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Recipes help kick off Super Bowl
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By LAURA RAINS
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People love a Super Bowl party.
Even if you don't know the difference between offense and defense.
Even if you don't know the difference between a touchdown and a turnover.
Even if you have to look up on the Internet to see who's playing and where.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Seattle Seahawks in Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.
For non-football lovers, that's basically all you need to know to throw a good party.
The Super Bowl is reason for a great, casual party with good food and it's the one time all year the men don't switch the channel during the commercials.
Plan accordingly.
Make sure you have adequate seating around the television and hide the remote, just in case.
Plan snacks before the game and dinner, or heartier snacks at half-time. Have the dessert ready so your guests can pick it up anytime the action slows in the second half.
Even if you don't care squat about football, the commercials can be very entertaining, so plan not to be stuck in the kitchen for long periods after the game starts. Choose foods that can be prepared well ahead of time. Crockpots are a great way to keep chili, soup or other foods warm until ready to serve.
By all means, pick up some Super Bowl XL plates and cups, or at least napkins, at your local grocery store. Other than that, forget about any decorations -- unless you're from Pittsburgh or Seattle and are really in Super Bowl mode.
Instead, use your creativity by making your favorite cheese ball in the shape of a football or create a football-shaped dessert with very little effort.
Many of your guests may prefer to go back in front of the television to eat during the half-time show. Sometimes something happens during half-time that will be water-cooler talk for days. Remember Janet Jackson?
With a little preparation, your guests will remember the party more than the game itself.
SEVEN-LAYER DIP
1 can refried beans
1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup your favorite prepared salsa
1 cup shredded lettuce
1 cup Mexican-style cheese, shredded
1/2 cup chopped green onions
snack crackers
Mix beans with taco seasoning mix. Spread onto bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Layer sour cream, salsa, lettuce, cheese and onions on top; cover and refrigerate several hours. Serve with crackers or chips.
HAM-WRAPPED BREADSTICKS
20 slices of shaved ham
1/2 cup chive and onion cream cheese, softened
20 breadsticks
Spread ham slices with softened cream cheese. Wrap each slice around a breadstick. Serve.
FOOTBALL CHEESEBALL
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 8-ounce package cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup salad dressing
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
pepper to taste
1 cup chopped pecans
Beat cream cheese, cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese together with an electric mixer until well blended. Add onions and pepper; mix well. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Remove from refrigerator and form into a football shape; roll in pecans. Use pimento strips to forms lacing on a football.
BAKED CHICKEN WINGS
1 cup hot sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt
24 chicken wings
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup Bisquick
3/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
dressing for dipping
Stir together hot sauce and garlic salt. Pour over chicken wings, cover and refrigerate 4 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Melt butter or margarine in a jellyroll pan in the oven. Remove chicken from sauce and discard sauce. Coat chicken with Bisquick. Place in a single layer on pay. Bake for 25 minutes; turn and bake an addition 20 to 25 minutes or until chicken is golden brown. Serve with dressing for dipping.
HAM AND CHEDDAR LOAF
1 pound frozen pizza dough
9-ounces shaved ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup salad dressing
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Flatten with hands and then roll into a 12-inch-x-8-inch rectangle with a rolling pin. Top dough with ham, overlapping slices and leaving a 1/2-inch border around all sides. Mix cheddar cheese with salad dressing and spread evenly over ham. Moisten edges of dough with water. Starting at one of the long side, fold 1/3 of the dough over the filling and then repeat with other long side of dough. Firmly pinch the ends of the dough together to seal. Place seam side down on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cut 3 diagonal slits in the top of dough. Brush evenly with beaten beat and top with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly, then cut into slices to serve. Serves 6.
BEER BRATS
2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 large sweet onion, sliced into 1/4-inch rings
6 bratwursts
6-ounces beer
Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Brown bratwursts until deep golden brown. Remove to a platter. Add remaining teaspoon of olive oil to the drippings; add sweet onion rings. Toss onions to coat with the oil. Cook, stirring often, until onions are limp and golden but not brown. Return bratwurst to onions and add the beer. Cook over medium heat until beer has cooked down to a syrup, about 15 minutes. Serve on buns.
SWEET CHOCOLATE FOOTBALLS
6 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups cocoa-flavored cereal
white decorating gel
Microwave chocolate, corn syrup and butter together in a large bowl on high for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, stirring halfway through. Remove and blend in vanilla. Add cereal, mixing well. Butter hands and shape into 3-inch football shapes. Cool on waxed paper. Use decorating gel to add lacings to footballs.
FOOTBALL CAKE
1 package chocolate cake mix
1 1/3 cups brewed and chilled coffee
3 cups cappuccino pudding frosting
Prepare chocolate cake mix in a 13-inch-x-9-inch baking pan according to package directions, using coffee instead of water. Cool for 15 minutes, remove to a wire rack and cool completely. Trim corners and sides of cake to form a football shape. Store extra pieces for snacking later. Frost cake with frosting and store in the refrigerator. Use gel frosting or licorice pieces to make lacings on the football.
S'MORES SQUARES
18 honey graham crackers
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
4 8-ounce packages softened cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
6 bars milk chocolate candy, coarsely chopped
1 cup miniature marshmallows
Crush 14 of the graham crackers; mix with butter and 1/4 cup of the sugar. Press onto bottom of a 13-inch-x-9-inch pan. Beat softened cream cheese, remaining cup of sugar and vanilla with a mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, mixing until just blended. Stir in 1/2 of the candy. Pour over crust. Sprinkle with remaining candy and marshmallows. Coarsely chop remaining graham crackers and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares just before serving.
Contact Laura Rains at Laura.Rains@lee.net or by phone at 606-564-9091, ext. 275 |
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