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Dear Helena,
Every Super Bowl party I throw is the same: chips, dips, football, and beer. I want to show off my cooking chops, but I realize people don’t want to mess with complicated foods when watching the game. How can I make football-friendly food but still spice it up?
—Sick of Doritos
Dear Sick of Doritos,
Super Bowl Sunday is not the day for homemade vol-au-vents. Overly elaborate preparation can distract from the game. Nate Gordon, a picture editor at Sports Illustrated in New York, says: “Once, a friend came over and started trying to make these shrimp puffs in our crappy kitchen and it was a total mess and he blew out the party. It smelled bad for two or three weeks.”
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give any thought to the food. The worst thing you can do, says Gordon, is “order a pizza an hour beforehand when everyone else has had the same idea.” CHOW has lots of good ideas for Super Bowl snacks. Just remember that however much of a foodie you are, the grub is strictly secondary to the game. This means you should have most of your prep done in advance, and use shortcuts if necessary. That goes for guests, too: Don’t show up at someone else’s house with the fixings for a persimmon and arugula salad that requires 25 minutes of prep work.
If you really want to “spice it up,” you can do so without culinary pyrotechnics. Steven Anacker, an advertising executive in San Francisco, suggests serving food from the two cities represented at the game. “Let’s say Philly was playing San Diego: Philly cheesesteaks and fish tacos. Chicago versus Miami: deep-dish pizza/brats plus Cuban food.” This year, a New Orleans gumbo can go head-to-head with a Hoosier-friendly steak.
There’s one other way to flex your culinary muscle: a themed dessert. Even though it might seem a little froufrou for the Super Bowl, these tend to be well received. A friend recalled her father’s “bûche de Noël, but with icing in the color of his favorite team, Steelers, therefore yellow and black.” Instead of the traditional meringue mushrooms, he decorated the top with little Steeler figures.
Even better, make your dessert small enough to hold in the hand. Gordon says: “Once, our friend Megan made cupcakes with the players’ names and numbers on, and we all loved that.” Just be sure that your dessert doesn’t require any last-minute fussing. You don’t want to miss an important moment like Nipplegate because you’re busy checking on your baked Alaska.
Snorkelvik: Sorry I am late in posting this but I have been working long hours. Here it is:
Wendy’s-like Chili as adopted by Angela
• 1 lb ground beef or any combination of ground meat such as beef, sausage, chicken, turkey (I prefer ground beef)
• 16 ozs tomato sauce
• 1 -10 ounce can Rotel Mexican style diced tomatoes
• 1-29 ounce can kidney beans (with liquid)
• 1-29 ounce can pinto beans...+READ
Snorkelvik: Sorry I am late in posting this but I have been working long hours. Here it is:
Wendy’s-like Chili as adopted by Angela
• 1 lb ground beef or any combination of ground meat such as beef, sausage, chicken, turkey (I prefer ground beef)
• 16 ozs tomato sauce
• 1 -10 ounce can Rotel Mexican style diced tomatoes
• 1-29 ounce can kidney beans (with liquid)
• 1-29 ounce can pinto beans (with liquid)
• 1/2 cup diced onion (~ 1 medium)
• 1/2 cup diced green pepper
• 1/4 cup diced celery
• 2 teaspoons both cumin and brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon chili powder, black pepper, salt, and garlic powder, and sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup water (adjust as it cooks to your preference)
Preparation and Notes:
• Brown the beef, onions, celery, and bell pepper until done. Crumble beef into small pieces and put into crockpot with the rest of the ingredients. (Disposable gloves work well for this)
• Cook on med-high for 4-8 hours. (I cook mine longer sometimes to ensure everything is well blended)
• Leftovers can be frozen and kept for months.
• You can use any combination of beans but I prefer kidney & pinto beans.
• Note: Occasionally I add a can of whole kernel corn for something different.
• All of the above measurements may be adjusted for taste.-COLLAPSE
here's a great football friendly recipe
http://www.chow.com/recipes/28091
Helena, you need to tighten up and get your head in the game. The question was obviously asking about foods that are easy to eat and more interesting than doritos. I know the game is on now, so it's too late, but you could have suggested making your own dips. It's easy to beat grocery store salsa or hummus. Another suggestion would finger friendly foods like chicken roulade or easy to serve...+READ
Helena, you need to tighten up and get your head in the game. The question was obviously asking about foods that are easy to eat and more interesting than doritos. I know the game is on now, so it's too late, but you could have suggested making your own dips. It's easy to beat grocery store salsa or hummus. Another suggestion would finger friendly foods like chicken roulade or easy to serve things like slow cooked pulled pork sandwiches.
