Super Bowl XLVI is two weeks away! Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana. Been there! Back in college. Think HOOSIERS! Unfortunately, they aren’t known for their culinary prowess, beside breaded pork tenderloin, so I skipped the Hoosier theme on the plan.
If you’re planning on having friends over, invite them now… not a week from now. Plan ahead.
Here is a simple plan to follow, especially if you work all week long and don’t have a lot of time on your hands.

Two weeks ahead (today):
*Invite your guests via Evite.com. In the invite, ask guests to bring something (from a list you put in the invite: chips and dips- spinach artichoke; shrimp dip; salsa; hummus, pita chips, tortilla chips, potato chips; slow cooker items like chili, hoisin meatballs; makings for nachos; pigs in a blanket; veggie items; warm queso dip or a fondue with simple dippers; chicken wings, specialty drink, beer, wine, cookies, bars, ice cream). Make it a competition. Best food or drink item walks away with a prize! A share of the pool?
Let them know they are to also bring the platters, baskets, serving pieces, etc. Can’t tell you how many times guests arrive with a tin of food, expecting that I’ll have everything to serve it on.
*Plan what you’ll make.
A couple of show-stoppers like an amazing turkey chili (recipe below) with sides of grated cheddar cheese, sliced black olives, sour cream, and squares of store bought cornbread. Some fabulous chicken wings (BEST BUFFALO WING recipe below). A great dip (recipe below). A make ahead specialty drink (recipe below).
Guests will bring the rest!!

One week ahead:
*Buy your beer, wine, soft drinks, specialty drink ingredients.
*Decide on a specialty drink if doing one. (recipe below).
*Purchase disposables if you’re going non-green. One day a year is ok.
Get lots of napkins, clear glassware (I’m phobic of colored plastic), plates, silverware if needed.
*Purchase any food items now that won’t perish- canned, bottled, can be frozen. Just makes it easier to PLAN AHEAD.

Friday before:
*Food shop for items you’re making, pretzels, chips, dips, etc.

Saturday:
*Prepare and cook whatever you can today, like your chili, your dips.
*Get stuff out that you’ll be using: coolers, bottle openers, ice scoops, ice bowls, tablecloth, platters, serving pieces, disposables. Remember to use big bowls for dips, salsa. You don’t want to be replenishing all night long.
*Set your bar table up.
*Set your table up. Label bowls with what’s going in them with sticky notes. Serving pieces out too. You want to set the food table near or in same room as the TV so guests can nibble throughout the game.

Day of:
*Should be minimal work to do since you planned ahead.
*Finish cooking in the morning. No cooking allowed during the game! Only minimal reheating!
*Neaten the house. Hand towels in the bathroom. Pet pieve.
*Purchase lots of ice for drinks and icing down. I usually do 2 lbs. per person. Yes, it’s a lot. Saves your significant other from going out and buying more during the game. Ouch! Leave it outside in the snow!

Hour before:
*Ice down drinks in tubs near drink table.
*Make room in the hall closet for coats
*Dips and chips out covered lightly with plastic wrap for easy removal.
*Slow cooker items ready for reheating
*Relax and may the best team win! Patriots!! Just lost a few of you!

Entertaining on this day should be easy. Remember Monday is a work day so don’t overdo it! Here are some of my favorite Superbowl recipes:

Turkey Chili – with Sides of Cheddar Cheese, Olives, Sour Cream and Cornbread or tortilla chips

3 T. Vegetable or Canola Oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 lb. ground turkey

3 T. chili powder
2 T. sugar
1 16 oz. Can Kidney beans or black beans- drained
1 28 oz. Can Crushed Tomatoes and juice
Several shakes Worcestershire sauce
Several shakes of Hot Sauce.

Heat large pot on medium heat. Add Vegetable or Canola oil. Add above veggies and sauté until translucent. Remove the vegetables from the pan. If the pan needs more oil at this point, add another tablespoon or so. Add ground turkey and cook until all pink is removed and meat starts to brown. Add remaining ingredients and cook for 30 minutes. Serve with the following garnishes.

Garnishes
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Sliced Black Olives
Sour Cream
Squares of store bought cornbread

Buffalo Wings

For the dressing:

Cup mayo
½ c. sour cream
2 T. fresh lemon juice
½ t. Worcestershire sauce
¼ t. sugar
¼ t. cayenne pepper
¼ t. onion powder
¼ t. garlic powder
8 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

Mix all ingredients and serve with wings

For the wings:

12 whole chicken wings (about 2 lbs.); cut in two at joints, tips discarded
3 T. Louisiana hot sauce
2 T. olive oil
2 T. Cajun seasoning mix
1 t. onion powder
1/2 t. garlic powder
½ t. dried dill weed
½ t. salt
¼ t. black pepper

4-6 lg. celery stalks, trimmed and cut into 3-inch length.

Broil wings both sides.

Add remaining ingredients to saucepan. Warm while stirring till combined. When wings are cooked, use tongs to dip them in sauce in the saucepan. Serve on platter with extra sauce in bowl on the side, as well as blue cheese dressing in another bowl. These are addicting, and the best recipe I have ever found for buffalo wings.

Athenian Artichoke Dip

1 14 oz can Artichoke Hearts in water, drained & chopped
4 oz Feta Cheese, chopped
¼ c Red Pepper, chopped
1 Garlic Clove, pressed
1 c Mayonnaise
3 Green Onions, thinly sliced
¾ tsp Basil (I sometimes use Tarragon)

Mix everything together and bake at 350 for approx 30 min until bubbly.

Can be mixed day before and baked day of party. Serve with good quality tortilla chips.

Sangria- I chose this drink because you HAVE TO make it ahead. I don’t like doing anything the day before a party! I know it’s kinda’ summery, but I don’t want my guests getting so tanked they can’t make it home!

To Make 1 Quart

2C Shiraz
½ C Vodka Raz
½ C Barcardi Limon
1 C Sour Mix
Splash of Sprite
Squeeze 2 lime wedges and 2 orange wedges
Garnish w/ slices of fruit- pears, apples, oranges, limes