Super Bowl Sunday is Sunday, February 5th!

"Are you ready for some football?"  

This coming Sunday is of course, Super Bowl Sunday!  A day in which friends and family come together for good food, company and (hopefully) a great game!  This year we have the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons on the field, with Lady Gaga providing the half-time entertainment.  When we host our friends at our house, I provide some sort of finger food to begin with, a main course and dessert, while our friends add their various contributions to the feast as well.  

Here is my "go-to" menu; enjoy!

The recipes I have chosen for our football party spread are simple, easy to prepare in advance and delicious for all ages to enjoy!  The kick it off, we will start with "Brie and Blueberry Bites ."  For the main event, what goes better with football on the TV than "Delicious Chili Bowls?"  To finish off the evening, "Super Sundaes" are definitely the perfect way to conclude the evening - even if your chosen team did not win the game!

This week since our event is at the end of the week you may have the time to do a little decorating to ensure your guests are in the spirit of it all!

So, there you have it - this week's plans; now let's get started!

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Brie & Blueberry Bites

Notes: This can be prepped the morning of the Super Bowl, then placed in the broiler 3 minutes prior to serving.  This recipe is so simple, your children can assemble these for you!

Prep Time:  20 minutes  Cooking Time: 3 minutes  Yields: 30 bites

Ingredients:

2 boxes of Mini Fillo Shells, found in the frozen section of your grocery store

8 oz wedge of Brie Cheese, with the rind cut off and cut into 1/2" cubes

1/2 pint Fresh Blueberries

Directions:  

1.  Preheat your oven broiler (if you are assembling these bites immediately before serving).
2.  On a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, place each mini fillo shell evenly spaced apart from each other.

Carefully place pressure to hold cheese securely in shell. 

3.  In each fillo shell, place one cube of the cheese; gently tap the cheese into the shell.  Be careful not to crack the shell with too much pressure.

4.  Top each of the cheese cubes with a blueberry, and again gently press the blueberry into the center of the cheese.

5.  Place baking sheet into oven and set your timer for 3 minutes.  The bites will be ready when the cheese is melted and the blueberries are slightly "popped".

6. Place onto a serving plate or platter and enjoy these savory little treats!

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Delicious Chili Bowls

Note:  You WILL need a Slow Cooker for this recipe!

Prep Time:  15 minutes     Cooking Time:  5-6 hours      Yields: 12 servings

Ingredients:

2 tbsp. Cooking Oil - I use vegetable for this recipe

1 1/2 lb. Ground Beef

1 lb. Italian Sausage, without casings

1 large Sweet Onion, diced

1 Green Pepper, deseeded and diced

4 Garlic Cloves, peeled and finely diced

1 Green Jalapeño, deseed if you want, finely chopped

28 oz. can of Crushed Tomatoes 

15.5 oz. can of Dark Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed with water

15.5 oz. can of Black Beans, drained and rinsed with water

2 tbsp. Chili Powder

1 tbsp. Ground Cumin

1tbsp. Light Brown Sugar

1 tbsp. Ground Cinnamon

2 boxes Soft Taco Boats (found in the with Taco mixes and Tortillas are located)

Have on hand to serve with Chili:

Shredded Cheese - my family prefers Cheddar or Monterey Jack Cheeses

Chopped Tomatoes

Chopped Red Peppers

Chopped Sweet Onions

Cooked Jasmine Rice

Tabasco or other Hot Sauce

Sour Cream

Ranch Dressing

Directions: 

1.  In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, place 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil.  When oil is heated, place ground beef and the sausage into the skillet.  Break up the meats with a wooden spoon and brown until there is no longer and pink meat in the skillet.  Drain any excess fats and discard.

Make sure your meat mixture no longer is pink.

2.  Remove the meats from the skillet and place in your slow cooker with the lid placed on top.

3.  Return your skillet to the stove and over medium-high heat, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet.  When warm, add the onions and green peppers.  Cook, stirring frequently until the onions are soft and slightly transparent.

4.  Add the garlic and jalapeño to the onions and cook for about 3 more minutes.  When cooking time is complete, mix the onion mixture with the meats in the slow cooker.

 5.  After the meats and veggies have been thoroughly combined, you will add the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, black beanschili powder, ground cumin, light brown sugar and the ground cinnamon.  Mix together and place lid on slow cooker.

                      

6.  Set you slowcooker on low and cook for 5-6 hours.  (I usually make this the morning of the party and have it cooking while I focus on other cooking and/or cleaning that may be need to be done!)

