Back in the day, (you know, college days), there were really only two things to worry about when Ole Miss played at home.
Funnily enough, neither one had anything to do with whether or not the Rebels won.
They were: what to wear and who to go with. I can remember my freshman year roommate (and one of my oldest and dearest friends) coming in one night about two a.m., waking me up and modeling every outfit in her closet for me so we could decide which one she should wear to the game because a very cute young man she’d met at a swap that night had asked her to be his game day date. After about the twenty-fifth outfit (don’t ask me how she ever fit all of those clothes in that tiny closet in Stockard-Martin), I said, “I thought you were going with so-and-so.” To which she replied, “That’s this weekend.” So I asked, “Well, what game is this outfit for?”
“Homecoming.”
I just rolled over and went back to sleep. After all, homecoming was still a month and a half away.
Now that I’ve matured (cough), I only worry about these two things when we’re headed to Oxford for a game: What to take to the Grove and what my children wear. I’m so much less superficial now, can you tell?
Seriously…one of my wedding gifts from my all-star Groving aunts was a dish that was designed to keep things cool, and it came with a note that more than implied the dish was for serving my game-day contributions now that I was all grown up.
The problem is that I never know what to take, and to be honest, one reason for that is because our Grove table is always filled with gourmet offerings from these really amazing aunts.
So when we decided on a bit of a whim to head to Oxford last week, I was faced with the problem of finding something to make and take without going to the grocery store first. Here’s what I came up with:
CHEESE STRAWS.
There are very few things more Southern, and let’s face it: practically everybody likes them. And, the cool thing is that they’re really not that hard to make. It’s just our generation that’s convinced they only come from Primos.
As I searched for a recipe, I realized they’re almost all the same so I suggest you just pick one and go for it. Here’s one from Paula Deen. I haven’t tried it, but the ingredients are almost identical to the one I used, which came from Tale-Gating with Rebel Greats by Debbie Dottley Brummitt. (Rebel Fans, you must get this book…the recipes and the history are wonderful!)
A note about cookie presses: This was the most frustrating part of making the cheese straws for me because, to be honest, I do not like my cookie press. There are easier ones to use, and one day, I’m going to get one of them. If you don’t have a cookie press, roll the dough out and cut it into strips. Using a serrated knife will give the straws a pretty edge.
Oh, and as for what my children wear to the games? I’m relaxing on that as my daughter reaches a more independent dressing stage. I did, however, insist she wear a bow. Some battles just have to be fought.