"super bowl snacks" news and stories

Still don't know what to take to that Super Bowl potluck party? You don't need to impress anyone with your mad culinary skillz at a football party, so save the foie gras terrine recipe for another day, and just bring spinach dip.

Spinach Dip

1 cup of mayonnaise
1 package Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix (a.k.a. "Recipe Mix")
1 pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
2 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced
1 pint of sour cream

Combine all ingredients. Cover and chill two hours or over night. Serve with crudités or bread chunks.

[photo: jenyu]

It's no secret that more avocados are consumed during Super Bowl weekend than at any time of year, and it is in that spirit that I offer up one more avocado appetizer for your football fete. I wish I could remember where this recipe came from.  If it sounds familiar to you please tell me so I can give credit where credit is due.

If you love avocados, but don't want to make guacamole this weekend, try this. It's savory and creamy and perfectly avocado-y:

No Super Bowl party is complete without the requisite 7-layer Mexican dip. My recipe was handed down to me by an older family friend with the notes "Men love this!" scrawled across it...so hands off, ladies! It serves a large group so you can divide this between two plates. And, please, serve only with Fritos Scoops.  Remember, I take my football food seriously, and just like how you can only serve clam dip with Ruffles, there is just no substitute for Fritos in this recipe.

Walking Taco

Note: There is some debate over the origin of the name (thanks, commenters!). Walking Taco is the name of the recipe given to me.

2 cans of refried beans combined with 1 packet of taco seasoning mix
1 tub of guacamole (e.g. the kind where you mix the salsa in, or make your own)
1 pint of sour cream
2 4 oz. cans diced green chiles (or use one can of jalapeños and one can of green chiles if you want it spicy)
2 4 oz. can of sliced black olives (or a combination of green and black olives)
4 green onions thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2/3 pounds of sharp cheddar grated

Divide bean mixture between two plates. Spread guacamole over both plates of beans. Layer remaining ingredients between the two plates. Top both with cheese. Serve cold or at room temp with Fritos Scoops.

[UPDATE] More of Slashfood eating the Super Bowl:

• Pittsburgh Eats Pierogis
• Party Theme: Spanish Tapas
• Chocolate Football Peanut Butter Cupcakes
• To Drink: Touchdown Tea
• Party Theme: Tokyo Touchdown
• Spicy and Sweet Fruit Salsas
• Watch out for fart-inducers
• For the Kids: Ants on a Log
• Seattle Oysters
• Easy Artichoke Dip

What's the most important thing to remember about Super Bowl snacks? (And I know you just didn't answer "health," because no self-respecting football snacker counts calories during the Super Bowl!) Well, reducing the number of farts induced by your food, of course.

OK, maybe that's not on your mind, but Bill Downs (creator of the "world's first fart blog") says it should be. His advice is to avoid refined foods ("if it's white, it ain't right") and broccoli, eggs and beer (uh-oh). He advises that you start your day with an apple, some oatmeal, or whole grain bread. And drink water.

So what does make a good, low-fart, Super Bowl snack? He doesn't really say, so I'll take a couple of stabs. Maybe a nice layered dip with salsa fresca, avocadoes, and plain yogurt, served with flax-seed tortilla chips? Savory biscotti served with tapenade? Pimiento cheese toasts made with homemade mayo, green olives, and wholegrain country sourdough? Now I'm getting hungry...

Source

My beloved San Francisco Forty-Niners aren't playing in upcoming the Super Bowl (and they've sucked since the 90's) so really, I have no interest in it. But, boy do I love football food. In my opinion the snacks should be easy and adundant. Here's a  delicious dip that you can whack together in minutes. Make sure you get out and throw around the pigskin after eating this—it's rich.

Easy Artichoke Dip

You can make it fancier, but why?

1 12 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (not the marinated kind)
1 cup mayonnaise
4-6 ounces of parmesan cheese (or a mixture of parmesan and romano)

Mix ingredients together. Bake a 350º for 35 minutes. Serve hot with crackers or toasted baguette slices.

Keep an eye out over the next two weeks for more party food ideas from me. I take my football munchies very seriously.

[photo: jenyu]