Scribbly notes on my calendar remind me I fully intended to hold off on any Super Bowl-related food topics until next week. After Sunday’s playoff excitement, however, I can’t be trusted to follow my own edict. Let’s face it — anyone planning to host a Super Bowl do in two and a half weeks is already sorting through ideas, even if we don’t yet know which two teams will face off. Four remain standing — Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
Pardon my tangent, but what a knee-slap season the Cowboys gave us. As thrilling as a Dak/Dallas win would have been this past weekend for the Bulldog nation especially, world order may have shorted out if a first-year rookie had knocked wily veteran Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay out of the zone they’ve recently been in. Cowboy fans have every reason to be high on the future.
Elsewhere, I admit a bias for the Steelers. I have great respect for big No. 78 — offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva. He and my son became friends through Army football at West Point. “Ali” is “a good guy, as legit as they come,” my son vouches. After graduation, Villanueva became part of the 75th Ranger Regiment, earned a Bronze Star with Valor, and served three tours of duty in Afghanistan. You may have seen him in USAA commercials lately. And did I mention the Steeler starter was born in Mississippi? In Meridian, at the Naval Air Station.
If football matters around your house, too, the run up to the Conference Championships this Sunday and to the 51st Super Bowl Feb. 5 may have you thinking of ways to make the occasions more special. Maybe we can help.
Setting the scene
As far as adding some gridiron touches to your gathering, few things could be simpler than duct tape. (Sorry, too many “MacGyver” reruns on TV lately.) Use the tape to make football “laces” on Mason jars. (Masking tape seems to work also.)
Lace up brown paper lunch sacks, too, perhaps to use with the fabulous popcorn bar you’re going to offer guests.
Pop lots of popcorn and put it out in large containers; they can be lined wooden baskets, metal washtubs or just oversized bowls. You may want to do more than one type of popcorn, like caramel and kettle corn as well as the standard variety. Then, let guests go to town with your bar. Seasonings can range from buttery or bacon cheddar to ranch, garlic Parmesan, cinnamon sugar or even cayenne pepper. Set out festive adds like M&Ms, mini marshmallows, Reese’s crumbles, trail mix and a squirt bottle for drizzling chocolate.
If you choose, make up your own gourmet popcorn ahead of time. A good recipe found on warmnfuzzie.com is included below. Then, just make sure you have plenty of “laced up” brown paper sacks to hold it all.
As far as pickup foods go, I’ve come across a couple of ideas that appeal — cheeseburger turnovers and spicy deviled eggs. Sure, we’ve talked stuffed eggs before, but these are made with Greek yogurt. The turnovers sound fun, tasty golden crusts with cheese, and a surprise pickle chip inside for flavor. Fits right in the hand.
You’ll see more Super Bowl food ideas in The Dispatch food section this week and next. Hopefully you’ll find at least one that scores extra points for your pigskin party.
POPCORN BAR POPCORN
24 cups popped “movie theater” popcorn
10 sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons of oil from the tomato jar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 diced handful fresh basil and oregano, for garnish
(Source: warmnfuzzie.com)
SPICY DEVILED EGGS
1 dozen hard-boiled eggs, peeled
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
4 teaspoons Dijon mustard (can also use 1/2 cup mayonnaise)
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
Kosher salt, to taste
Garnish, sliced fresh chives
(Source: food-lifebalance.com, via myrecipes.com)
CHEESEBURGER TURNOVERS
Prep time: 35 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Servings: 20
1 package garlic and onion flatbread mix (biscuits can also be used; search online recipes)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1/3 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese + extra for sprinkling pickle chips milk or egg wash
(Source: krusteaz.com)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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