The Christmas decorations have been taken down, neatly packed up, and stored away in the attic. New Year’s has come and gone. The house looks bland.
Now Winter seems to really settle in. The cold. The gray. The fireplace. The blankets.
But January offers something else to look forward to: Super Bowl!
Even if you’re not much for football, it’s still an excuse to gather together with friends, family and food! Most Americans have a favorite team or at least enjoy the atmosphere provided by the sport. Why not plan a party during the Super Bowl?
Plan a Super Bowl Party
Much like birthdays and holidays, the Super Bowl can be considered a major event in the month of February. To host a Super Bowl party, you’ll need:
- A television…of course! You can watch the big game on a basic cable channel or stream it online.
- Food and drinks. Aside from the football game (and/or the halftime show), your guests will want food to munch on and drinks to sip.
That’s it! Of course you could decorate with football-themed banners or use coordinating plates and tableware, but those are extras beyond the television and the food.
Here’s a breakdown of tasks to coordinate your 2019 Super Bowl Party:
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- Invite your family and friends. Make sure to tell them if they can arrive early or stay after the game. Since many football lovers are also beer aficionados, it’s acceptable to make your party BYOB. Many Super Bowl parties are also a potluck. Be sure to notify your guests if you want they to bring an appetizer to share.
- Prep the details. Clean house. Pull out extra chairs and tables. Provide plates, cups (and a Sharpie for their name), napkins, silverware, etc. Tip: Now is a great time to wipe down your television! A damp microfiber cloth should do the trick beautifully.
- Prepare appetizers. The options are endless but here are my favorite recipes for party appetizers.
My Favorite Appetizers
- Skinny Spinach Dip. Greek yogurt and cheese combine to be the best spinach dip I’ve ever tasted! Dip veggies, crackers or chips into this dish. Bonus: It’s tasty when served warm or cool. So don’t worry if it sits on the counter throughout the Super Bowl game.
- Apple Cookies: Slice apples into round discs (the shape of a cookie). Top with a nut butter, granola, raisins and chocolate chips.
- Pork Tenderloin Crostini: A piece of Italian bread toast topped with cream cheese, spicy jam, and thinly sliced pork tenderloin. The men particularly like this one because it’s filling!
- Charcuterie Board: An assortment of cheeses, crackers, deli meat, and fruit is always a party favorite. Here’s what I like to put on mine: honey goat cheese, Italian parmesan, and dill havarti, with prosciutto, Milanese salami, and a hard sausage, plus grapes, strawberries, and raspberries (optional: stick a white chocolate chip inside of each raspberry). I include a ramekin of honey and one of jam, which pair nicely with the cheeses!
- Homemade Spicy Queso: Real cheese combined with ground meat and spices for a homemade queso dip. Bonus: it stays warm in a crockpot!
- Loaded Nachos: Arrange tortilla chips on a baking sheet. Next sprinkle on shredded cheese, followed by toppings of your choice (we like diced bell peppers, onions, olives, shredded chicken, and black beans). Top with more shredded cheese and another layer of tortilla chips. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and ingredients are warmed.
- Brie and Apple Crescent Rolls. Stick a slice of brie cheese and a slice of green apple (peeled) inside of a crescent roll. Drizzle with honey. Bake and enjoy. Pairs well with wine, so serve this if your guests prefer wine over beer.Homemade Breaded Cheese Sticks. These are always gobbled up quickly when I prepare them for the Super Bowl (or any party, really!). Here’s my recipe:2 bricks of mozzarella cheese
¼ cup flour mixed with ½ Tbsp Italian seasoning
2 eggs, beaten
1-2 cups of bread crumbs
Pizza sauce (for dipping)- Slice the brick of cheese into sticks. (Or bite-sized chunks if you prefer.) Place the cheese on a baking pan in the freezer for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Dip the frozen cheese into the flour mixture, then into the beaten eggs, then into the bowl of bread crumbs. Line on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-12 minutes, just until the cheese begins to melt and the bread crumbs brown.
- Serve immediately with pizza sauce for dipping.
Enjoy your Super Bowl party!
The big day will be here before you know it! Enjoy the exciting football game, entertaining halftime show, enjoyable company of friends and family, plus the tasty appetizers!
