My friend Cynthia Gaines, is a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan and has sent me a few recipes perfect for the upcoming Super Bowl game. She grew up in Mission Hills, KS, a suburb of Kansas City.  She started going to Chiefs games at 11 years old with her Dad.  I’d say she is one happy camper with the Chiefs playing in 3 Super Bowls in four years from 2020-2023.  Winning in 2020 beating the 49ers…losing to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in 2021… and beating the Eagles last year 2023.  Can they pull off another huge win in 2024?  My friend, Cynthia sure thinks they can.

I met Cynthia when we both lived in Ponte Vedra Beach and we have remained friends for over 20 years.  A group of us girls (I called us the Ponte Vedra girls) got together to celebrate birthdays 2- 3 times a year. After I moved to Amelia Island, we continued the tradition and also added a lunch at Christmas at my Amelia Island home.

We’ve lost several of our girls, and several have moved to other locations including Cynthia who now lives in Virginia.  She has a beautiful garden and I always enjoy seeing her gorgeous produce. And Cynthia can cook!  She is loving every minute of this NFL football season.

When I asked her for a few Kansas City recipes she responded that in Kansas City BBQ is king.

“KC is known for tomato based sweet BBQ sauce.  Burnt Ends from a smoked brisket is a true KC favorite (and mine).  However it takes smoking the brisket and that’s a lot of work.  Baby back ribs are an easier replacement.  In my case, I look for riblets,  baby backs that are trimmed at the end width wise so that you have a thin long strip of rib meat with bones.”

Cynthia gets  her ribs from Publix  or Walmart and has the butcher cut them into the strips.  She dry rubs them and  bakes in the oven, 350º for 35-45 minutes.  Check at 30 minutes and keep checking every 15 miutes.  Since they can be irregular in size, some cook faster than others.  She likes them well done to get a crust.  Can also cut up into bite size pieces to make a great appetizer.   She loves to dip in BBQ sauce.

Cheesy Corn Casserole is her favorite BBQ side dish and is considered  a classic from Jack Stack BBQ in KC, which started in 1957.  Her recipe is below.

CHEESY CORN CASSEROLE

Serving Size: 8-10

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 oz cream cheese - cubed
• 2 C sharp cheddar cheese
• 3/4 C milk
• teaspoon  garlic powder
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1/4 lb smoked ham
• 12 oz frozen corn, thawed (fresh in summer)

Instructions

1. Melt cream cheese, cheddar cheese, milk, stirring constantly until smooth and bubbly.
2. Add garlic, salt & pepper
3. (Cayenne is optional if you want a kick)
4. Remove from heat.
5. Stir in ham and corn.
6. Transfer to a 2 qt buttered casserole.
7. Bake 350 45-60 minutes.

Notes

A classic dish from Jack Stack BBQ in Kansas City (started in 1957) and one of Cynthia's favs is Cheesy Corn Casserole.

Cynthia Gaines via KathyMillerTime
Jack Stack BBQ in Kansas City

Recipe Printed from www.kathymillertime.com

Another recipe that sounds perfect for the big game is the Horsefeather Cocktail, a refreshing whisky spin on a Moscow mule, using whiskey intead of vodka. Cynthia said: “if you are looking for a fun KC cocktail, this is it.  Created after I moved away in the late 70’s but I love the name!”

This cocktail originated in Lawrence, Kansas in the 1990’s .

HORSEFEATHER COCKTAIL

Serving Size: 1

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1.5 ounces whiskey, rye or bourbon
• 4.0 ounces ginger beer
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• squirt of lemon or lime juice
• lemon or lime slices

Instructions

1. Fill a highball glass 3/4 with ice.
2. Pour in ingredients and stir.
3. Garnish with a lemon or lime slice.

Cynthia Gaines Via KathyMillerTime

Recipe Printed from www.kathymillertime.com

Thank you Cynthia for your recipes and I wish your Kansas City Chiefs luck in the Super Bowl.

I miss our Ponte Vedra girl get togethers.

Cynthia’s home made ice cream sandwiches.

Ponte Vedra girls at  the old Bonito’s in Fernandina Beach.  Over 20 years of fun.

Come Celebrate with me.  I’ll save you a seat at the table.