Penalty Flag-Free Football Food

Thursday, January 29, 2009

With the Superbowl quickly approaching, you may soon find yourself hosting a football party or bringing a dish to watch the big game with friends and family. While your team's performance can't be guaranteed, you can ensure that the food you prepare falls nothing short of fabulous. 

In addition to traditional football food, I included some Southwest flavors as well as Pittsburgh favorites in a glimpse at my line-up for the evening:

For the Pre-Game Show: 

Cowboy Caviar

With yummy creamy avacado, black-eyed peas, tomato, corn and smokey cilantro, this colorful twist on traditional chips and salsa is sure to add some spice to your fiesta right out of the gate. Pair this personal favorite of mine with warmed Tostitos Gold tortilla chips for a hearty Tex-Mex taste.

Cowboy Caviar

Photo Source: MyRecipes.com

For the Main Event:

Pittsburgh Salad

If you're from Pittsburgh or know anything about the city's cuisnary culture, then you know Pittsburgers like to eat some rather unique foods. Not only did they invent their own style of cooking steaks, but they also like ketchup a little too much (only Heinz of course), and french fries are practically a food group. In fact, call them crazy, but they like french fries so much that they eat them on everything, including salads and sandwiches.   

Pittsburgh Salad

Photo Source: Annie Mentzer

Any good Pittsburgh salad has to have cheese (provolone typically, sometimes cheddar), steak, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, onions and ranch dressing in addition to the french fries...oh and of course the lettuce!

BBQ Cups

Simple to make and budget-friendly, BBQ Cups are a delicious treat made of flakey Hungry Jack biscuits, brown sugar BBQ sauce-soaked lean ground beef topped with cheddar cheese. This clever finger-friendly food can be baked in muffin tins. 

BBQ Cups

Photo Source: The Cutting Edge of Ordinary

For the Health-Conscious

If you're looking for healthy snacks to make for Sunday instead of traditional football food, Health has a great online article written with you in mind! 

If You're Playing Host

There's an excellent post on Rachael Ray's blog with fun tips for hosts and hostesses. My favorite recommedation? Go to SpecialEventTicketing.com to order personalized guest invitations that look like authentic sports tickets. 

Create fun ticket-style invitations for your guests.

Photo Source: Rachael Ray

So let the games (in and out of the kitchen) begin! Go Steelers!