Would You Care for Fries with Your March Madness?

March Madness has arrived. Somehow this little old college basketball tournament has grown into a multimillion dollar event spread over four television channels. In fact, this year, it's actually possible to watch all 67 games live from start to finish. Every office, many families, and all kinds of friends have established betting pools in every form and fashion. People who don't watch a basketball game all year are suddenly interested in the outcome of each matchup.
If you're like we are, meals seem to take a backseat when the games are on. Just like in the sports bars, the menu often consists of pizza, wings, burgers, or sandwiches. We usually want a simple side dish as well, and I've found sweet potato fries to be a quick and easy addition to any meal. (And those of you who were paying attention to our 12 Days of Healthy Foods in January remember that sweet potatoes are good for you!)
You'll find many variations, but I prefer "Perfect Oven Sweet Potato Fries." Just peel a potato, slice it and spread the slices on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and pepper, drizzle them with olive oil, and pop the baking sheet in a 450 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes. For a little extra kick, I like to spice mine up a bit with Lain's Bada Bing from Colonel De's at Findlay Market.
Whatever your preference, food-wise or team-wise, here's hoping you bring home a winner this March.

March Madness at Findlay Market

I love March Madness and the NCAA basketball tournament. I think it began in 1978 when I was a student at Miami University and saw the Redskins upset defending champion Marquette in an opening round game. My interest grew in 1980 when I went to Dayton to watch some first round games. I didn't really know any of the teams I watched, but I was enthralled with the spirit of the fans and the competition of the games...and so I was hooked.
Since those first tournament games, I've watched hours of CBS coverage, travelled to several other tournament sites, submitted applications in hopes of getting Final Four tickets, and religiously filled out my bracket when March rolled around. Our family has always had a friendly competition for bracket bragging rights, and that tradition continues year to year in spite of the fact that our son is away at college and our high school daughter has many other interests besides basketball.
Society, as a whole, has also embraced the concept of March Madness. Office pools and game-watching parties are the norm. TV, radio, print media, and the internet have exploded with advertisements, updates, and reports about the games. Maybe it really is a little madness...But it sure is fun.