Tailgating treats for Pirate Soccer Club

GALVESTON — Sports and food are meant to be together. There’s baseball and hot dogs, Wimbledon tennis and strawberries, and football and chicken wings. And while the first food item most Americans think of when someone brings up soccer is probably orange slices, the Pirate Soccer Club deserves a whole menu of tailgate-party treats.

The Pirate SC is Galveston County’s only professional sports team, and it’s off to a roaring start in the National Premier Soccer League with a preseason record of five wins, one tie and two losses against teams from across the state.

Pirates head coach and general manager Brendan Keyes promises that spectators will see plenty of action at upcoming games, including matches scheduled for Sunday and Aug. 22 at the League City Sportsplex.

“Our guys are very technical,” Keyes said. “Most of them have a future in the major leagues. One of our players, Roy Hernandez, is currently being scouted by the New York City Red Bulls.”

The pirate theme adds to the family fun at the games, with a pirate mascot and a cheering and dance squad called the Treasure Dolls.

“We even had T-shirts printed with Roy Hernandez dressed as a pirate,” Keyes said.

The obvious snack to enjoy at a Pirate SC match would be Pirate’s Booty, all-natural rice and corn puffs that were developed in the 1990s as a healthier alternative to chips. Pirate’s Booty also is a good addition to Chex party mix, adding a subtle cheese flavor as well as another texture.

While it’s unlikely that real historical pirates were concerned enough about nutrition to seek out products like Pirate’s Booty, historical records show they did eat plenty of Caribbean dishes, including what we now know as jerk chicken. That makes jerk chicken wraps an appropriate takealong for one of the Pirate SC’s upcoming matches, with a spice level that can equal the explosive action on the field.

“These next two matches are going to be very interesting, and quite challenging for us,” Keyes said. “We’re playing the Houston Dynamo reserve squad, and then taking on the state champions, so these will definitely be games the fans will find exciting.”

Keyes started the season as coach and manage and recently added the title of team owner to his portfolio.

“Soccer is in my blood; it’s what I’ve done for the past 35 years,” he said.

Owning the team allows him more latitude to involve the Pirate SC in the community.

“This year, we were able to include 50 kids from the Children’s Center in our summer soccer camps, and the Pirates are partnering with youth soccer groups so that they can sell tickets to the Pirate games and keep the proceeds for their own teams,” Keyes said.

As a startup team, the Pirate SC still is building its base of fans and sponsors.

“We’re getting support from around the Bay Area, but we’d like a few more sponsors, especially from Galveston,” Keyes said.

Tickets for individual games and season tickets for the 2010-11 season are available on the team’s website, www.piratesc.com.

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Jamaican jerk chicken wrap

Jamaican jerk seasonings usually include ground allspice and spicy peppers. This recipe simplifies things by calling for bottled jerk marinade, making this a quick lunch or light supper main course that you can pull together in minutes. Use shredded rotisserie chicken, if desired.

1/2 pound boneless cooked chicken, chopped

3 tablespoons bottled jerk marinade

1 tablespoon cream cheese

1 (12-inch) flour tortilla

3 leaves red or green leaf lettuce

8 very thin slices red onion

1/2 cup prepared mango or peach chutney

Toss the chicken with the marinade and set aside.

Spread the cream cheese on the tortilla and place two leaves of lettuce on top.

Transfer marinated chicken onto the lettuce and add red onions and chutney, then top with remaining lettuce leaf.

Roll up the tortilla tightly and cut in half diagonally.

Transfer to two plates and serve.

— Recipe courtesy of Whole Foods Market

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Pirate party mix

3 cups Corn Chex cereal

3 cups Rice Chex cereal

3 cups Wheat Chex cereal

1 cup bite-size pretzels

1 cup bite-size bagel chips

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

3 cups Pirate’s Booty, all-natural rice and corn puffs

In a large microwaveable bowl, mix cereals, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside.

In a small microwaveable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on high about 40 seconds or until melted.

Stir in seasonings.

Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

Microwave uncovered on high for 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes.

Add Pirate’s Booty after first 2 minutes.

Spread on paper towels to cool.

Store in airtight container.

Oven directions

Heat oven to 250 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside.

In an ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven.

Stir in seasonings.

Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated.

Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes and adding Pirate’s Booty after 30 minutes.

Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes.

— Recipe courtesy of General Mills

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Pirate bean soup

2 1/2 cup dried pea beans or lima, dried

1 onion, sliced

1 teaspoon bacon fat

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup ketchup or chili sauce

1 tablespoon Angostura bitters

Wash beans, cover with cold water and soak overnight.

Next day, add water to make 4 cups and simmer for 1 hour, uncovered.

Sauté onion in bacon fat until golden.

Add onion, salt and pepper to beans and continue simmering for another 2 hours.

Just before removing from heat, add ketchup and angostura, and stir well.

Serves 6.

— Recipe from “Easy Beans,” by Patricia Ross