College Colors Day: Alexia Wears Murray State's Navy and Gold!
For Alexia, cheering for Murray State is a family affair!
This College Colors Day guest post comes from my sorority sister Alexia Schempp Couch, a Murray native and Transylvania alumna. Alexia, a middle school science teacher, lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. -- HCW
Confession time: I haven’t lived in Murray, KY in over 20 years. However, I still get excited any time I see something blue and gold, hear my Racers mentioned in a sports article or see my friends' Facebook pictures of their family dressed for a Murray State Racer football or basketball game!
My obsession with the Racers has always been there. My dad was a theatre professor at Murray State for over 30 years, it is my mom’s alma mater, and my grandfather was on their basketball team in the 1930’s when they still played in Lovett Auditorium. I have been going to games as long as I can remember. At the football games I loved the atmosphere almost as much as the game.: the 101st Airborne division paratrooping the game ball to the 50 yard line, the Racer band would perform the amazing halftime shows and saying hi to the announcer (“Hi, Pete”) , the announcer saying hi back to them over the loudspeaker (“Hi Racer Band!”), and my favorite tradition of a horse running a victory lap around the track surrounding the football field when the team scored a touchdown.
In the winter basketball season was in full swing. We would go to at least one game a week. When I lived in Murray the games were still played at Racer Arena. It was small, it got hot, it got extremely LOUD, and it was GREAT! It only held 5500 people, but for big games closer to 6000 fans packed in. Because it was so intimate you could see the players, get into the game and sing along with the Pep Band. The sea of blue and gold was crazy and usually intimidated the visiting team. I remember one game, close to the end of a season, where us winning meant we clenched the regular season championship. As the clock ticked down the entire arena was chanting and making the hand motions for “O-V-C” (Ohio Valley Conference). I remember cheering for Martin and Mann in the 80’s and Popeye Jones in the 90’s.
Since moving out of the state I do not get to see my Racers play live. However, that has not stopped me from being a huge fan. I have been known to stream the game on my phone connected to an HDMI cable to the television to watch it. I have even Facetimed my parents (who have also moved from Murray) to show them the game when I could get it through my cable company and they could not. I’ll find the game being broadcasted on the local Murray radio station online and listen to it. I get excited to hear the basketball announcer, Neil Bradley, say “One minute, one minute left in the game.”) My Maryland-born children cheer for the Racers, loved Isaiah Cannan and Ed (the hair) Daniels, and watched them win the CollegeInsider.com Tournament with me this year. They have not been to a MSU basketball game since 2009, but constantly ask when we can go back to see them play.
Where I live now people tend to cheer for professional teams. However, I’m an NCAA girl through and through! During THE tournament I put my Murray State sign up on my door (along with another sign, because I am from Kentucky!) Murray State is my favorite team to cheer for and I can’t wait for this season to begin! I’ll be watching with my Blue & Gold pompom and my Racer shirt waiting to see if Cameron Payne can lead the Racers back to the NCAA tournament and hopefully past that second round to the Sweet 16. GO RACERS!
College Colors Day
Today is College Colors Day, the nationwide celebration of College Football. Join us today as we hear from Kentucky women who proudly wear their team colors.
A few of our favorite companies have some special deals for you as you stock up on your favorite colors. Check out the latest gear from Fanatics.com and save $5 when you purchase two collegiate Tervis Tumbler designs.
We'd love to hear from y'all: What college colors are you wearing today?
National Bacon Day
National Bacon Day!
National Bacon Day is Saturday, August 30! Just giving you a heads up in case you need to run to the grocery store and get some bacon to celebrate properly (using one of my delicious recipes below of course!).
Bacon is so versatile! Many of the recipes below use it to add another flavor and depth to the dish. Or it's the star of the meal like the BLT or wrapping a whole chicken in bacon.
Like I (or anyone else) really need an excuse for eating bacon, but the above are my favorite recipes with bacon! How do you like to eat your bacon? The Hubby says that I like it 'burned', but I actually like it crispy (floppy bacon--not my favorite!) not burned.
Jennifer is the chef behind a girl eats world. Head over for more recipes!
Salmon BLTs
Salmon BLTs made with Kentucky proud vegetables and bread from Blue Dog Bakery.
Salmon BLTs have become the go-to meal at my house this summer. They present such a rich flavor profile -- bold, buttery salmon, salty bacon, sweet tomatoes, and fresh lettuce -- that they work equally well for brunch or dinner. They pair well with a refreshing glass of sparkling water or a nice Riesling or even your morning cup of coffee!
I made them Kentucky Proud by adding tomatoes from my garden and thick, crusty bread from Blue Dog Bakery.
Salmon BLTs
- 10-12 slices center-cut bacon
- 4 salmon filets
- 1 large or 2 small tomatoes, sliced
- 1 head Bibb or Butter lettuce
- 1 loaf bread
- lemons, scallions, and chives for garnish
- mayonnaise or aioli if desired
- Cut bacon strips in half and arrange in large cast iron skillet. Place in 375 degree pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes or until desired crispness. Set bacon in paper towel-lined plate and reserve grease.
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of bacon grease to non-stick skillet and place burner on high heat. When oil is heated, add salmon filets. Sear each side, then allow to cook through. (About 8-10 minutes total cooking time.)
- Slice bread and lightly toast.
- Serve as open-faced sandwiches
My Friday Night Lights
My "glory days" as a high school cheerleader taught me a lot about football -- and life.
Like any high school girl, I was thrilled when I made the varsity cheerleading squad. Except for one small problem...
I'd have to learn about football.
Now that was, shall we say, a bit of a problem. I'd basically grown up in a gym. My granddaddy and my daddy had been basketball coaches. I cheered at basketball games all through grade school. We were Kentucky Wildcats fans, for heaven's sake. It was the early years of the Pitino era and poor Mr. Curry... Well, he was a nice man, they say. All of that didn't add up to much knowledge of, as my daddy would say, "those balls that don't bounce."
