Guilt-Free and Guilty Superbowl Pleasures!

Because life is all about balance... The Superbowl tends to be a day of mindless snacking, beer drinking, TV watching, and debauchery.  My goal this year is to not eat myself sick.  And, one of the easiest way to do that is to fill your coffee table with healthier food options....DUH!!  Bring out the heavy stuff for a meal, and keep the lighter stuff within arms reach.

Superbowl Day Line-up

Black and Tan!

Black and Tan 

A show stopper drink!  Enjoy a black and tan, at home!  The tan part should be a pilser, pale ale or a light lager (we used Kona Longboard), and the black should be a stout (we used Guinness).  Pour the lighter colored beer into a pint chilled glass, filling just over half way.  Then, using a bent spoon lowered into the glass, carefully and slowly....pour Guinness over the spoon to layer it on top of the lighter beer. This takes some practice, but it's worth it!! 

Black Velvet

Fill a champagne flute 2/3 with sparkling wine, the top with Guinness! Cheers

Don't want to enter a food coma during the Superbowl???  Try these "Guilt-Free Pleasures"!!

Baked Chicken Wings with Classic Buffalo Sauce, and Honey BBQ sauce
Grilled Garlic-Lemon Artichokes
Caramel Apple Nachos (take a tart, crisp, apple...and slice it into thin slices.  Arrange apple slices neatly on a plate.  Top with caramel sauce, and sprinkles! Done!)

In case you want to indulge, because every now and then, it's good to indulge, you can enjoy these "Guilty Pleasures" too!

Chili Dogs Make the chili ahead of time, and reheat in either a crock pot, or on the stove.  About 15 minutes before serving, grill hot dogs and buns.  Careful not to burn your buns!!  Assemble the hot dogs, and pile high with chili.  Add cheese, onions, jalapeno's, cilantro, sour cream etc.  Yummm!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

All these recipes feed a CROWD of people.  So, start cooking ahead of time, stock up up your fridge and freezer, so on game day you're not running around like a chicken with your head cut off.