Creating Joy - Everyday Celebrations

Photo from: http://blogs.westword.com/cafesociety/2012/01/super-bowl-meat-stadium-photos.php

Long before kickoff, hard core fans will be creating masterpieces in the kitchen to keep spirits high even when their team is down by 14 at the half. Luckily, most Super Bowl party attendees are more easily satisfied than the guests presented the masterpiece above!

It does bring to mind that one of the key rules of any successful celebration: Food Safety. No matter how clever presentation is, your guests are not going to appreciate taking home food poisoning to remember your event! A good rule of thumb is foods served at room temp are only good for two hours. After two hours, throw it out. It makes much more sense to do smaller displays and supplement as needed as the night goes on.

My strategy is to break down the evening into three sections; pregame, first half, and second half. That leaves enough time to observe food safety but also to enjoy the game. There is no point in hosting a party that is overwhelming to the point you miss the main event! Remember, your guests will notice if you aren’t having a good time too. A little planning goes a long way toward a fun, relaxed event.

Pregame, I suggest doing finger food style munchies. Some of my staples are chips, popcorn, a veggie plate or some hummus, and maybe crackers and cheese. Throw in a signature dip recipe, like my brother in law’s famous Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip. Easy to have ready as your guests arrive and lets them snack and visit through the early commercials and commentator’s opening remarks.

Just prior to kickoff, set out your heartiest food selections. You want to keep it simple with items that are easy to eat and simple to serve. My guys and gals will be enjoying meatballs, sub sandwiches, cocktail weenies in barbecue sauce, and my special sausage cheese bread. Chili, pizza, and chicken wings are also big hits for this type of party. Don’t forget a vegetarian option if your group isn’t full of carnivores, like mine is! Make sure to have plenty of napkins and disposable plates to keep mess to a minimum.

When the Halftime show rolls around, do some quick clean up and put out your desserts. Again, simple is better. A selection of cookies, crackers and cheese, and fruit will go a long way.  At this point everyone is getting full and will just want a nibble or two so they make it through the second half. Candy set out around the room also helps combat the nervous energy during the nail biter final minutes of the game.

Beverages play a huge roll in a successful Super Bowl Party as well. Make sure you have plenty of choices in a large enough quantity to last through the night.  This is always a great thing to suggest guests bring, if they ask to help out. Beer, sodas, and water are the staples of this event. Set up a cooler near the television (but keep traffic out of viewing range!) and let your guest grab a drink without missing a play.

Décor for this kind of party is pretty easy. Use team colors for paper products. Set up voting area to have your guest vote for their favorite Super Bowl commercial or their MVP of the game. Encourage your guests to wear jerseys or team colors. No need to go all out on this one, as long as you have a big TV and room to cheer those great plays!

Do you have a Super Bowl recipe that always draws cheers? Share it in the comments; I’d love to try it. I’ll be sure to share my BIL’s Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe before the big game.  Remember to come back and check it out!

(For more food safety hints for the big game visit: http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/superbowl2012.html.)