Also, everything doesn't have to be a gaffe or faux pas.-COLLAPSE
Indiana. Isn't that where they eat the deep-fried brain sandwiches?
bunkeeburns - please post your chili recipe after you make it if you think it's close to wendy's. Hubby loves that stuff. Mine is good, but not as good as Wendy's, he says.
I like your idea marneybrown. I did that for a summer party last year but it would work equaly as well for the super bowl
I am doing a taco bar setup in the living room over warmer plates. They can come and go and eat tacos, taco salad, nachos, whatever combo they want and it will be set up right in the same room so no one misses a thing. I will set it up ahead of time so I won't spend all my time in a kitchen.
gloriousfood: I didn't see your comment. Great minds do think alike!
What about a big crockpot full of chili with throw-away bowls and spoon?. Can offer shredded cheese, sour cream, etc. to top it off withI like Wendy's chili so I researched and adapted a recipe that tastes a lot like theirs.
A 1 lb. pkg. of jimmy dean hot sausage;cooked in panto crumbled stage, turn off heat and fold in 8oz. of softened cream cheese cut into chunks for easier blending,1 can of Ro-tel. Stir and pour into baking dish,top with grated cheese(I use Sharp Cheddar) and Bake at 325 for about 20 to 30 min., or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly. Serve with Fritos Scoups or Tortilla chips. (use the...+READ
A 1 lb. pkg. of jimmy dean hot sausage;cooked in panto crumbled stage, turn off heat and fold in 8oz. of softened cream cheese cut into chunks for easier blending,1 can of Ro-tel. Stir and pour into baking dish,top with grated cheese(I use Sharp Cheddar) and Bake at 325 for about 20 to 30 min., or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbly. Serve with Fritos Scoups or Tortilla chips. (use the sausage you like best,Sage is really good. Jimmy Dean has less fat and you don't have to drain it off)-COLLAPSE
Lots of beer, a huge meatloaf, french fries and tons of brownies.
For any sports game, skip the peanuts and doritos and put out a large, precooked and chilled, nicely salted (kosher is best) bowl of edamame beans. The salt counters the beer well, the beans inside are healthy, and you eat them with your hands! (another big bowl for the shells is good, too). They won't stain the couch, and they taste great - win-win!
@coconuts--good call on the tenderloin! Since when is Indiana known for its steak?! You need a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, preferably one that "thinks outside the bun" by a good couple of inches! Followed by a slice of sugar cream pie, the official pie of Indiana (not a favorite of mine, btw).
Indiana Foodways Alliance is putting together a Tenderloin Trail:
...+READ
@coconuts--good call on the tenderloin! Since when is Indiana known for its steak?! You need a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, preferably one that "thinks outside the bun" by a good couple of inches! Followed by a slice of sugar cream pie, the official pie of Indiana (not a favorite of mine, btw).
Indiana Foodways Alliance is putting together a Tenderloin Trail:
http://www.indianafoodways.com/tenderloin-trail.aspx-COLLAPSE
Keeping the foodstuffs easy to make and easy to eat is a good rule of thumb at any TV-oriented gathering, if you ask me. :-)
I have a friend of an un-named friend who whiped his greasy hands on my couch after eating chicken wings at a party. Needles to say, I now stock up on the napkins and don't invite that particular person.
I try and think of how people will eat what I make. If their plate is going to be balanced on a lap on the couch I try and serve viscous foods (No soup) and foods that can be eaten with just a...+READ
I have a friend of an un-named friend who whiped his greasy hands on my couch after eating chicken wings at a party. Needles to say, I now stock up on the napkins and don't invite that particular person.
