarella Arancini by The Secret Ingredient Is
• Bean and Cheese Taco Bites by The BakerMama
• Monte Cristo Poppers by See Aimee Cook
• Chile Beer Sangria by Cake 'n Knife
• Low Carb Stuffed Crust Pizza by Sustaining the Powers
• Puff Pastry Pizza Bites by The Mexitalian
• No Churn Pistachio Baklava Ice Cream by Club Narwhal
• Roasted Jalapeno Poppers by Off the Eaten Path
• Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese by Hello Little Home
• Jalapeno Popper Chicken Wings by Around My Family Table
• Gluten Free Bread Sticks by What A Girl Eats
• Cheesy Beef Dip by Polka Dotted Blue Jay
• Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs by The Crumby Cupcake
• Greek Meatballs by Two Places at Once
• Baked Taco Empanadas by Simplify, Live, Love
• Cheese Sticks by Coffee Love Travel
• Bacon Wrapped Blue Cheese Meatballs by West via Midwest
• Puff Pastry Bacon Pizza Twists by 2 Cookin Mamas
• Skillet Chicken Queso Dip by foodbyjonister
• Spicy Sausage Rolls by Peanut Blossom
• Protein Dark Chocolate Truffles by The Creative Bite
• Chickpea Pepper Cheese Poppers by Bucket List Tummy
• Maple Cranberry Apple Sangria by Order in the Kitchen
• Meyer Lemon Shandies by The Speckled Palate
• Game Day Fried Deviled Eggs with Chow Chow Relish by For the Love of Food
• Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls by Simple and Savory
• Pastrami Nachos by A Little Gathering
• Shrimp Ceviche Dip by Glisten and Grace
• Football Bourbon Balls + Boozy Lemonade by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Apple Cider Mimosas With A Sparkly Sugar Rim by And She Cooks
• Easy Pepperoni Rolls by Me and My Pink Mixer
• Real Boneless Chicken Wings by Macheesmo
• Califlower Tater Tots by Living Well Kitchen
• Cheeseburger Naan Pizza by Shaws Simple Swaps
• Red Velvet Ginger Rum Balls by Cafe Terra
• Crab Rangoon by Brunch-n-Bites
• Sweet n' Spicy BBQ Popcorn by Life's Ambrosia
• Buffalo Chicken Rolls by Loves Food, Loves to Eat
• Crowd Pleasing Steak Fajita Dip by Lizzy is Dizzy
• Sriracha Hummus Pinwheel Sandwiches by Casa de Crews
• Simlple Meatball Sub Sliders by Loaves & Dishes
• Maple-Mustard Bacon Chicken Bites by An Oregon Cottage
• Soft Pretzels with Beer Cheese & Honey Mustard Dipping Sauces by A Simpler Grace
• Ricotta Stuffed Sausage Meatballs by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen

Football Bourbon Balls

I was initially going to make truffles. Then I had some rum balls at Christmas that I wanted to try to replicate. Then I thought: I can make them in the shape of footballs! I didn't go so far as to make royal icing and paint on the football laces, but I think they look like footballs. Fancy, delicious footballs. These are gluten-free for my Love, but you can use whatever kind of cookies you want!

And, if you follow my blog regularly, you probably know I'm on a Whole30 Adventure right now - that means no alcohol, no grains, and no sugar. So, no, I didn't get to try these. But I had very happy taste-testers who told me they were delicious.

Ingredients makes approximately 2 dozen

• 1 C cookie crumbs (I used gluten-free chocolate chip cookies)
• 1 C ground almonds
• 1 C organic powdered sugar
• 1 t ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t ground ginger
• 1/4 t espresso powder
• 1/4 t ground nutmeg
• 1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 C bourbon
• 1 T maple syrup
• 1 T melted butter
• 2 C chocolate chips (we prefer extra dark chocolate)
• fleur de sel or other flake salt for sprinkling

Procedure

I created cookie crumbs in my food processor and measured out 1 C. In a bowl, whisk together ground cookies, ground almonds, powdered sugar, spices, espresso powder, and cocoa powder until well combined.

Stir in bourbon, maple syrup, and melted butter. Form into football shapes and place on a plate. Chill for an hour.

Melt chocolate chips over low heat on the top of a double boiler.

Stir until smooth. Remove from heat.

Using a toothpick, dip each football in melted chocolate.

Shake off the excess, place dipped football back on plate. Using another toothpick to cover the hole with a bit more chocolate. Sprinkle with sea salt.

Let chocolate set, approximately 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature. Serve immediately or store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to one week.

Boozy Lemonade

Ingredients

• 5 to 6 organic lemons + 1 more for garnishing
• 2 C water
• 1 C organic granulated sugar
• 1 C booze of your choosing (I used bourbon)
• ice and water

Procedure
Make a simple syrup by combining 1 C water and 1 C sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Swirl pan until sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside and let cool.

Juice the lemons, except for the one you're using to garnish. Set aside. Thinly slice the garnish lemon.

In your serving pitcher, pour in the simple syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and bourbon. Add in ice and fill the pitcher with water. Stir well to combine. To serve, pour lemonade into individual glasses. Float lemon slices in each glass.