Special Edition Tantalizing Thursday-Super Bowl

Welcome to a special edition Tantalizing Thursday about Super Bowl on Chief 187™Chatter.

Football fan or not, watching the Super Bowl is a national pastime that is most fun.

The year’s best teams, the NY (NJ) Giants vs. the New England Patriots, face off for bragging rights and, presumably, a trip to Disney World, as well as an ostentatious ring, while we sit around, cheer, place wagers, shush the crowd when the all-important commercials are on, and eat, eat, eat!

Normally I offer a recipe that I find easy, reasonable monetarily, and delicious. Today I am being authentic to the occasion and how I pass it in terms of food.

I love to cook but there are certain times that I want to be a part of the event and not shackled to the kitchen. Although there are make-ahead foods that can be prepared in anticipation for game day, I know I won’t have time for that.

My solution? Take help and lots of it. Here is my “menu” of store-bought foods that will be pleasing to the palate yet free you for the entire Super Bowl Day to sit back, gear up for, and enjoy the game.

Appetizers

Chicken wings – the spicier the better, dripping with sauce and served with chunky bleu cheese dressing and crisp green celery. All of the chicken brands at the grocery store have a version as well as T.G.I.Fridays brand in the frozen section.

Chips, salsa, cheese, & guacamole – Call them nachos, salsa-n-chips, or manna, I call them a necessity at any gathering. I’m a TexMex fanatic and Nachos is the official food of Chief 187™! The permutations are endless and worth exploring any chance you get. Vary the chips, salsas, types of cheese, and heat to gooey greatness!

Potato Chips and Dip – This should be a sour cream-based dip to cool your mouth down after eating the nachos. French onion dip, dill dip, or spinach dip are all tasty with requisite potato chips and, if you feel you need them, goes well with the perfunctory veggie tray.


Main Course

Fried Chicken – KFC, Popeye’s, or the kind they sell at the deli section of your grocery store. Sides are bonuses but not necessities.

Sub sandwiches – Subs, Grinders, Hoagies, or whatever other regional name you have for a sandwich on a foot long of bread featuring deli meats and cheeses as well as any combination of condiments and dressed with oil & vinegar. Again, the point is to NOT miss the game or the commercial so order these and pick them up ahead of time. Subway, Quiznos, or the trusty grocery store will hook you up.

Pizza – Seriously, why mess with perfection? Order some pies from your favorite place that delivers; don’t forget to tip handsomely.

Dessert

Candy – Buy a bag, open, eat. The simplicity is astounding and the taste richly rewarding. M&Ms, Skittles, and Reese’s Pieces are all easy to put out in bowls to chow on, but don’t forget Hershey Bars, Twizzlers, and the sinful Snickers PB!

Oreos – The perfect cookie that just happens to be number one in the world; this time of year they should come in football shapes = Perfect!

Brownies – This requires moments of preparation if you buy a boxed mixed. They are pretty much equal so pick up one on sale. I buy a Family-Sized box so it feeds enough people.

Once you are finished following the directions and are still mixing the batter add one or a combination of the following: a handful or two of semi-sweet chocolate chips/white chocolate chips/milk chocolate chips, a handful or two of your favorite chopped nuts, a handful or two of chopped dried fruit, anything else that sounds delicious!

Finish mixing, pour into your prepared pan and bake according to box. Your pan may need an extra 1-5 minutes depending on how many extra ingredients you added, but a toothpick that comes out clean from the middle indicates doneness.

The Bar

Stock your friends’ and your favorite beverages, but remember, if people have to drive home, be sure to offer more than enough soft drinks and don’t let anyone drink and drive.

Beer – It’s the Super Bowl, it’s a no brainer! Bud Light, Miller Light, Heiniken are the ones I hear ordered most often, but you know what to buy.

Soda/Pop – Yes, people still drink this stuff. Get a supply of regular, diet, light colored (lemon/lime) and fun (cherry) drinks for people to have ample choices.

Water – bottle or tap, water is a crowd pleaser.

Prosecco - Listen, not everybody drinks beer and Super Bowl is certainly a celebratory event so get some bubbly (this is Italian sparkling wine) and chill it. Enjoy!

However you do it, eating whatever you love, have a great time, be safe, and be sure to pay careful attention to those commercials!

Join me tomorrow for the rockin’ way to end the week, the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.