Fight Night Feasts – Prepping for a “Sugar” Show at UFC 252
One of the sport’s rising stars (probably the leading rising star), “Sugar” Sean O’Malley, returns to the UFC octagon this Saturday night against Marlon “Chito” Vera. This bantamweight clash is currently slated to serve as the co-main event for the August 15, UFC 252 pay-per-view.
The flamboyant 25-year-old O’Malley looks to keep his undefeated (12-0) professional mixed martial arts record in tact but he doesn’t have an easy test in from of him on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
And a fight like this is the kind that makes you thirsty…makes you hungry for me.
That is exactly how our next column being born; a segment that bases recipes and meal ideas, based on how a fighter or card is being presented.
With “Sugar” Sean O’Malley being one of the UFC’s most popular fighters on the roster, it made sense for us to launch our new “Fight Night Feasts” column with two simple recipes that are “sugar” based.
A young Sean O’Malley was given the nickname “Sugar” by one of his MMA coaches in Montana, early on in his career. When he asked the coach why this nickname was chosen, the coach responded, “Because you’re sweet to watch.”
O’Malley himself at one time followed a plant-based diet but has since introduced meats back into the cycle.
Today we will prepare two fairly simple meals that are sure to win the party over, (not that we are condoning parties without social distancing and masks). Two recipes that we think are “sweet to make.”
“Sugar” Snacks
Ingredients
1 pound of bacon
1 whole package of Cocktail sausages (14 oz.) – You can find them next to the hot dogs in your local grocery store
1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions:
Cut bacon strips in half. Roll one cocktail sausage up per each half strip of bacon. Seal with a toothpick.
When all sausages are wrapped, place in a dish and sprinkle the brown sugar to coat. Some of the sugar will fall off, roll the bacon into the extra drippings so that you get the sweetest tasting bacon you can. Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Fire up your grill to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (use foil if you don’t have parchment paper). Lay sausages on the paper and heat until bacon becomes crispy.
Note: It may appear as if the bacon is burning, but it is likely just the brown sugar caramelizing.
Serve and enjoy!
Bacon BBQ Baked Beans
Ingredients
1 pound of bacon (cut into small pieces)
1 yellow onion (diced)
1 green pepper (diced)
4 cans of pork and beans (Here is where you can experiment and use maple flavored beans if you like)
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons dry mustard
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
Directions
Place bacon in saute pan. Cook until bacon gets crispy. Do not burn; nobody likes burned bacon. It’s actually a crime.
Remove bacon and set aside. Strain fat/grease. Preserve 2 tablespoons.
Place preserved fat back into pan and add the onions and peppers. Saute for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, set aside.
Set grill to 350 degrees.
In a casserole dish, add the beans, bacon, onions and peppers. Stir.
Add all remaining ingredients. Mix good. Not a weak stir…. put some muscle into it.
Cover the dish with foil. Cook on grill for 1 hour.
Enjoy!
