Appetizers Make Your Super Bowl Party Memorable
Planning a Super Bowl party this year? Here's some tips to follow when preparing appetizers.
Nashville, Ark. – It doesn’t matter if your team made it to the Super Bowl or not. Chances are you already have plans for Super Bowl Sunday. Let’s face it; football is the favorite American sport. You may decide to celebrate quietly at home or plan to have friends over for a big party. Regardless of how you choose to watch the game, make sure the right appetizers are included in your plan.
Appetizers are one of the easiest ways to add excitement and stimulate conversation among guests, as well as add a festive atmosphere. The varieties of savory and innovative appetizers are endless. With careful planning and advanced preparation, mouth-watering appetizers can be made with minimal amount of time and effort.
When selecting which appetizers to server, keep in mind the type of occasion, menu, number of guests, who the guests will be, and the time needed to prepare each recipe. Those that can be made ahead of time and frozen, then heated at the last minute, are especially handy. For your Super Bowl party, you will probably want to serve appetizers that fit the occasion such as sandwiches, chips and dip, etc.
When appetizers appear as the main feature, plan a wide variety. You may be tempted to try out some new recipes, which are always a great idea, but also serve other more traditional ones that you know everyone will like.
When deciding between hot and cold appetizers, consider the amount of space available in the refrigerator and oven. It is best to make dips and spreads in advance. Many times their flavor improves, if stored in the refrigerator overnight or even two days in advance. If serving hot appetizers, they need to be served in stages; so as the guests finish one batch, another is piping hot ready to be served. Electric skillets or chafing dishes are convenient for keeping appetizers warm.
When serving more than one kind of appetizer, offer a variety of contrasting colors, textures and flavors. A dish of sweet and sour meatballs, a rich and creamy cheese dip, colorful fresh vegetables and your favorite chips or crackers is a multi-taste and texture combination. Don’t be afraid to serve exotic or spicy appetizers. For calorie conscious guests, try to provide a few lower-calorie appetizers.
In general, the number of appetizers you will need will depend upon the length of time the guests will remain. For a four hour period, plan on approximately eight appetizers per person during the first two hours and four appetizers per person for the remaining two hours.
If serving appetizers on one central table, dress it up! Here is where you can let your imagination run wild and be creative. Make this a party to remember. You can use team colors or make your table look like a football field complete with field goals. Remember it’s not the amount you spend on decorations that count, but that you make it memorable.
Appetizer presentation can be enhanced by using the food itself as decoration. Huge crackers make novel display platters for spreads or sliced meat and cheeses. Hoagie sandwiches look great by themselves. Serve them on a platter or in a basket. Make your favorite cheese ball recipe and shape it into a football, sprinkle chopped nuts on top and add thin pepper strips for the lacing.
No matter what appetizers you choose to serve at your Super Bowl party, remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
Recipe of the Week
Here is a great recipe to try at your Super Bowl party. Or you might just enjoy this appetizer anytime of the year! Dana Newberg, Twilight EHC Club member shared this recipe. They will go great with the Barbecue Ribs or Cornish Hens that you pick up at the 4-H Super Bowl Barbecue Sale on Saturday. You can also purchase ribs the day of the sale which is held at the Radio Station in Nashville. Ribs should be ready by 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Be early! They usually sold out by 1:00 p.m.
Hot Popper Dip
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese
½ cup Parmesan cheese
1 4 oz. can diced green chilies
1 (4 oz.) can diced jalapenos or 4 fresh jalapenos, seeded and chopped
1 cup Panko crumbs
½ cup Parmesan cheese
¼ cup butter, melted
Mix first six ingredients, put into a 2 quart greased baking dish. Mix Panko, remaining Parmesan and melted butter, sprinkle over cheese and pepper mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve warm with chips, crackers or baguette slices.
By Jean Ince
County Extension Agent - Staff Chair
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Jean Ince
County Extension Agent - Staff Chair
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
421 N. Main St, Nashville AR 71852
(870) 845-7517
jince@uada.edu
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