Sup(p)er Bowl

We like a good sporting event at our house and we always like delicious food, so the Super Bowl is always viewed and celebrated at our house no matter which teams are playing. One of the reasons that makes the event so much fun for Aidan is that it is one of only two times in the year when eating in the living room in front of the television is acceptable; the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year's Day is the other.

The menu for last evening's game:

• Sausage cheese balls (recipe from Jimmy Dean, although I used Bob Evans sausage - shhh, don't tell);
• Two flavors of chicken wings from Quaker Steak and Lube;
• Heluva Good french onion dip (and chips, of course);
• Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip, from Foodie With Family;
• A slightly modified version of Foodie With Family's Pizza Party Bread; and
• King Arthur Flour's Hot Buttered Soft Pretzels.

James and I shared a growler of Ommegang's excellent Belgian Pale Ale. It seems like a lot of food for just three people and it was, and we will be eating leftovers for days (never a bad thing at our house). We could have fed a lot more people, but I am glad it was just us three. We have hosted Super Bowl parties over the years and attended more than a few, but when I really want to watch a sporting event and not have to make party small talk, then it is best to stay at home as a family. It is also relaxing to prepare foods that I know we all like and not have to meet the dietary requirements or preferences of guests.

And now a word about those pretzels: YUM. I saw the recipe posted on King Arthur Flour's Facebook page last week and thought they sounded delicious. Aidan saw me looking at the post and asked if I could please, PLEASE, PLEASE make them for the Super Bowl, and who am I to deny a reasonable food request? The pretzels are surprisingly easy to make and looked beautiful:

 

While not as toothsome as a good ballpark pretzel, they were warm, chewy, yeasty, salty and buttery - what's not to like? Aidan took a leftover pretzel to school for his morning snack and has already asked when I am going to make them again. I think the answer is very soon.

As for the Super Bowl, it was a fun game to watch although the team we chose to favor, the San Francisco 49ers, did not win. A good Cleveland girl like me root for the Baltimore Ravens? Never(more)!