I try and think of how people will eat what I make. If their plate is going to be balanced on a lap on the couch I try and serve viscous foods (No soup) and foods that can be eaten with just a fork or spoon, potato salad, chili etc.-COLLAPSE
I agree with gloriousfood...the food is never secondary for me. I only like the Super Bowl for the commercials and because it marks the end of football season. I have gone to my fair share of Super Bowl parties, and it's unusual for everyone to be watching the game the entire time. Agree that food needs to be appropriate for the event (and for eating in the family room), but doesn't mean that you...+READ
I agree with gloriousfood...the food is never secondary for me. I only like the Super Bowl for the commercials and because it marks the end of football season. I have gone to my fair share of Super Bowl parties, and it's unusual for everyone to be watching the game the entire time. Agree that food needs to be appropriate for the event (and for eating in the family room), but doesn't mean that you are limited to Doritos.
Also agree with Val55 regarding food (or drinks) arriving in their ingredient form. Usually more trouble than if I had made it myself. I really don't like trying to finish up whatever dishes I'm making and having someone asking "do you have a lemon reamer?" etc.-COLLAPSE
I would ask my host ahead of time about oven or stove space if something needed to be reheated. My favorite recipes for foot ball games is "Connie McGrath's Smokies"
1 cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1 can or bottle of beer
1 lb Smokies sliced 1/4 inch
Mix first 3 ingredients, bring to simmer
Add sliced smokies
Simmer for 30 min to 3 hours, the longer the better. It can be made a...+READ
I would ask my host ahead of time about oven or stove space if something needed to be reheated. My favorite recipes for foot ball games is "Connie McGrath's Smokies"
1 cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1 can or bottle of beer
1 lb Smokies sliced 1/4 inch
Mix first 3 ingredients, bring to simmer
Add sliced smokies
Simmer for 30 min to 3 hours, the longer the better. It can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge in the liquid.
Drain before serving, hot or room temp.
Serve with tooth picks-COLLAPSE
Well, considering that I'm not even sure who's playing in this year's Super Bowl, the grub is definitely *not* secondary to the game for me. And my husband won't be watching the game but will be catching the halftime show b/c he likes the Who.
Foodwise, I like the suggestion of serving up dishes that represent the two cities that are playing. I also like the idea of feeding your guests chili...+READ
Well, considering that I'm not even sure who's playing in this year's Super Bowl, the grub is definitely *not* secondary to the game for me. And my husband won't be watching the game but will be catching the halftime show b/c he likes the Who.
Foodwise, I like the suggestion of serving up dishes that represent the two cities that are playing. I also like the idea of feeding your guests chili with an accompanying "chili bar" that has all the fixings: onions, sour cream, avocado, scallions--whatever you can imagine!-COLLAPSE
I think raw ingredients such as chicken wings (that just need to be put in the oven for twenty mins) and taste much better freshly baked,,, and wouldnt cause me any real inconvinience are fine but that is probably the limit.
Helena touched on a pet peeve of mine. Guests who offer to contribute something to the party, then only bring the raw ingredients and expect to cook it at my house! The last thing I need when I am entertaining is someone else cooking who doesn't know my kitchen.
It's not that hard to show off your cooking chops. You can make your appetizers as complicated as you want, so long as they are ready...+READ
Helena touched on a pet peeve of mine. Guests who offer to contribute something to the party, then only bring the raw ingredients and expect to cook it at my house! The last thing I need when I am entertaining is someone else cooking who doesn't know my kitchen.
It's not that hard to show off your cooking chops. You can make your appetizers as complicated as you want, so long as they are ready to be served by gametime. For the main feast, almost anything that can be mainly cooked ahead of time works. For the playoffs, I made a short rib stew and a chicken cacciatore. Hearty but easy to eat, no knife required for either dish. You don't want to be in the kitchen during the game, but these types of dishes can be heated up during the first half and be quickly put out for serving during half-time.
But if it's a good game, don't expect accolades. Your guests are entitled to concentrate on the game.-COLLAPSE
I doubt that Helena is running out of topics. And the example about the shrimp was a disaster to be avoided this year. Sometimes the obvious needs to be restated.
What does this column have to do with table manners, or etiquette, or any other related topic? There are plenty of other resources to help you determine what to serve at your party. I guess Helena is running out of topics.
Rather than steak, an Indiana food is the breaded pork tenderloin- it's a tenderloin chop pounded out to about 1/2" thick, breaded in cracker crumbs and deep fried, then served on a bun with whatever toppings you like on hamburgers.