Recipe Mutiny steals recipes from food blogs and recipe sites. Then we publish them. With credit (Naturally).
Thursday, January 17, 2019
How to Cook Pig Skin for Football Season
Football season is synonymous with tailgating, and the Super Bowl culminates in the most epic spread of them all. Cue copious batches of dips, wings, guac, and chili. Or, for something a little different, may we suggest pig skin?
Seriously, it’s not just for making footballs. Actually, it never was; early footballs were made from bladders, but pig skin is useful for practicing tattooing, researching burn treatments, and fixing hernias.
But, um, on a more appetizing note, pig skin is honestly good eatin’. Whether you call them pork rinds, chicharrones, scratchings, or cracklings, crunchy fried bits are probably the form of pig skin most widely consumed and appreciated, but there’s a surprising breadth of recipes out there that highlight or utilize the oft-overlooked ingredient. It is an organ meat, but much more accessible than many other types of offal, in that there’s no odd or acquired taste, and the texture, at least on one side of the spectrum, is almost universally appealing.
Football Stadium Chip And Dip Sports Serving Set, $34.20 on Amazon
Obviously the perfect vessel for serving your pork rinds.
It crisps up beautifully, of course, whether it’s been separated out on its own as in pork rinds or left attached to fat and meat like you see with pork belly, but it can also provide wonderful unctuousness. Even if you’re unsure about eating a big piece of tender braised pig skin or chewy pickled pork rinds, you can always add some collagen-rich raw skin to a soup pot to add body and silkiness to the broth or sauce.
Or, if you’re avoiding carbs, you may have heard of the trick of making pork rind flour, which you can use to make pizza crust, or pork rind crumbs to bread things you want to fry (or bake, since the pork rinds are already crunchy enough as is—who would’ve thought fried pork skin could be a healthy option?).
Intrigued? Depending on where you usually shop, you may need to ask your butcher to reserve some pig skin for you, but for the recipes that call for pork rinds, you can purchase ready-made if you must. In that case, get freshly fried chicharrones from a Mexican grocery if you can. The bags of pork rinds in most supermarket store snack aisles can be kind of funky, and not in a good way. If you’re starting with an unadulterated sheet of skin, check that there is no hair left (if there is, you’ll have to scrape, shave, or singe it off), then rinse it well and pat it dry before proceeding with your recipe.
Whether you try some of these pigskin preparations as a cheeky addition to your next game day spread, or simply as a tasty foray into the world of offal, you’re in for a real treat.
Homemade Chicharrones
All Day I Dream About Food
Pork rinds: they’re not just for gas stations and convenience stores! They’re not difficult to make, either (once you find your pig skin anyway), and preparing them yourself lets you control the level of salt, not to mention avoid preservatives, making them a surprisingly healthy option. Just be sure to remove as much fat as you can so the skin really crisps up (but save that fat for other uses!). They’re a great crunchy, low-carb snack on their own, but they’re also superb for dippin’—in some queso or cheesy bean dip, for instance. (Or mix them into cracklin’ cornbread, the ideal side for all your fall chili.) Get the Homemade Chicharrones recipe.
Porchetta
Chowhound
On the fancier end of the pig skin spectrum, we have the justly famous Italian porchetta, a swoon-inducing rolled pork belly roast flavored with garlic, rosemary, fennel, and lemon zest. The skin becomes exquisitely crisp (rubbing baking soda into it beforehand helps), a crunchy, dark golden halo around the incredibly juicy and tender meat. It does take some time to get there, but it’s well worth it. Any leftovers can be turned into a killer porchetta sandwich. Do try not to score the skin too deeply, lest you lose that precious shattering-crisp texture in spots. Get our Porchetta recipe.
Pig Skin Braciole
Mister Meatball
When you’re ready to explore the softer side of pig skin, skip the frying and roasting and braise it instead. Stuffed with breadcrumbs, garlic, cheese, and herbs (and whatever else you like, such as raisins or hard boiled eggs), then rolled up, tied, and cooked low and slow in tomato sauce, the skin turns super soft and fork-tender. It’s an intensely succulent texture that’s admittedly not for everyone. But if you can’t bring yourself to chow down once it’s done, at least you’ll have an especially silky, rich tomato sauce to pour over pasta. Get the Pig Skin Braciole recipe.
