If you have not heard already, the National Football League will
hold its championship game this weekend, commonly called the
”
Super Bowl.
”
For many people, it is the first sporting highlight of the New
Year. For others, like me, it is a time to socialize with family
and friends and to sample a variety of fantastic party food.
If you have not heard already, the National Football League will hold its championship game this weekend, commonly called the “Super Bowl.” For many people, it is the first sporting highlight of the New Year. For others, like me, it is a time to socialize with family and friends and to sample a variety of fantastic party food.
During the 40 years this championship game has been played, the food served at typical Super Bowl parties has changed with it. Simple chips and dip have evolved into a gourmet feast. Of course, there is plenty of room for these two extremes – and everything in between.
Many people view food consumption on Super Bowl Sunday much like they do Thanksgiving dinner. However, instead of having the one large dinner, people do what I call “grazing” all day long. Like cattle, people will visit the food table when they first arrive at the party and continue to visit at regular intervals. Because of this, it’s best to have food that is mobile and can be served in small portions.
Ordering your favorite pizza or buying an appetizer platter at the grocery store seems like the easiest solution. But with a little planning and preparation at least a day ahead of time, you can have many of your favorite items with very little work on Sunday. You may choose to ask your guests to contribute their favorite plate of snacks – it will cut down on the preparation you will need to do in the kitchen.
The first two recipes are inspired by the locations where both of this year’s football teams call home, Seattle and Pittsburgh. The Pacific Northwest is known for its smoked salmon. The salmon in this Seattle-inspired recipe is hot-smoked and has a drier and firmer feel.
A Pittsburgh institution, Isaly’s, gave birth to the chipped ham sandwich. Chipped ham is actually boiled or cooked ham that has been shaved. Your grocery store deli will be able to shave the ham very thin for you.
Every party needs a special theme drink. While the football players on the field drink their Gatorade, consider serving the same with a few extra ingredients to make it an adult beverage. It can be served in a punch bowl or in a pitcher.
Smoked Salmon Spread
From Caprial and John Pence, www.caprialandjohnskitchen.com
Makes about 2 cups
1 pound cream cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chopped fresh dill
Tabasco to taste
4-ounce hot-smoked salmon
1 box of your favorite crackers or toasted cocktail bread
Step 1: Place the cream cheese in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth.
Step 2: Add the garlic, dill and Tabasco, and process until smooth.
Step 3: Add the smoked salmon, and process until smooth.
Step 4: Season if needed. Serve with crackers or toasted bread.
Isaly’s Chipped Ham Sandwich
From Isaly’s Deli, Pittsburgh
Makes 32 small triangles
2 pounds chipped (shaved) boiled or cooked ham
16 slices white bread
8 slices American cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise (more if you like mayonnaise on your sandwiches)
Bag of potato chips (serve extra with the rest of your buffet)
Step 1: Lay out 16 slices of bread in an assembly line style and spread each slice with about 1 Tbs. mayonnaise. Determine which piece of bread will the “bottom” piece of bread for your sandwich.
Step 2: Add one slice of American cheese to the bottom slice of each sandwich. Add 1/4 pound of the chipped or shaved ham on top of the cheese, followed by a few pieces of potato chips.
Step 3: Complete the sandwich with the top slice of bread.
Step 4: Cut each sandwich into triangles and decoratively arrange on a platter.
Gatorade Margarita
From Mitch Mariani
1 Part Tequila
1 Part Triple Sec
3 Parts Lemon Lime Gatorade
Ice
Blend ingredients in a blender. Serve chilled.
