I agree with Jen. The jersey thing is no different than spending money on anything else one enjoys. The only jersey I would probably buy is a baseball jersey because it's the only sport one can actually afford to go to around here. Can't get tickets to a Giants game and even if I could, no way could I afford it. Rangers and Knicks are almost the same. Can get tickets but they are crazy expensive. We do try to go to a baseball game or two each season. Baseball is our favorite, DS plays serious competitive youth baseball, and it's relatively affordable. We even travel to Baltimore at least once to go to an Orioles game. I do buy DS jerseys, but I buy them at Marshalls or places like that and they are not crazy expensive. I love when I leave my office in midtown Manhattan on a night when the NY Rangers are at the Garden. It's amazing how many people I see walking towards the Garden wearing Ranger jerseys. Not sure why, but don't see Knick jerseys when they are playing. And basketball is way more popular than hockey. I went to a college that has football team (Rutgers Univ). I went to all the games when I was in college. And I still live within 20 minutes of my college. And I'm a huge sports fan. But, I just cannot get into college football and never could once I left college. I'm not sure why. Maybe because we have so many pro teams in this area. Or maybe because the players change so often (only there for 4 years max) I don't feel the connection. I did recently go to a Princeton Univ hockey game for the 1st time. My DS has been asking to go to a hockey game for years. Can't afford Ranger tickets. Well, I could afford the seats way up, but I've sat there for Ranger games and there's no way I would take a kid there. It's crazy! Anyway, it was AWESOME. Will definitely be doing that again very soon.

Thank you for the follow-up, Becky. Still, I'm inspired to come up w/ a roasted chicken pasta bake since you mentioned the dish up thread. I've come up w/ a pasta & veggies bake that the family loves and I'm thinking that I can incorporate chicken (maybe chkn tenders) to move it from just a side dish to being an entree. I've been lightly steaming broccoli & carrots and mixing the veggies w/ cooked rotini. Pasta & veggies go into a glass baking dish & gets drizzled w/ olive oil & seasoned w/ grated romano, fresh garlic & liberally doused w/ that no salt seasoning (house brand stuff from Big Lots, of all places!) Pop into the oven for 30 minutes or so. Maybe I could lightly saute some breast tenders and top the pasta dish w/ the tenders & finish in the oven? I doubt I would have thought to expand on the dish w/o your having mentioned the recipe you were going to try. Ci

I sure am missing our annual Superbowl down at my sister's house, but her DH has to have surgery (heart valve replacement) soon so, understandably, she wasn't up for it. But DHarry and I are having SB food anyway. We're having wings with celery and blue cheese ranch dressing, loaded potato skins, bacon-wrapped water chestnuts and a sausage, cream cheese and Rotel tomato dip with tortilla chips. So very not good for us! Maybe I'll put out some broccoli to dip in the dressing and sausage dip to allieve my guilty conscience. GO COLTS!!

