Saturday, January 31, 2015

Superbowl Treats

Tomorrow is the Superbowl. Usually, I am fairly excited for the day even if my beloved Packers aren't playing. Football, family, halftime shows, funny/sweet commercials, and lots of tasty food. What's not to like? 

This year? I'm not excited. And that's putting it mildly. The halftime show is Katy Perry. Pass. The commercials have already been showing on the internet so that is a big bust. And I really don't like either team playing. Boo. I kind of feel like this:
I really don't think I'll even watch most of it. But, I will be making some treats. Because, why not, right?

Here are a few of my favorites:

Cheesey Chip Dip

1 pound ground beef
1 box of Velveeta Cheese
1 small jar of Salsa (mild, medium, or spicy to your liking)

While ground beef is being browned on the stove, cut the cheese into chunks and put in a crockpot. Add the salsa to the crockpot and cook both on High, stirring frequently, until the cheese is melted. When the meat is done add it to the crockpot and turn the setting to Low or a Keep Warm setting if you have one.  
It is easy peasy and super yummy. Everyone loves this dip.

The next one is the ever popular Rolo pretzel. I'm sure most of you have seen this one already but for those of you that haven't it is a must try. 

Rolo Pretzels

1 bag of Rolos
1 bag of walnuts
1 bag of pretzels
(you will have leftover supplies of walnuts and pretzels so you can buy extra bags of Rolos to make even more if you want)

Preheat oven to 325. Place tinfoil (I actually used wax paper but you have to be really careful with that in the oven- but the treats to stick as much to the wax paper) on a cookie sheet. Line up as many pretzels as you can fit on the sheet. Next place one Rolo directly on top of each pretzel. Place the cookie sheet in the oven for 2 minutes, just long enough to make the Rolo soft. Take the sheet out of the oven and immediately begin placing a walnut on top of each Rolo. Squish the walnut down into the Rolo so that the chocolate spreads and covers almost the whole pretzel. Set the tray aside (I usually set them outside in the cold for a little while to speed the process) to let them firm up. 
You don't have to worry about storing them because they won't last long enough to be stored. These are always gone the very day I make them. So simple and so delicious.

If you are looking to have something a little healthier you might want a fruit plate. If you don't want it  to be too healthy you can add this fruit dip.

Fruit Dip
1 8 ounce pkg of strawberry cream cheese
1 7 ounce jar of marshmallow cream
1 cup of whipped cream

Mix all three ingredients until blended and chill in the fridge for an hour or so before serving. You may want to add a little more whipped cream to get the dip to the consistency you like. 
I think the fruit dip might be my personal favorite. I feel good about myself eating so much fruit and it cuts the grease of all the other garbage I'm stuffing myself with. Stuff like my bacon wrapped water chestnuts, or bacon wrapped mini weenies, or little meatballs. I didn't include those recipes because most people have so many of those recipes already but obviously those are staples.

The last recipe is a little creation of my own. I don't even really have a name for it but it is another of my favs.

1 pkg of mozzarella pearls
1 small pkg of fresh basil leaves
1 small pkg of grape tomatoes
Balsamic vinegar
toothpicks
(optional- prosciutto)

Start by cutting the grape tomatoes in half. Slice the basil leaves into small sections about an inch each. On each toothpick place on mozzarella pearl, a basil leave (I usually fold them in half) and then a tomato. If you are using crumbled prosciutto I place it at the end. I prefer sliced prosciutto but then you have to slice it approximately the same size as the basil leaf, fold it over and place it in between the basil and tomato. Sometimes I make a plate with half with prosciutto and half without.

Once you have all you toothpicks organized on a plate and everyone is ready to eat sprinkle a bit of Balsamic vinegar over the whole plate. Do not to this too early because if it sits around too long it will start to make the basil soggy. Also, you don't want to add too much and overwhelm the plate.

This has become a family favorite. Every time I make this for an event someone asks me for the "recipe" or where I get the mozzarella pearls (most grocery stores have them in the "fancy cheese" section of the deli or produce areas).

There you have it people. Some super duper easy recipes for your Superbowl party.

