Who you rooting for? .......

Hey guys it’s that time of the year again. This is what a foodie like me loves. Entertaining and eating good things…Yes Sir! My twins who will be turning 16 next week have always been huge fans of the Super Bowl and I can honestly say I do  not think they even pay much attention to the game...lol  They spend most of the year before thinking of new recipes we can try for the next years good eats. They are pretty traditional: spinach dip, buffalo wing balls, bacon wrapped jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, wings of all flavors, seven layer dip and mini slider burgers.  So are you any of you hosting a Super Bowl Party this year? If so, offer your football fans plenty of good food to munch on while cheering for their favorite team. Place every seat in the house in front of your biggest T.V., then kick back and take part in one of America's favorite spectator sports---football and enjoy the Big Game!

Football fans are the most satisfying snackers to cook for. They love anything that's savory, easy to eat, and delicious. You can make them even happier by setting up this easy appetizer buffet and then just standing back!  Junk food is required at a party like this one. By junk food, I mean those delicious, crunchy, fat-laden recipes that everyone loves and almost no one serves anymore. Watching great football games is a definite excuse to break any diet and enjoy yourself! And the guys probably don't care about a diet anyway.

Whether you are throwing a Super Bowl party, or you are watching the game with your family, the snacks are almost as important as the game itself. For the big game, provide easy-to-eat foods that don't require anyone to look up from the television. Dips, chicken and finger foods make delicious snacks, especially when paired with a great football game.





 Chips and Dips

Spice it up a bit by having several platters with different dips in the center. Try trays with guacamole, cheese, salsa, chili-cheese, salsa, and bean dip. These classic snacks are easy to make and serve. Make a tasty Tex-Mex dip by layering re-fried beans, guacamole, salsa and cheese together. Serve the dip on a platter with tortilla chips. Try making a warm spinach artichoke dip with cheese, cayenne pepper and breadcrumbs that is baked until bubbling. Serve this dip in a bowl with crackers or toast. You could also make a trio of dips for potato chips. Mix sour cream, cream cheese, chopped scallions and powdered ranch dressing mix together for a creamy French onion dip. Combine sour cream, cottage cheese, shredded cheddar cheese and salsa to create a spicy cheese dip. End the trio of dips with a crab dip. Mix canned crab meat, cream cheese; green onions, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl, then serve.

Chicken

Chicken wings and drumsticks are easy to eat with your fingers. There are a wide variety of recipes available, and most would work well for the Super Bowl. For a traditional chicken wing snack, make Buffalo wings by marinating chicken wings in hot sauce then broiling them in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve your hot wings on a platter with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. Make an Asian style chicken snack by placing chicken breast strips marinated in soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil on skewers. Broil the chicken skewers for 10 to 15 minutes and serve with a dipping sauce made from honey, soy sauce and chili oil. You could also make classic barbecue wings by broiling chicken wings and coating them with a barbecue sauce of your choice.

Quick Finger Foods

Other snacks that can be eaten with your fingers are a great way to round off your Super Bowl menu. Try baked potato skins loaded with melted cheese, sour cream and crispy bacon crumbles. Make quesadillas with melted cheese, shredded chicken and spicy jalapenos inside two crispy tortillas. Cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve with sour cream. Cut frozen puff pastry into strips and wrap chunks of Italian sausage inside. Bake the wraps in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the sausage is cooked through. Buy frozen cooked shrimp and thaw them in the fridge. Make a cocktail sauce by combining ketchup and horseradish and serve the shrimp with the sauce.

Super Bowl Sandwiches 

A Super Bowl sandwich is much more than a “finger sandwich.” You do not want to serve tiny sandwiches to a group of football fans. Try getting loaves of French bread split in half. Fill them with different meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, dressings, etc. Have some super sandwiches filled to the max and have some more “plain” style sandwiches for those who are a little bit pickier. You want to be sure to have something for everyone.

Flavored Popcorn 

 Have different flavored popcorn bowls available. There are many different flavors to choose from, such as: cheese, caramel, or butter. Popcorn can be purchased already popped, or you can choose to make it yourself and add in the powered cheese or toppings found at your local grocery store.

Cheese Balls 

 Cheese balls are delicious and can have a variety of flavors added. Try a few different recipes that can include chipped beef, ham, onions, green peppers, etc. Serve with a few different types of crackers.

Cocktail Franks in Sauce and Mini Meatballs 

 These pretty much speak for themselves. They are an excellent snack to fill up your guests without feeding them a full coarse meal.

Chili 

This is an excellent dish that is easy to make and most everyone will love. Serve up with some toppings, such as cheese, onions, soup crackers, etc.

Pizza Bites 

 Have all types of pizza bites. These are fun for kids and adults.

 Burgers and Hot dogs

Consider making up some hamburgers and hot dogs ahead of time to warm up and serve during half time. Throw in some baked beans and chips and you will have a meal that will get the guests through the next half of the game.

Sweet Treats

Sweets are fun to have, as well. Here are some Super Bowl sweets to include at your Super Bowl party: football cake, football cupcakes, football cookies, ice cream with all the toppings. You could also try this scrumptious Super Bowl sweet:

Butter Tortilla Shells 

A different recipe to try for tortilla chips is butter tortilla shells sprinkled with a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar. Cut them into wedges and bake in the oven until the edges are brown. An icing glazed dip is excellent for this scrumptious Super Bowl snack.

Drinks

Don’t forget the drinks. Beer is a popular drink for a Super Bowl party. Be sure to have punch, soda, tea, or lemonade for those who do not drink alcohol. Your Super Bowl party will be a success no matter what type of snack you choose. Just be sure to take into consideration the different preferences of your guests. Try to have a full range of flavors and types to choose from and everyone will be cheering at your Super Bowl party.

Well folks these are my suggestions and I hope you find something that your family and friends love and try not to overdo it too much this week. As always in parting I say “Let’s Eat”!