Weekend Round-Up

Remembering one of the greats

Vince Lombardi was a renowned football coach who led the Green Bay Packers to five NFL championships and two Super Bowl championships over a nine year period. Before Lombardi took over the coaching position, the Packers were a losing team, so he gained fame as a talented motivator.

Lombardi was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1913. He went on to study at Fordham University and played college football while there. After college, Lombardi coached high school and college football, until 1954 when he became a coach for the New York Giants.
When Lombardi took over as the coach for the Green Bay Packers in 1959, the team was not winning. Lombardi pushed them to work hard and persevere, and his tactics eventually paid off with their many victories. Lombardi passed away in 1970, but his dedication and his work ethic continues to define the sport of football. In 1971, the Super Bowl trophy was named in his honor.
Some little known facts about him 

1. As an NFL coach, his teams never experienced a losing stretch.
2. One of Vince Lombardi’s original dreams was to become a Catholic priest. He actually attended the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception. After Vince Lombardi graduated college, he had trouble finding a job because of the Great Depression. He struggled finding a career path or any ambition for two years. 
3. Vince Lombardi was surprisingly a late bloomer as an NFL head coach. He was a long-time assistant coach and didn’t land a head coach position until age 45 with the Packers. He was only a head coach for 10 seasons.
4. In his free time, to relax, he enjoyed cleaning out closets at home and reading cookbooks. 
5. President Richard Nixon briefly considered him as a VP candidate. This changed when Nixon learned Lombardi was a Democrat.
   
   Game Day Fever

Cook's Notes: Making dinner an easy, fast and healthy one today so as not to miss too many game plays. As always Super Bowl commercials remain a highlight for me. I must admit I cheated went online and looked at a few already. Amazon on Alexa technology is quite funny.   https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/Ad-Meter/2019/02/02/super-bowl-commercials-ad-meter/2753528002/

Salmon Goes Greek

Salmon Pita Ingredients: 

• Warmed Pita bread
• Diced tomatoes
• Slices of red onions
• Salmon, cooked, grilled or smoked, cubed 
• Diced cucumbers
• Feta cheese crumbles 
• Optional sprinkles of Greek Seasoning
  
• Tzatziki Sauce 

Tzatziki Ingredients:

• 1/2 English cucumber, peeled about 1 cup 
• 10 oz. plain Greek yogurt 
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1 TB. lemon juice
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill or 1-1/2 tsp. dried dill 
• 1 TB. freshly squeezed lemon juice 
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt, or to taste 
• 1/8 tsp. black or lemon pepper 

Tzatziki Directions:

• The cucumber should be peeled, finely diced and strained of it's juices. I squeezed it really tight by the fistful with two paper towels. Getting rid of excess juice is important so that your tzatziki sauce isn't watery the next day. 
• Combine the strained and chopped cucumber with plain Greek yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, dill, salt and pepper. 
• Mix everything together in blender pulse a few times, but not puree it. For best flavor make the sauce the day before for flavors to meld. 

If you want to cheat I won't tell as I found this product in the produce section
Tzatziki Ranch Greek Yogurt Dressing.

Pita Assembly

• Warm pita rounds
• Spread Tzatziki sauce on pita, add salmon chunks, chopped tomatoes, diced cucumbers and red onion slices. Sprinkle Greek Seasoning on top if using and top with Feta cheese crumbles. 

A suggested side: cooked asparagus with a dollop of Tzatziki sauce mixed with diced tomatoes and red onions  with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.