Slow Cooker Tacos de Chicharrón Guisado
The Other Side Of The Tortilla
This recipe also features softer pieces of pork skin, though in this case they were fried first. (If you’d prefer a crunchier taco, just assemble one with freshly made chicharrones instead. And if your idea of hog heaven is even more pig, make pork rind tortillas to cradle your choice of filling.) Here, the chicharrones are stewed in a slow cooker with smoky chiles, tomatoes, and onions so they plump up and absorb all those delicious flavors, sort of like a meaty version of fried tofu. Serve with guacamole-tomatillo salsa and refried beans. Get the Slow Cooker Tacos de Chicharrón Guisado recipe.
NFL Team Slow Cookers (all teams), $49.99 - $62.11 on Amazon
Why not cook this up in a Crock-Pot sporting your favorite team logo?
Cotechino Sausage with Lentils
Eataly
Cotechino sausage, a specialty of Modena, Italy, contains chunks of pork skin as well as pork fat and is quite rich and hearty. It also crisps up nicely when sliced. If you want to go whole hog, you can make your own cotechino sausage, then put it in a stupendous sandwich, or serve it like the Italians do around New Year’s Eve: with lentils, a great earthy foil to the juicy meat. Sage, thyme, and chile pepper imbue the lentils with flavors perfect for fall and winter. Get the Cotechino Sausage with Lentils recipe.
“When Pigs Fly” Pork Rind-Breaded Chicken Wings
Food Republic
Crushed pork rinds replace more traditional flour or breadcrumbs for super crunchy yet almost carb-free “fried” chicken wings. The same principle applies to pork chops, fried green tomatoes, onion rings, chicken nuggets, and breaded shrimp! Basically, if you can fry it, you can bread it in crushed pork rinds and bake it instead. You can also add whatever seasonings you like (maybe some hot sauce for zing), but this version is nice and simple, letting the pork rind and chicken flavors shine. Set the wings out with a variety of sauces—ranch, blue cheese, buffalo—and watch them fly off the platter. Get the “When Pigs Fly” Pork Rind-Breaded Chicken Wings recipe.
Chinese Crispy Pork Belly
Recipe Tin Eats
Pork belly is perfection. Luscious, juicy, savory, tender, it’s delicious in any guise (to wit: buffalo pork wings from chef Kevin Gillespie, or an elegant pork belly confit), but perhaps it’s best of all when it includes a layer of crackly golden skin to contrast with the melting texture of the meat. (Then again, it’s also a knockout when the whole thing is fried.) This roasted Chinese preparation is judiciously seasoned with a little rice wine, five spice powder, salt, and white pepper, and boasts a puffy golden pillow of crunchy skin atop textbook succulent meat. Serve with mandarin pancakes, hoisin sauce, and shredded vegetables to make wraps. Get the Chinese Crispy Pork Belly recipe.
Charro Beans
Mexicrave
Go beyond crockpot beans and wieners and try this Mexican one-pot feast of pinto beans cooked with jalapeño, tomato, onion, garlic, and cumin, plus a plethora of meats, including chicharrones, which you could also sprinkle on top for a crunchy counterpoint. Warm tortillas and sliced avocado are all you need to complete the meal. Get the Charro Beans recipe.
Pork Rind Pizza Crust
Hey Keto Mama
You’ve heard of cauliflower pizza crust? Well, this is kind of the polar opposite of that. Pork rinds (which are starting to seem like a miracle ingredient here, though we’ll skip the pork rind French toast for now, thanks) are whizzed up in a food processor with cream cheese, egg, and cheddar. This keto-approved crust can be topped with whatever you like, though it sounds pretty flavorful all on its own. Get the Pork Rind Pizza Crust recipe.
To celebrate Super Bowl LIII, Chowhound’s joined forces with CBS Sports, CNET, and TV Guide to give away a party-ready prize package that includes an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Chefman Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access. Enter for your chance to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019!
Related Video: Instant Pot Pig Snouts
All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.
from Food News – Chowhound http://bit.ly/2h0BRLM
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How to Plan Super Bowl Snacks
It’s fourth and goal on the two-yard line with three seconds to play in the third quarter. My team has the ball and they’re down by six. While not a do or die situation, the next play could prove pivotal in the ongoing pursuit of momentum. They’ve elected to pass up an easy three points with a chip-shot field goal and go for a touchdown. This decision is either going to be genius or disastrous. Just before the play clock winds down to zero, a time out is called. I reach my hand into the closest bowl for a quick snack. PENALTY! The bowl is empty. How could this be? I’m hungry and it’s only the third quarter! Personal party foul, on the host, 15 yards, automatic first down (in this situation, I’m not really sure what a “first down” would be, but I committed to this metaphor, so doggone it, I’m seeing it through).
