Tonight at 8:20 p.m., the world champion Philadelphia Eagles officially open their 2018 season against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. We don’t know about you, but we’re still amped up about last February’s big win! But if we must turn the page on a new season, we’re going to do so library-style!  

Want to make something tasty for game night? The Free Library Culinary Literacy Center recommends these buffalo chicken and cheese balls, perfect for fall and football!

Buffalo Chicken and Cheese Balls
Serves about 15 balls

Ingredients

• 1 whole rotisserie chicken, cooked (store bought)
   
• ¼ Cup of hot sauce (recommends Frank’s Red Hot, DO NOT USE TABASCO SAUCE)
   
• 1 ¼  Cup 0f Sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
   
• ½ Cup of Pepper Jack cheese, grated
   
• ½ Cup of green onion, thinly sliced
   
• 1 Cup of All-Purpose flour
   
• 3 eggs, beaten
   
• 2 cups of Panko breadcrumbs (regular breadcrumbs can be used)
   
• Salt and pepper
   
• Vegetable Oil for frying (recommend Canola Oil)

Directions

• Pre-heat oil to 350 degrees F.
   
• Pick meat from the rotisserie chicken and place in large mixing bowl. Please do not use skin.  Add the hot sauce, cheeses, salt and pepper (to taste), and green onions. Toss to combine. Roll the mixture into balls the size of golf balls. Place balls on a lined sheet tray and place in freezer for 45 min- 1 hour.
   
• Place flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. Cover each ball with flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs (shake off excess). Gently place the balls in the hot oil in batches. Do not crowd the vessel. Cook until golden brown. Take out balls when finished and place them on paper towels to drain oil. (You could also use a wire rack). Serve the balls while hot. You could use any dipping sauce to your choosing.
   

Prefer sweet over savory? Borrow a football-shaped cake pan from the collection at the McPherson Square Library, and bake something yummy! (Pssssst: Cake pans are just one of the unique items the Free Library lends!)

While you count down the minutes until kickoff, brush up on your Eagles trivia in our Knowledge Base, and browse some sports history in our digital collections! We also recommend borrowing a book or movie about the Birds – find the perfect one with the help of this catalog list and your library card!

We also hope you’ll mark your calendar for Sat., October 13th at 2:30 p.m., when five-time Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year Ray Didinger visits the Parkway Central Library for a free event in conjunction with his book The Eagles Encyclopedia: Champions Edition, updated to reflect the quintessential underdog season that led to the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII victory. He'll be joined that afternoon by Mark Leibovich, author of Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times.

Fly, Eagles, Fly! E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!