A Super Bowl? My Definition Is A Bit Different...But My Super Bowl Food Translates Beautifully.

PLUS 4 delicious munchy recipes for game day...

As I write this post our belongings are still in storage. I sometimes dream about my pans, platters and slow cooker with a sense of deep longing. My dreams are about spring-form pans and spatulas, not pigskins or shoulder pads. I can't wait for the day when I can unpack my tools, lovingly roll them around in my palm, touch each curve and heat resistant handle, and make friends with them again. 

But today I must focus on the game. The Super Bowl, that is. And I have some thoughts about what all those words mean. Clearly something is lost in translation. And since everything is about food for me, I thought I share not only a few game day recipes, but also my interpretation of football terms.

Spinach artichoke dip is my version of a shotgun formation!

So while watching the #newenglandpatriots and the #philidelphiaeagles try to avoid the tackle, I'm tackling some fun food. And for fun, here are some football terms I really think should belong to someone wearing an apron instead of a wearing a helmet.  Don't you agree? 

​ (If you're looking for all football terms, click here!)

Of course the first is -- Super bowl: The receptacle that I place deliciousness in, so I can impress my guests at mega dinner parties. It is most likely too big for the dishwasher.

Scoop and score: That moment when peel your bread dough out of the bowl in one handful after rising and it is perfect in every way. (see photos above for clarification.)

Failed pass attempt: What happens when I carelessly toss eggshells from a distance into the trash, because I'm too lazy to walk them over 3 more feet. No first down for me.

Completion percentage: How I rate the success of my souffle-making prowess if one doesn't fall when removed from the oven. Hint. Mine is rising steadily. Heheheh...

Direct snap: The sound made when you crack the wrong bone while cutting up a whole chicken. And the sound you make when your head explodes because now both legs have been ruined.

Field goal: The best green salad ever!!! 

Hash marks: Duh...those little criss cross indentations I place across each peanut butter cookie before baking them.

And finally -- Icing the kicker: Clearly they left out a word. Icing "is" the kicker when you make sugar cookies and know there's still something missing. #iwishthenflcouldspell

In spite of your horror at reading my glossary of confusing football terms, I present a few of my FAVORITE football foods for your culinary line of scrimmage!!!

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Artichoke Spinach Dip Bruschetta With Seared Sweet Pepper

Creamy and just a little heat, the addition of seared peppers makes it different and beautiful!
Click here to download printable version.

• Ingredients
• Method

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​1 small radius loaf of good French bread, sliced into quarter inch slices and toasted on each side under broiler
1 5.3 oz. container Greek yogurt
1 can small artichoke hearts, drained thoroughly, and chopped
1 C finely grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 heaping T mayonnaise
1/8 t thyme leaves
1/8 t rosemary leaves
½ t crushed red pepper flakes
½ C cooked spinach, all moisture pressed out, chopped
3 1/8” slices of white onion, diced small
Pepper
Juice from one lemon divided into 1 teaspoon and 2 teaspoons
1 large orange sweet pepper cut into long strips
1 T canola oil
Salt
1 T red wine vinegar
1/8 t allspice

Toast bread, set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
 
In a large fry pan, heat the 1 T oil. Add the peppers and let sear on high heat. When there is charring on the peppers and they become a bit soft, add a bit of salt, and black pepper, then the lemon juice (first) and then the vinegar. Then sprinkle lightly with allspice. Let cook until lemon juice is reduced. Remove from pan and let cool in a bowl.
 
In another large bowl, combine yogurt, artichoke hearts, spinach, cheese, mayo, herbs, lemon juice, onion, red pepper flakes, and black pepper, (you don’t really need a lot of extra salt, as the parmesan cheese is salty, as are the chokes.) Add more mayo if it needs to be more moist. It should be VERY gooey and moist. Combine. Place all ingredients in a small casserole dish. Cook for 35 to 40 minutes, until edges are brown. Serve by spreading warm dip on bread and then topping with cool orange pepper slice.

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Chicken Salad and Fig Wraps

Finger food gets elevated, and what could be quicker! Either home made or store-bought chicken salad in slathered on your favorite tortilla or wrap, add soft sliced figs, and for fun, a little honey and arugula. YUM.

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Goat Cheese Stuffed Baked Jalapeno Bites

Awww, they even have their own little handles! And handy they are. A simple vinaigrette with oil, lemon juice, salt pepper and mustard, along with fresh scallions and garlic are gently ladled on roasted jalapeno halves. Then stuff them with goat cheese, top with a cherry tomato, and dust with fresh thyme.
​Take that to the end zone!

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Sausage Spinach Puff Pastry Wheels
Topped ​with Jalapeno Jelly

Easy as anything you'll ever make. If you can roll dough,
you'll have them watching you instead of the game!
Click here to download the printable version.

• Ingredients
• Method

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​½ lb. Jimmy Dean Hot Sausage, cooked and broken down (half the regular package)
½ C cooked chopped spinach, all water squeezed out. (I use the frozen kind. It is quicker.)
½ C 2% small curd cottage cheese
1/3 C fresh grated Parmesan Cheese
2 eggs, divided
½ t salt, ¼ t pepper
1 and 1/3 sheets of puff pastry
2 T flour
½ C warmed green jalapeno jelly

Bring the puff pastry to room temperature, about 45 minutes thawing on counter. Thaw and use right away. Don’t want to thaw and then let it sit. While thawing, brown the sausage and set aside. Cook the spinach, drain, remove all moisture, set aside. (You can also use leftover cooked spinach and leftover cooked sausage. Just bring to room temperature. Then this is SUPER quick!) Mix the cottage cheese, 1 egg, salt and pepper, parmesan cheese. Then stir in the spinach to the cheese mixture and blend evenly.
Beat the second egg in a small bowl, set aside. Roll out the puff pastry, attaching 1/3 panel of the other puff pastry sheet to make the one sheet. Press seams so it won’t tear. Sprinkle with flour and roll it out to about 10% bigge,r or so that it is about 12 inches tall by 16-18 inches long. Spread the cheese spinach mixture atop the dough, spreading out to edges but leaving a 1.5” lip on each of the long sides for sealing and rolling. Then sprinkle with the cooked sausage. Starting from one end, carefully roll the whole thing lengthwise, meaning that the finished roll will be 12 inches long. When you get to the end, brush the inside width of the reveal with the egg wash, and seal well. Form carefully with your hands so everything is bound together but not squished. Cut into 1” wheels, using a sharp serrated knife for ease of cutting through the stubborn spinach. Should be 12 wheels.
Arrange on a large cookie sheet. Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown on the bottom. Don’t overcook!
 
Serve atop a swirl of heated jalapeno jelly. Seriously, awesome!