The Super Bowl, while not officially recognized, is a de facto national holiday that revolves around the biggest football game of the year. There’s pomp. There’s circumstance. There’s a concert. There are commercials. There’s the Puppy Bowl. There are friendly wagers (nothing illegal, I hope). And, of course, like any other major holiday, there are parties. These parties, due to their raison d’etre are a bit different in that the game isn’t just playing in the background, it’s the show! Therefore, it’s all but guaranteed that many guests will be at your party for the long haul, often arriving during pre-game festivities and staying through all the intros, the halftime show, the end of the game, and, maybe even some of the trophy presentation and post-game hoopla. Because of the event’s length, there’s an undue amount of pressure on the host to ensure that guests are not wanting for sustenance.
Ready to Ditch the Solo Cup?
Check out the best types of glasses for specific styles of beer.
As I wrote in a recent article, the secret to throwing a wildly successful party lies 70 percent in making sure your guests are satisfied and satiated (i.e. fully fed) and 30 percent in making sure your guests are entertained (i.e. have fun). Additionally, I also believe quality hosting is predicated on ensuring you never run out of food. For a marathon fete, this means making sure you adopt an endurance mindset and let your snack game lead you to victory. The following lays out a solid strategy to make sure your guests’ cravings are covered for the duration.
Cooking and Beer
Depending on how you set up the day, you might have guests arriving a couple hours before kickoff. This preserves ample visit time and pool setup (again, nothing illegal, of course) so as to allow for focused and attentive game-watching. If that’s the case, you’re going to want to have something out. You could chance it that folks won’t be ready to eat upon arrival, but it’s risky. After all, it’ll probably be several hours since lunch/brunch and folks are likely to be on the cusp of hunger. As a result, something to nosh on is the safest bet. I’d recommend a fruit and veggie platter (“For your health,” as the fictional Dr. Steve Brule would say), an assortment of sweet and savory dips (clearly not for your health), and chips, popcorn, nuts, and/or trail/Chex mix. Here are three things you might want to try this year:
- Chili cheese dip. My sister-in-law makes this stuff and it’s phenomenal. Try this recipe here.
- Creamy fruit dip. A lot of dips go great with veggies. This one works with fruit. Try this recipe here.
- Puppy chow. Sweet trail mix? Yes, please! This article has all sorts of great Chex Mix ideas, and puppy chow is number seven.
Love Grows Wild
You’ll probably want to put out some sort of main course for dinner right before kickoff because you won’t want to distract from the game, and it would be unreasonable to wait until halftime. Different from other major holidays, no one expects a massive meal. Besides, they’ve probably been chowing down on your pre-game snacks already, so they shouldn’t be famished. You might be thinking of making a roast, a lasagna, or another large meal, but before you do, keep in mind that the Super Bowl is more a grazing holiday. It’s not Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or the Fourth of July. It’s not a holiday where you teeter on the cusp of uncomfortable, beached on the couch falling in and out of sleep. It’s a day where you engage with others, watch the game, laugh at the commercials, and analyze the halftime performance, so that’s what your guests expect. You want to leave them satisfied, but not stuffed. You also want something that does not require you to be in kitchen (preparing or cleaning up) in the midst of your party. If you’re looking for solid options, check out my recent article on team-inspired dishes here.
Now, the game is going to take a while. According to The Verge, the average Super Bowl lasts an average of 3 hours and 44 minutes (this decade). To put this in perspective, that’s roughly the time between breakfast and lunch. I bring this up to hammer home the point that folks are likely to be hungry somewhere after halftime if you take the satisfied-but-not-full route for dinner. Because you’re a solid host, you likely don’t want your guests leaving hungry. To account for this, there are three things to consider.