Over three years of cheering for the football team, I didn't learn much more than when to say the "First and Ten" cheer and when our team had scored. But, you know, I did make a lot of friends that I wouldn't have made otherwise. And it sure does build a team when you stand on the sidelines in the pouring rain or the blistering heat.
It would be many years before I learned much at all about football. Once I settled down with a beau for whom the sport was way more than a passing interest, I started to pay attention. Bob likes to say that he was just aiming for me to stop talking during important plays; he had no idea I'd become a devotee of the Nick Saban Process who never misses an episode of the Paul Finebaum Show. But, a couple of years ago, I was home visiting my parents and decided to go for a run on the track that surrounds my high school football field. As I went past the home bleachers, I realized how many special memories that field held.
Recently, my high school alma mater was devastated by the unexpected and tragic passing of a member of the football team. A rising Junior, Trey was the son of one of the football players for whom I cheered so many years ago -- one of those friends whom I got to know as I struggled to learn what a "down" was. I can't imagine what it must be like at the high school today as they prep for their first football game of the season while dealing with such an unimaginable loss.
In small towns all across America, the local high school sports teams are a social hub and a point of pride. That's why the brilliant TV show Friday Night Lights rang so true -- we all knew a die-hard lady like Matt's grandma and a super-fan like old Buddy Garrity, and hopefully even had a coach as inspiring as Coach Taylor. Tonight, even though I'm hours away from my hometown, I'll be thinking of my own Friday Night Lights days, and saying a little prayer for Trey's family and friends. And, of course, I'll still be cheering for my Rebels.
Frankfort High School
All these years later, I still love my high school!
My husband says I'm crazy because I love my high school alma mater. It's one of those things he just doesn't get about me.
I'm proud to be a Frankfort Panther. I'm a member of "the long blue line" that also includes such notables as*:
-Mr. Elmer T. Lee, a 1936 graduate who would go on to become a Master Distiller and develop Blanton's, the 1st ever single barrel bourbon
-Marion Longmire, a 1929 graduate who invented and patented the power strip
-Glen Johnson, a 1954 graduate who was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal for his work in the field of human rights
-John Moynihan, a 1982 graduate and top bloodstock agent who recognized the talent of (and purchased) horses such as Charismatic, Curlin and Rachel Alexander
-Bob Custer, a 1917 graduate who moved to Hollywood and became a silent film cowboy star, appearing in over 50 films
-George C. Wolfe, a 1972 graduate and Tony award winning playwright
-Dudley Malone Watson, the 1936 graduate of Mayo-Underwood High School (which was in the same district and later merged with FHS) was a Tuskegee Airman and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Dear old FHS has been in the heart of Frankfort for 125 years and was recently named 12th on the US News and World Report rankings. It's long been the community school - where students living in the district are all within easy walking distance. Tradition has always been a big part of the Frankfort High culture. I remember our principal reading to us from a 1920s-era student newspaper regarding sportsmanship and school spirit. As students, we always felt a duty to uphold those traditions and enjoy them (like Senior Clap In on the first day of school and Senior Clap Out on the last day).
This year, a former teacher and her husband (an alum) are opening a "Traditions Center" where memorabilia of the past 125 years can mingle with afterschool tutoring programs for current students. News of this endeavor has been met with excitement and much reminiscing on the Center's Facebook page. I'm happy to be a small part of it, as it will be housed in my old house, just two doors away from the high school!
Yes, I can see my husband's point - it's a bit silly of me to get wrapped up in how my high school football team is doing when I have no children or even relatives in the school district, but at least I'm not still chanting all the cheers (out loud, anyway!).Once you're a part of that long blue line, you're always a part of it.
*Thanks to the Frankfort High Traditions Center's Facebook page for providing some of the trivia regarding alumni.
Smoked Salmon Goat Cheese Scramble
Celebrate National Goat Cheese Month with Kentucky Proud Bluegrass Chèvre!
When I found out that August was National Goat Cheese month, my first reaction was "I hate goat cheese!" But then I stopped myself. I remember the last time I had it (4-6 years ago, I didn't like it), and I knew it was time to try it again. Your taste buds change every 5-7 years, and as you get older, the more bitter foods you like.
I knew that there was a goat cheese stand, Bleugrass Chevre, at the Farmer's Market with free samples so I gave it another try. I liked it surprisingly; I liked it enough to buy it. I even found a recipe that looked delicious with goat cheese in it. I even have some left over for another recipe. My motto always has been and will be--try new foods!!!
As I sit here eating this (literally), I'm loving how the strong salmon and goat cheese flavor compliment each other. I'll also divulge that I ate every. bit. of. this. Yes--all two servings!
Smoked Salmon Goat Cheese Scramble
from Tori Avey
Makes 2 servings
- 4 eggs
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/3 cup (2 oz) sliced smoked salmon cut into small pieces
- 2 oz goat cheese
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Labaneh cheese or sour cream (optional)
- Whisk eggs and milk together for 1 minute.
- Heat butter in a pan until melted.
- Add salmon and cook for 1 minute.
- Add eggs, dill, and goat cheese.
- Taking a spatula, every 1 minute, scrap from the outside edge to the center all the way around. this allows the uncooked egg to flow in and cook.
- When eggs are about 90% done, chop up the middle and spread it evenly in the pan.
- Flip eggs once.
- Season to taste (I only added pepper) and serve.
So go and try some goat cheese! It's a free sample, and if you love it, then maybe you'll be adventurous at restaurants and try something with goat cheese in it! I know I will!
Jennifer is the chef behind a girl eats world. Head over to check out more recipes and kitchen tips!