To Serve:


When ready to serve, place your chili into a large serving bowl, the taco boats out on a platter near the chili.   Next, you will need to have each of your condiments in smaller bowls with  smaller serving spoons for your guests to help themselves.  Make sure you have a plate to catch any droppings from the taco bowls!  See what types of creations you and your friends can come up with and enjoy!

                                           




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Super Sundaes!

Notes: This easy to set up and have your guests serve themselves dish is made more festive when served in football themed bowls.  You are going to need many spoons for serving; so don't be afraid to use plastic ones for quick and easy clean-up!

Prep Time:  10 minutes  Cooking Time: 2 minutes  Yields: 

Ingredients:
Assorted Ice Creams; vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee and mint chocolate chip
Assorted Sauces; salted caramel, chocolate fudge, butterscotch, marshamellow topping

Toppings; have fun with these!  Remember you don't have to set out the basics! Fresh fruit, chopped nuts, small candies and sprinkles all work terrific together and help your guests who may allergies
Whipped Cream

Salted Caramel, Chocolate Fudge & Butterscotch Sauces

Cherries: either fresh or the Maraschino ones will work just fine

Chocolate Chip Cookie dough, Coffee Chip & Strawberry Ice Creams

 















Cooking and Set-Up Directions:
1.  Place any sauces into small sauce pans and over low-medium heat, warm your fudge and/ or caramel sauces; stir occaisionally.  (Pay attention to these as they warm up- you do not want to burn them.)
2. Remove the sauces from heat and place each one into its own serving bowl or mug.  Place a spoon in each one for serving purposes.
3.  Place your toppings in separate bowls and own serving spoons and place on the table you will be serving your sundae buffet.

Serving Directions:
1.  Place all bowls your guests will be using for their sundaes at the far left of the table.
2.  Next, set out your ice cream assortment out on a table with each flavor having it's own serving spoon.
3.  The bowls of sauces should be placed next with their serving spoons.
4.  The assorted topping will follow next; again, each with their own serving spoon.
5.  The whipped cream and cherries should follow on the table.
6.  Finally!  At the far left of the table, place your guests' spoons and napkins so they can enjoy their delicious creations!

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I hope you have enjoyed this week's ideas for hosting your own Super Bowl Party!  If you have and questions or comments, please do not hesitate to post!  Have a great week and party!  Next week we will be looking to Valentine's Day Recipes and Ideas!

Petite Wild Mushroom, Onion and Brie Pocket Pies

Getting started fast and furiously, I re-created a recipe based off of an item from a friend's party I attended last summer.  These little bites of heaven are perfect to serve as an appetizer any time of year!  Here is the recipe with the step by step pictures:

Ingredients:
Cooking Spray
1 prepared pie crust
Dehydrated Wild Porcini Mushrooms
1 medium yellow onion

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

1 small wedge of Brie Cheese
1 egg
Fresh Parsley

Directions:
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Yields: 16 individual pot pies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
3. Roll out pie crust onto dry flat surface.
4. With a round cookie cutter (about 1 1/2" in diameter) cut out about 16 individual rounds.
5. Place cut outs onto prepared baking sheet.
6. Place about 10 pieces of the dehydrated wild porcini mushrooms into a sauce pan filled with water and place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; keep in boiling water until the mushrooms are reconstituted.
7. Strain mushrooms, finely chop them and place in a bowl for later use.
8. While the mushrooms are boiling, thinly slice yellow onion and place into a small saute pan.  Add about 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil and cook over medium-low heat until onions are tender and slightly browned.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Place into a separate bowl for later use.  (I use a mandoline to slice the onions with a thickness of 1/8".)
9. On a clean and dry cutting board, carefully cut off the rind from the brie cheese.  Discard rind pieces.  Cut cheese into 1/4" cubes and place into a separate bowl for later use.
10. To assemble pocket pies, take a pinch of the onions and place on the lower half of the pie rounds.
11. Place a teaspoon of mushrooms atop the onions.
12. Place one cube of cheese on top of mushrooms.
13. Take the top half of the round and fold over to cover the mixture on bottom half.  Press the edges together and secure by pressing the edged down with a fork.
14. In a clean bowl, beat the egg with a fork and use a pastry brush to lightly cover each pocket pie.
15. Place baking sheet in preheated oven and cook for 10 minutes.
16. While pocket pies are baking, take a small handful of fresh parsley and finely chop.  Sprinkle on a clean serving platter.
17. When pocket pies are ready, remove from oven and let stand for 1 minute.  
18. Place on serving plate and let your guests enjoy!

See pictures below for step by step visual guides!