First, you might want to think about what my friend Andrew calls “snack-friendly meals” for dinner. SFMs are built for endurance because they can be prepared ahead of time, left out, and grazed on for hours. For meat, ham is great because it can be enjoyed warm, on its own, or cold, on a sandwich. Slow cooker dishes like chili and pulled pork work well too. Second, you’ll likely want to put out snack-type desserts at halftime. Think cookies, bars, and brownies over cakes and pies. Things people can grab and eat with their fingers, on the couch, without having to worry about knives, or forks, or plates, while watching the game are encouraged. Third, you’re going to want to replenish some of the pre-dinner snacks. Always make sure you have full bowls of chips, popcorn, nuts, and/or trail/Chex Mix. If someone reaches into a bowl that once housed trail mix for a late-third-quarter snack, they better come out with a handful. Otherwise? Penalty!
As you may have noticed, food is important for your Super Bowl party. But, unlike Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or even a Saturday night dinner party, the food need not be extravagant. What’s important is that it’s available and plentiful from start to finish. Grazing is encouraged, and longevity and endurance are highly valued on this day. There’s still going to be a lot of food, but there probably isn’t going to be a huge, heavy meal. Because of this, snacks are crucial for this party, perhaps more than any other you throw. Enjoy the game. With the right snack strategy, your guests will!
To celebrate Super Bowl LIII on CBS, Chowhound is joining with CBS Sports, TV Guide, and CNET for a prize package giveaway that includes an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access. Enter to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019!
Related Video: How to Make the Perfect Dip for Your Super Bowl Party
All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.
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10 Super Bowl Cocktails That Are a Total Score
Regardless of whether or not your team is playing in the Super Bowl, football’s biggest day is still the perfect occasion for chowing down on your favorite snacks and kicking back with a delicious cocktail. While I won’t be rooting on my team (go Falcons!), I’ll still be standing by to watch the game (read: the Super Bowl halftime show). Believe me, I will certainly have a delicious drink in hand. Whether you’re a whiskey aficionado or a sucker for anything containing gin, we’ve rounded up some mixologists that will help get you to the end zone…no matter how your team is doing.
Thirst Down
HelloFresh
This fruity concoction will have you more than ready to cheer on your team. Created by Claudia Sidoti, Head Chef at HelloFresh, the Thirst Down cocktail is super fresh and packs a fruity punch.
Ingredients:
- 3 ½ ounces lemon juice
- 4 teaspoons sugar syrup
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces pomegranate juice
- Tonic water
- Ice
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients except tonic and ice into a jug and stir.
- Pour over ice.
- Top with tonic water.
Crystal Cocktail Mixing Glass Set, $39.95 on Amazon
For those times when you don't want to shake things up.
Red Zone
Todd English’s Tuscany at Mohegan Sun
Get your game face on with this fresh, citrusy cocktail from Todd English’s Tuscany, which is located at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces of blood orange gin
- Pink grapefruit juice (to taste)
- Lime juice (to taste)
- Grenadine (to taste)
Instructions:
- In a shaker, combine the ingredients with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a glass over fresh ice.
FINEDINE Expert Cocktail Shaker 14-Piece Home Bar Set, $24.99 on Amazon (originally $39.99)
This basic shaker set has everything you need to start a home bar.
The Spicy Underdog Margarita
The 10th Restaurant
Everyone loves an underdog, and there’s no better way to root them on than with this margarita created for game day by The 10th Restaurant at Vail Mountain.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces jalapeno-infused tequila
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1/2 ounce agave nectar syrup
- 1/2 ounce water
- Lime wheel
- Jalapeno slice
- Cayenne pepper
- Sugar
- Salt
Instructions:
- Infuse one liter of tequila with two large jalapenos for up to 5 days.
- Mix 1 part cayenne pepper, 1 part sugar, and 2 parts salt to create the fuego salt.
- Wet the rim of the glass and dip in the fuego salt.
- In a shaker, combine the ingredients with ice and shake well.
- Strain over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and a slice of jalapeno.
Bormioli Rocco 1.5-Liter Clear Glass Jar with Gasket Seal, $10.57 on Amazon
The perfect vessel for infusing booze, or other kitchen projects (like making kimchi or sauerkraut).
Let Rye-Gones be Rye-Gones
Justin Driscoll (@jdphotoman)
Well, someone has to lose—and if this cocktail is your consolation, you’re doing pretty well. Bob Peters, a mixologist at The Queen & Glass in Charlotte, North Carolina, shared the perfect drink for those moments when the game gets extra rough.