My hubby and I don't watch the game, he does love the commercials though, my 23 year old daughter and her 3 roommates are hosting a pot luck super bowl party for at least 30 people. She called me yesterday to ask for the recipes for the following. All to be their food offerings for the day and evening. She no doupt will be tripling or more the recipes for their party. Orange and sweet potato stew (from woman's world magazine) chinese chicken wings (from boston globe) Kraft chicken wings Mom's banana bread Pound cake (printed in Ann lander's many years ago) Hershey's deep dish brownies Mom's floating Island punch (from betty crocker) ORANGE AND SWEET POTATO BEEF STEW SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS 1 orange 1 1/2 pounds beff stew meat cut into 2 inch cubes 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon oil 1 onion chopped 2 tablespoons curry powder 1 can (14 1/2 oz) low sodium beef broth 1 cup chopped pitted prunes 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch cubes 1 cup frozen peas, thawed 1/2 cup chopped cilantro or parsley using a vegetable peeler, remove zest, withoug white pith, from all over orange. Halve orange and reserve juice. Coat beef with flour. In large pot, heat oil over mediium heat. Add beer; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 3-5 minutes. Add onion, and curry. Cook until onion is softened, 2-3 minutes. Stir in broth, prunes, and reserved zest in strips and juice. Bring to a boil; cover and cook over medium heat stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Add potates; cook until meat and potatoes are tender, 45-60 minutes. Stir in peas and cilantro or parsely. Remove zest and serve. My changes. I added several peeled russet potates with the sweet potatoes. Also added fresh green beans and sliced white mushrooms about half way through the cooking time for the potates and only used 1/2 teaspoon of curry. I also thinned the thick sauce with added orange juice. CHINESE CHICKEN WINGS ALSO CALLED SILVER SPOON WINGS MAKES HORS D'OEVRES FOR 6-8 PEOPLE. INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup pineappe juice 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2-3 pounds chicken wings, cut at the joints, tips discarded. Combine sugar, water, soy sauce, ginger and garlic powder. Stir until sugar is disolved and set aside. Place chicken wings in large ziploc bag. Pour in marinade and seal. Marinate wings at least one full day, 2 days is even better, turning bag several times to mix. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lift wings from marinade and place on cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 40 minutes or until tender, basting twice with remaining marinade. Can be eaten hot or cold. KRAFT MARINATED CHICKEN WINGS MAKES 36 APPETIZERS INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 dozen chicken wings disjointed 1 8 ounce bottle kraft catalina salad dressing 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce 2 teaspoons minced ginger Mix marinate and set aside. put chicken wings in ziploc bag. Pour marinade in and seal. marinate wings several hours or over night. Place wings on broiler pan and broil 15-20 minutes, brushing with marinade once. Turn wings once during cooking. Serve with horseraddich sauce. Both wing recipes can be made the day before and reheated in a microwave or oven. Stew is easy to make the day of MOM'S BANANA BREAD MAKES 1 LOAF. BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS EXACTLY OR THE BREAD WILL NOT COME OUT LIGHT AND AIRY, MORE LIKE A CAKE. INGREDIENTS 2 CUPS FLOUR 1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA 2 MEDIUM BANANAS MASHED 1/2 CUP UNSALTED MARGARINE SOFTENED 1 CUP SUGAR 2 EGGS 1/4 TEASPOON VANILLA 1/4 CUP WATER OPTIONAL TO ADD 1/2 CUP FINELY CUT UP DATES 1/2 CUP FINELY CHOPPED WALNUTS Preheat oven to 350 degrees In large bowl, cream margarine and sugar. beat in eggs one at a time until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla and mashed bananas. Add flour, baking soda and mix just till blended. Add water and mix till blended. Stir in dates and/or walnuts if using. Turn into a loaf pan greased or sprayed with pam and bake 65-70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean in center. Cool about 10 minutes, then remove from pan. Tastes wonderful when still warm PPUND CAKE FROM ANN LANDERS MAKES 2 LOAVES PREHEAT OVEN TO 275 DEGREES BAKE ABOUT 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES BE SURE TO USE AND EXTREMELY LARGE MIXING BOWL INGREDIENTS 3 sticks unsalted margarine or butter 3 cups sugar 5 large eggs 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract or l teaspoon grated lemon rind 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 7/8 cup gingerale, or lemon-lime soda Cream margarin until light. Cream in sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in 1 up flour and extracts and a little gingerale. Continue adding flour and gengerale until all ingredients are used. Pour into 2 greased and floured or sprayed with pam, loaf pans. Bake 1 hour and 45 minutes until toothpick stuck in center comes out dry and sides shrink from pan. Let cool in pan. This was always my kids favorite and would prefer this pound cake to a birthday cake every year. HERSHEY'S DEEP DISH BROWNIES FROM THE HERSHEY'S KITCHEN Preheat oven to 350 degrees INGREDIENTS 3/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 3 eggs 3/4 cup unsifted all-purpose flour 1/2 cup Hershey's cocoa 1/2 teaspoon baking powder blend melted butter or margarine, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add eggs. beat well with spoon. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder; gradually add to egg mixture until well blended. Spread in grease or sprayed with cooking spray, 8 inch square pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Cool and cut into squares. Tastes really good when served still a little warm MARDI GRAS PUNCH MAKES 14 SERVINGS, ABOUT 1 CUP EACH INGREDIENTS 1 6 ounce can frozen orange juice thawed 1 6 ounce can frozen lemonade thawed 1 quart apple juice 2 quarts or 1 2 liter bottle gingerale raspberry sherbet orange sherbet lime sherbet lemon sherbet in lage punch bowl, stir together concentrates and apple juice. Stir in giner ale; scoop balls of sherbet into punch. You can also add ice cubes to keep cold. My changes. I freeze fruit, such as blueberries, pieces of strawberries and grapes in with ice cubes. Then add to the punch with the sherbet. As the sherbet starts to melt in leaves a foam on the top of the punch which adds to the taste. Hope you try some or all of these. They are all easy to double, triple etc for a large crowd