GO GATORS!

Today is not only my sister's birthday, but a HUGE game in the world of Tailgating!  So on this Game Day Saturday, I'm doing TWO posts!

The excitement is so thick, here in Central Florida that you could cut it with a knife!  Today is THE GAME OF THE SEASON for our Gators when we play the Georgia Bullodogs.   The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party and one of the biggest rivarly games in SEC football starts today at 3:30 at Ever Bank Field in neutral Jacksonville, Florida (where it has been played since 1933).  . The Florida-Georgia game is notorious for throwing a huge tailgate and party. These two teams have been meeting since 1914!  So this is biggest weekend in college football!

The team mascot fir the University of Georgia is Uga, an English Bulldog.  Since 1956, all the dogs serving as Uga have been part of a lineage of English Bulldogs owned by Sunny Seller.  The official mascot now is Uga IX. 

 

Uga

Mascots for the University of Florida are Albert E. Gator and Alberta Gator.  Albert and Alberta are costumed, plush representations of American alligators, which are commonly found throughout Florida.  Our original mascot was Albert, a live alligator who appeared at each of the games.  But in 1970, the plush version took over, joined by Alberta in 1984.  Albert appears solo at the school’s basketball and baseball games.  Alberta is there to cheer on the women’s basketball and gymnastics teams.   In 2007, Albert was named as the #1 mascot in college sports history by Sports Illustrated magazine. 

Albert & Alberta

 Georgia is a strong competitive team and our biggest rival.  But we’re hoping to do well today, proving to all that up against Florida, the bulldogs are nothing but Gator bait!

Here in Florida, it's hard to not find a Gators Fan or a Tailgate Party, even if you don't have tickets to the game!  This is one of my favorite things to take to a Tailgate Party.  Whether at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (The Swamp) or with friends in my living room in from of the TV, this dip is Gator Magic!

SWAMP DIP


2 lbs. ground turkey
1 packet taco seasoning mix
6 to 8 oz French Onion Dip
8 oz sour cream
2 cans refried beans
2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
2 c. shredded Mozarella cheese
Sliced green onion tops
Tostitos restaurat-style tortilla chips

Brown ground turkey; drain well.  Stir in the taco seasoning mix.

Mix together French onion dip and sour cream.

In a baking dish, layer (in order given)

Refried beans
Seasoned turkey
Sour cream mixture
Cheeses
Sliced green onion tops

Bake at 3350-degrees until ceese melts (about 10 to 15 minutes) and dip is heated through.  Serve with Tostitos Restaurant-Style White Corn Tortilla Chips.