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- 3/4 ounce pomegranate liqueur
- 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
Instructions:
- Combine the ingredients in a mixing tin.
- Stir the ingredients.
- Strain the drink into a glass with a large ice cube.
- Garnish with a lemon rind.
The Classic Kitchen Chillz Blox Large Ice Cube Tray, 2 for $15.97 on Amazon
These silicone molds are great for oversize ice blocks that chill your drink without diluting it.
Fantastic Voyage
James Letendre
Even though the Falcons aren’t playing this year, Atlanta is still hosting the big game and the city’s mixologists are more than ready. James Letendre, the beverage manager of The Optimist and JCT. Kitchen, is certain that the game will be a voyage worth remembering. He shared this drink, which is a favorite at JCT. Kitchen.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce tequila
- 3/4 ounce vermouth
- 1/2 ounce ginger liqueur
- 1/4 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1/4 ounce pineapple juice
- 1 tablespoon toasted coriander tincture
Instructions:
- Pour the ingredients into mixing tin with ice.
- Shake and double strain into martini glass.
- Garnish with a lime twist for the perfect kick.
Zulay Metal Citrus Press, $13.99 on Amazon
A heavy-duty citrus squeezer makes getting every last bit of juice from your fruit a breeze.
The Double Lion
James Letendre
Letendre’s Double Lion is the perfect sweet treat to kick back with when your team is pulling ahead in the game. Served at The Optimist in Atlanta, this drink features Calvados, a delicious crème de cacao, and honey syrup–so you’ll be feeling sweet regardless of the game’s outcome.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce Calvados
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1/4 ounce vermouth
- 1/4 ounce white crème de cacao
- 1/4 ounce honey syrup
Instructions:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing tin with ice.
- Shake well.
- Double strain into footed rocks glass.
- Garnish with a tarragon leaf.
Rock Style Old Fashioned Whiskey Glasses, 6 for $18.69 on Amazon
If you have trouble finding footed rocks glasses, these work just as well.
Robe & Crown
James Letendre
Congratulations on the big win (or your thorough enjoyment of the halftime show)! Reward yourself with a robe and crown–in cocktail form, that is.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 ounces dry gin
- 1 ounce apricot-infused dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce pisco acholado
- 1/4 ounce brown sugar orgeat
Instructions:
- Combine all of the ingredients into a mixing tin.
- Stir and strain into a glass.
Schott Zwiesel Air Coupe Glasses,$18 - $108 at Sur La Table
These dishwasher-safe glasses manage to still be delicate, and can be purchased singly or in sets of six.
The Southern Belle
Since the Super Bowl is being hosted in Atlanta, there’s no better time to embrace your inner southern belle. This citrus-infused drink, created by Clarke Anderson, the beverage manager of Atlanta’s King + Duke and BeetleCat, features Earl Grey bitters for a truly unique, delicious cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce rum
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce pimento syrup
- 1 dropper Earl Grey bitters
- Belgian ale
- Lemon peel garnish
Instructions:
- Combine all of the ingredients except ale in a mixing tin with ice.
- Gently shake.
- Strain over ice into a beer mug.
- Top with Belgian ale.
- Garnish with a lemon peel.
18.21 Earl Grey Bitters, $29.98 on Amazon
These just happen to be hand-crafted in Atlanta, which is super appropriate!
Unfinished Business
Marlow’s Tavern
When your team heads back into the second half, they’ll have some unfinished business to attend to. This drink from Marlow’s Tavern in Atlanta will help you cheer them on as they work for the win. The amounts are up to you (just think of it as the Alan Cumming style of bartending).
Ingredients:
- Bourbon
- Ginger liqueur
- Peach nectar
- Lemon juice
- Lavender bitters
Instructions:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker.
- Pour over ice.
Scrappy's Lavender Bitters, $18.36 on Amazon
Handmade in Seattle, these lend a lovely fragrance to any drink.
If you’re looking for something a little more basic, check out our favorite beer and pizza pairings, or for something that bridges both worlds, try these Super Bowl beer cocktail recipes.
In honor of Super Bowl LIII, Chowhound is joining forces with CBS Sports, TV Guide, and CNET to give away a prize package including an LG OLED 65-inch TV (courtesy of Daily Steals), a 6.5 Liter Air Fryer, and $125 in gift cards for CBS All Access. Enter for your chance to win before 3:30 p.m PT on February 3, 2019!