Whatever you are doing tomorrow I hope it is delicious!

9 comments:

Riahli said...

Yum! The rolo pretzels look amazing! Have you tried parchment paper instead? I use a lot of that with my grain free baking and it works wonderfully and I have no problems with it in the oven. :)

The last two food items look so delicious, especially the last one. I could eat a whole plate of that to myself! ;)

I'm not a football fan, like at all, but saying that around here is like treason! I mean seriously people get nasty! 12th man and all that. I get so annoyed this time of year, ha ha! We are headed to a Super Bowl party but the only reason I'm going is to see some dear friends and family, I couldn't care less about the rest. And because of the special diet that Banden, Atty and I are on right now we probably won't be able to eat most of the amazing smelling/looking stuff there, so blah. ;) I will have to bring lots of GAPS approved treats for us, so it won't (hopefully) be too awful. The noise though, I'm not sure what to do about the noise, ugggg!

I did think about you that last game, the Seahawks were playing against your team right? I know you all are big fans. I was suffering from a head cold and once again cursing football as everyone started to scream. I was trying to take a nap in my room, which shows you how sick I was, because I never take naps! I was actually glad the Seahawks seemed to be losing because everyone was being so blessedly quiet! Then they weren't. The house started shaking! I gave up and came out and saw what was happening. Can you still be bloggy friends with someone who lives in a house full of Seahawks fans? ;) If it means anything I wish they had lost… and just saying that is like taking my own life into my hands! ;) I'm going to have to watch my mouth tomorrow! Ha ha!

Bijoux said...

I've never watched the Super Bowl in my life! Isn't that funny? I make the same appetizer as you on the bottom photo, but I use the longer bamboo skewers to double up on the ingredients. I also add Kalamato olives and also drizzle olive oil with the balsamic. They are a beautiful appetizer!

I will have to try your Rolo pretzels. I've only done the Hershey kiss and M&M pretzels. I will consider the walnut a healthy addition!

Kat said...

Riahli- Yes! Parchment paper works much better but I accidentally got wax paper at the store last time. Oops. ;)
I still don't want to talk about the last game. How we let that game slip away like that is just a mystery. A horrible, painful mystery. And yes, we can definitely still be friends. :)

Bijoux- Oooo. That sounds yummy too!

betty said...

I like all the appetizers you listed here! Too bad I read this after we went to the store, LOL :) I'm bummed about the Packers not being in it....so close......I too am not fond of either team playing, but son and his girlfriend and her daughter and her sister are coming up for the day so its a reason to celebrate :) (and we might watch a bit of the game too :)

betty

Tabor said...

The best thing, and in my opinion only interesting thing, about the over hyped football game is that disgusting unhealthy and delicious food. One good day to break all the rules of eating. As you know, football (a multi-million dollar non-profit non-tax paying industry with gladiators who have been caught in rape, drug use, wife-beating, child beating, murder...sorry) is not my idea of a fun way to spend time. Now, maybe soccer...!

Kat said...

Tabor- I agree with your mini rant. However, so many of my Packers (Donald Driver, Aaron Rodgers- who was up for the Walter Payton humanitarian award for all his service work, that he NEVER talks about) are great guys and really give back to the community. The Packers organization is all about quality people and helping others. Of course, you are gonna have a few stinkers sneak in there every once in a while but the Packers really don't put up with any of it. The Packers really make watching football fun (maybe it was a bit rough in the 80s but we made it through). :)

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I, like you, was not all that excited to watch the game. In my mind, Seattle shouldn't have been there. Packers, yes. So disappointed.

I did watch. Skipped halftime. And was glad I was there for the end. Righteous retribution. Stunned Seattle fans. I'm still a stunned Packer fan. Food looks great. Super Bowl fare. When you can't have brats...

Unknown said...

All your food looks SO yummy. The game was kind of exciting. You know, if you cared. ;-p

Daisy said...

I was not happy with the Seahawks stealing my Packers' opportunity. The Patriots? They're the NY Yankees of the NFL - the team everyone loves to hate. I only saw the last five minutes of the game - and that was the most exciting part.

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson