It wouldn’t be farfetched to call Super Bowl Sunday a national holiday. Instead of a holiday focused on baking, distant family and presents, February 5th is all about football, spending time with friends, snacking, and fabulous commercials. And, if you’re a football fan, it’s the day you wait all year for.
We plan ahead for weeks on what we are going to do for the big day – what party we will attend, who we will bring with us, and what kind of beer to buy. But, the one thing we never plan for is what food to bring, because you will most likely find us stressing at the deli counter the day of, trying to find something everyone will love.
That was last year, my friends. This year we’re taking some tips from the pros and planning a truly SUPER Super Bowl menu. And, by pros, we do mean Kellogg. Oh, and pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson. Kellogg and L.T. are teaming up to release some great tips, tricks, and insider treats to make any party amazing, and we will definitely be turning to them instead of the teenager behind the deli counter this February.
And, I do mean amazing. Just look at what you can create using just a few simple ingredients! While I’m partial to the Cheez-It Spicy Touchdown Tenders, hubby has specially requested the Grilled Cheese Marinara and Chili Con Carne and they all look easy enough that I could easily do both the day of. I have bookmarked and printed quite a few other recipes I want to try throughout the year.
While reading through some of the delicious-looking recipes I was really surprised to read some of the ingredients. Most of us already have Cheez-Its and Town House Crackers in our pantry, but I bet you didn’t realize you could make so many dishes out of them. I was simply blown away by the range of game day recipes listed as well, all the way from crowd-pleasing appetizers to gourmet main dishes and desserts.
I also loved L.T.’s party planning tips and tricks as well as his helpful videos at SnackPicks.com. My favorite tip was how to estimate how many food and beverages to have on hand for your number of guests, which is something that will come in handy well after the big game. I also love how he suggests getting the whole family involved in game day prep and stocking up on all-star ingredients like Cheez-It crackers, Town House Flipside crackers, Keebler cookies and Rice Krispies Treats instead of boring party faire.
And, why not? They are delicious, versatile, and you already know everyone loves them!
Be sure to check out all the great tips below from Kellogg and L.T. as you're planning your big game party, you are bound to find some amazing tips and tricks to make your party a fan favorite!
- Crunch the numbers: Count on guests each eating between 8 - 12 servings of appetizers over a two-hour period. Plan on two nonalcoholic drinks per guest during the first hour, and one for each hour after that. Buy about a pound of ice per guest for drinks.
- Tackle the food prep early: Make as much of the food ahead of time as you can. Peel, chop and prep veggie trays a day or two in advance. Dips and desserts can be made the day before. If you'll be making anything in a slow cooker, prep all your ingredients the day before, so that all you have to do when you wake up is put them in the cooker and turn it on.
- Stock up on all-star ingredients: Make sure you have plenty of the snacks your team really likes. Crowd-pleasers like Cheez-It® crackers, Town House® Flipside® crackers, Keebler® cookies, and Rice Krispies Treats® make adults and kids alike happy, and they can be used as ingredients in other dishes or paired with tasty dips and spreads, too.
- Create a winning game plan: Pick your game day snacks based upon the teams that are playing – if one of the teams is from Texas, serve your guests Chile Con Carne. If there is a team from Wisconsin, serve First Down Jalapeno Cheese Dip.
- Run a surprise play: Try a new recipe like Spicy Touchdown Tenders that get a surprising, crunchy kick from Cheez-It Hot & Spicy crackers. Serve them with some Buffalo sauce and they'll be the MVPs of your party.
- Call on your special teams: If you want a great dessert, but don't bake, ask your baking friends to work their magic for the party. Get the resident chili expert to make his best, and let your friend the décor expert set the scene. They'll enjoy working in their zones, and you get a few things taken off your to-do list.
- Let the Pee Wee League play, too: Let the kids help out with party prep, too. Older ones can help you make food and younger ones can set out utensils, cups and plates. You can appoint some special "Trash Referees" to patrol the party and help clean up plates and cups during the game, so there's not a big mess to clean up afterward.
- Control the crowd: Every party will have die-hard fans that want to focus on the game as well as casual fans that are there for the party and the ads. Set up televisions in two different viewing rooms that cater to both fans’ enthusiasm so everyone can enjoy the game in the atmosphere they choose.
- Prepare for fumbles: With so much excitement and food, someone is bound to have an accident. Keep cleaning supplies like paper towels and rug cleaners handy for an emergency. Also, protect your furniture as best you can by placing extra coasters on tables.
- Share the home field advantage: Not all of your guests will be cheering for the same team, so be sure to decorate your party with both teams’ colors to make everyone feel at home.
Want to win a fabulous "Big Game Gift Pack" valued at $100?
One lucky winner will get a prize pack that includes one $75 Visa Gift Card, one Cheez-It™ Snack Cracker Bowl, one box of Sunshine® Cheez-It® Original snack crackers, one box of Keebler® Town House® Flipsides® Original crackers, one box of Keebler® Soft Batch® Chocolate Chip cookies, one box of Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® Original bars and recipe cards! Awesome, right?
To Enter: Simply comment below answering the following question: When entertaining for football’s biggest game, what plays do you make to ensure the home team is happy?
And, as always, there's extra entries!
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Giveaway ends at 12:00 p.m. ET p.m. ET on January 24, 2012. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Giveaway winner will be selected using Random.org from among all eligible entries received during the Giveaway and will have 48 hours to respond and confirm his/her prize. See Offical Rules HERE
This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:
