If you want to present your own stunning half time show, this “stadium sandwich” of finger foods would be just the thing. Alternatively, you could just pass around this photo on your iPhone.
With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, it’s time to think about mankind’s favorite distractions: food and football. I turned to my friend and research assistant Cyndy for advice.
Cyndy and I “research” a restaurant earlier this year, now turn our thoughts to Super Bowl snacks.
Super Bowl Party: A Sideline Chat
Me: I know you’ve had lots of Super Bowl parties, so what would you suggest for snacks during the game?
Cyndy: I try to remember that food—like popcorn at the movies—is not the main event. So I make a few simple things and buy a few. The idea is to limit your time in the kitchen by serving make-ahead or buy-ahead items that just need to be set out—but not all at once.
Me: Okay, that sounds reasonable. But what do you buy already prepared?
Cyndy: It seems like all the large grocery stores have prepared party foods now. I saw 4 varieties of cooked, seasoned chicken wings at Straubs the other day. (If you serve them, you might call them mini-Falcon wings.)
Me: Your mention of wings, reminds me that I read that football fans eat a billion wings during Superbowl weekend.
Cyndy: Unbelievable! But there are other meat dishes that work, too. Costco and Sam’s have great frozen meatballs, that you can put in a Crockpot with barbecue sauce. Each year I usually order a 3-foot sandwich at Posh Nosh Deli, sliced, and serve it with Joe’s Famous Chili (Joe’s her husband).
Me: Have you tried kolaches, those Czech pastries, some sweet, some savory, from St. Louis Kolache? Or those colorful, melt-in-your-mouth macaroons from La Patisserie Chouquette or La Bonne Bouchée. They’d put some pizzaz in your party.
Cyndy: Sure, those would be great!
Me: What about nibbles?
Cyndy: A tub of popcorn is always good during anxious moments of the game. Remember all those great varieties we found at POPtions! over on Lindbergh? And it’s super easy to take a nice summer sausage and a favorite hard cheese and stack a piece of each on a cracker smeared with honey mustard. I use Carr’s Water Crackers with roasted garlic and herbs, but any cracker will do.
Me: You’ve not mentioned any dips. Every game has a few dips—and I don’t mean the ones hollering at the TV screen.
Cyndy: You’re right. One of the easiest, all-time favorites is Frito’s Seven Layer Dip. You start by spreading Frito’s Bean Dip on a round plate. The layers include avocado, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream and taco mix. You can serve it with your favorite chips or vegetable chunks.
Me: You’ve not mentioned anything sweet. What do you suggest for a dessert item or two?
Cyndy: I like to make the desserts myself ahead of time. Everybody likes Brownies and you can cut them into finger food portions. If you want something a little more creative these Lemon Berry Tartlets are both pretty and delicious.
Oh, and for another quick sweet, put a teaspoon of Nutella in prepared, mini phyllo cups, that you can find at any grocery. Top with a raspberry and dust with powdered sugar. Super easy.
Me: Thanks for all those super Super Bowl tips. I think you gave us a winning menu to pick from. Hopefully, itsparks a few ideas for this weekend’s snack fest,
More recipes for football watching:
Spiced Nuts; Cranberry Meatballs; Chorizo Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates, Perfect Guacamole; Chicken Wings.