Related Video: How to Make the Perfect Dip for Your Super Bowl Party
All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. For more great hand-picked products, check out the Chowhound Shop.
from Food News – Chowhound http://bit.ly/2CqoThz
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Adam Richman’s Tips for Hosting an Epic Football-Viewing Feast
TV personality, cook, and author Adam Richman has wolfed down a 7-pound burrito, violently spicy suicide wings, and a towering 12-patty cheeseburger on the hit Travel Channel show “Man v Food,” which he hosted from 2008 to 2012.
But Richman has posed as more than a glutton for our entertainment before that time and since then. And our football parties can benefit.The Brooklyn-born graduate of Emory University and the Yale School of Drama possesses the skills, talent, and charm that enabled to do other projects since then — such as NBC’s food competition show “Food Fighters” in 2014. Richman has authored America the Edible by Rodale Publishing in 2011, and Straight-Up Tasty by Clarkson Potter in 2015.
From this last book of Richman’s, we pulled two recipes that will make your tastebuds cheer as you watch the game with your friends and family this football season. But you need more in your game plan than those two decadent dishes. Passionate about food and entertaining in his personal life as well as professional career, it’s no surprise Richman is expert enough to give us a bunch of winning pointers to up our party-hosting game.
Crock-Pot NFL Cook & Carry Slow Cooker, $46.31 - $62.99 on Amazon
Cheer on your favorite team as you cook for the big game!
Remember, it’s not just about the food (or the game! Yes, we said it). When people come your home to watch a football game, it’s a gathering at the end of the day, he says. “You can’t lose sight that while it may not be a hearth — it’s a flickering box with a bunch of guys smashing each other on the grid iron — you still have to be the hostess with the mostess,” Richman says.
1. Know your crowd.
Angie’s List/iStock
Plan according to the vibe you expect. You could have a crowd of calm, civilized, married couples or a bunch of jersey-clad bros, pacing, betting and talking smack.
For the calm crowd, you can have a potluck-buffet-style table so guests can go in the kitchen to fill their plates. But you still should have something for snacking in front of the TV. You can do a little more food that requires a fork and knife, or save that for half time. “You can ask more from your viewing experience than most people do,” Richman says, who once brought his grandma’s sweet and sour meatballs to a football-focused potluck. Pasta salad is another good idea.
For the rowdy crowd, focus more on finger food and communal dishes. Use disposable plates, utensils, and plastic table cloths. Set out an additional trash can within arm’s reach of the coffee table and couch. “People are more protective of their seat when they watch the Super Bowl,” so they’ll be more reluctant to leave their viewing spot, Richman says. “I’ve seen a friend demonstrate a tackle while holding wings with a dollop of blue cheese dip.” With that in mind, have easy-to-eat dishes for the guys who stand and pace the whole time, as well food for the guys who sit and relax and socialize during the game.
2. Make everything obvious and easy to eat.
Getty
Put everything out, including your disposable utensils nestled in Solo cups. You can get a big sandwich loaf and pre-cut the slices, marking them with toothpicks. But remember to make a big sign that says “Remove toothpicks.” It’s not as obvious as you think when all your attention is zeroed in on the action onscreen. “I’ve had to tell guys that,” Richman says, laughing.
Remember, people are multi-tasking. Most people are watching the screen and gesticulating wildly while eating and drinking. “There’s something to be said for acknowledging that ahead of time,” Richman says, and creating for your guests “the ability to absentmindedly pop something in your mouth while watching television and have a flavor bomb.” If you make a pizza at home, slice the crust so people can just grab it and eat. Do that with everything.
3. Put more thought into the drink situation.
Getty
“There’s this classic idea of beer and wings, and that’s great,” he says. But do more. “I’ll mix in with the alcoholic beverages some nonalcoholic beverages so the guy who doesn’t want to drink doesn’t have to go somewhere else and feel ostracized.”
Richman recommends a cool bourbon drink in a pitcher, a peach sangria, or spiked Arnold Palmer (lemonade-tea mix). “For people who want an alcoholic option that’s not beer, they appreciate it,” he says. “Again, know your crowd. If you know guys are into craft beers, you’ll drink it from bottles, or maybe they want a case of Coronas.”
Tie in the drinks with who’s playing on the field. “It’s a chance to customize the experience to that particular game,” Richman says. If it’s Cincinnati versus ‘Nola, consider offering Fat Head beer v. Abita beer or pitcher of Hurricanes.
4. Prevent a mess with good strategy.
Getty/Burlingham
You need to seriously consider the logistics of the event. Be a true entertainer: Let people know where the bathroom is, what towels to use, and where the trash is. Make everything self-explanatory. If it’s snowy or wet out, have a clear, designated place for people to take their shoes off so they’re not stepping on wet stuff the whole time.
Create a specific spot to go for beverages that’s not the fridge. Use a metal tub or cooler filled with ice and beer. If you’re doing the tub or cooler in the living room, spread out a vinyl, disposable tablecloth, or lawn-leaf bag underneath to protect the floor. “When people reach in this ice thing to get a drink, they’re bound to drip, and ice shifts and melts,” Richman says. “It’s a great way to avoid spillage ahead of time and prevent people from slipping or ruining your floors.”
Use a completely separate container, lined with a bag, for ice. A red Solo cup can be the ice scoop, and “literally take a black Sharpie and write on it ‘ice scoop’ because you don’t want people digging with their hands where ever they’ve been been, scratching and all,” Richman says. Or use a kids’s sand-sculpting shovel.
You probably want to recycle the bottles and cans. Richman lines one trash can with blue liner for recycling bottles and cans. “I always make it clear this is where the bottles go,” he says. It’s important to make this bin easy to reach from the TV viewing area, because you don’t want everyone to leave empty glass bottles on the edge of the coffee table where it could break with all the commotion, kids, and pets.
Provide antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer. “I’m not above getting a Purell and putting it on the edge of the table next to the Solo cups full of silverware,” Richman says. If people are going to reach in to get chips from the communal bowl, they’re more likely to wash their hands beforehand if it’s right there.
As for the bathroom, make sure you have backup toilet tissue and provide air freshener to keep your guests from being embarrassed or compromised.
5. Elevate the classics.
Tangy horseradish roast beef sliders on Hawaiian sweet rolls. Image: Getty/Msaandy033
A big sandwich doesn’t have to be a cold-cut submarine like you get at corporate affairs. Your massive sandwich be a salmon steak BLT. Make wings, but flavor them with lemon pepper and Champagne. “You can play with elevated flavor profiles on the most mundane dishes,” he says. Place four cheeses in your grilled cheese, make your own tortilla chips for nachos, and top your pizza with Fontina cheese, speck, arugula, and truffle oil.
If you’re doing a buffet, create pasta dishes studded with big flavor, such as sausage and shrimp. The bulk of the dish is pasta, so you can feed a crowd with less expense.
Set up a charcuterie plate, with good local bread, cheeses, and olives. “People can find the combinations they like. It’s a customizable experience,” Richman says. “You can put it out in the first quarter, and it’ll still be good hours later; the meat might sweat a bit but it won’t go bad by the fourth quarter.”
People love dips and intense, crunchy foods when they’re anxious. That’s partly why fried food works so well as sports bar fare. Cut chicken breast into tenders, bread them, fry them, and serve with honey mustard and ranch dressing.
People love spring rolls and egg rolls, but you can be even more creative, combining those with everyone’s love of Southern barbecue: Crunchy, pulled pork egg rolls with dipping sauce.
“In the winter and at these games, you want something hearty and stick-to-your-ribs,” he says. Richman made both the recipes below for his friends, and they’re included in his Straight-Up Tasty cookbook.
Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwich Dumplings
Chowhound
White Wonder Bread, waxy slices of American cheese, and comfort food classics don’t conjure images of sophistication, and they’re not supposed to anyway. But this technique that puts a twist on this simple American comfort meal is impressive — and still easy to do. Get our Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwich Dumplings recipe.
Baked Gouda with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
Chowhound
Serve an “ooey-gooey melted cheese and a nice crust” with a technique that’s not hard at all, Richman says. But it produces a wow-worthy result that will have guests digging in with appreciation. The creamy Gouda with the fresh herbs and acidic bite of the sun-dried tomatoes creates a winning appetizer that can work for an elegant dinner party as well as a rowdy football-viewing afternoon. Get our Baked Gouda with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto recipe.
Related Video: How to Make Mini Football Potatoes
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