SuperBowl Super Fun

 Next week it's the Super Bowl!!!  This means fun foods that are tasty and filling. This is an event that doesn't have a set menu.Anything you make or bake is good.

Salads usually don;t figure greatly in any Super Bowl party yet suppose it has pepperoni in it. A pepperoni salad is a fun way to bring veggies into the party.  Use a Spring mix along with banana peppers and cherry tomatoes Add diced cucumbers and chopped mozzarella cheese for more oomph. What about the dressing? A simple vinaigrette works  here. Keep the extra pepperoni for a massive charcuterie board. Charcuterie works well at any Super Bowl party. Also have slices of ham, salame and mortadella. Cheese could be anything from Swiss to cheddar. Yes you should have bread, a good Italian or French bread. Salty nuts like cashews and peanuts round it out. Bowls of olives are also good on a charcuterie board. Have both green and black out. A sea-cuterie board is also delicious if you want to splurge. This could could be tins of anchovies and sardines along with salmon and tuna. You can also buy a shrimp cocktail ring from your local grocery too. A lobster or crab salad works better than having whole lobster and whole crab legs. These can get a bit costly, especially if you're hosting a large crowd.

Dips are a must. One of the most famous and favorite is  artichoke dip.It's not just the artichoke hearts that give it the flavor,There are a variety of cheeses also. Add Parmesan, Romano and mozzarella for flavor and creaminess. The dip has to have mayonnaise to give it that famed silkiness. Of course there's spinach for color and more flavor. Use frozen or fresh.It;s up to you. Basil and garlic are also added as well as sea salt and pepper. The dip is famously served in a hollowed out bread bowl but a regular bowl can do too.Serve with bread chunks or even pita chips. Guacamole is another must make dip for any Super Bowl party. This is a super easy dish of mashed avocados, lemon juice and tomatoes. A drizzle of olive oil can be added to give the dip silkiness. Make a lot.This is one of the most popular dips out there and people go crazy for it. Queso is another Mexican dip perfect for any party. It can even be drizzled over tacos and burritos for extra flavor.It;'s made from a mix for shredded cheddar, evaporated and regular milk along with garlic, a small chopped white onion and chopped green chiles. Cornstarch or corn flour is used to thicken it. Serve warm for maximum flavor.

Happiness is a Super Bowl Party with good food being served. Try a;; sorts of dishes from seafood to meat for a tasty variety. Your guests and you will appreciated it.

Frico Fried Cheese Treats

Want a different kind of snack this weekend? Then try making frico or fried cheese. It's an unusual departure from the typical weekend snacks like mini pizzas and shrooms. It's also easy to make  - which is good. People can't stop eating them once they've been made.

Frico was the subject of this week's A Good Appetite, Melissa Clark's weekly column in the Wednesday's New York Times Dining section. The recipe is easy . All you need is grated or shredded Parmesan, Pecorino or Romano cheese. Just fry them up in olive oil in a large frying pan. I guess you can mix the cheeses for a varied taste or even toss in some dried rosemary or oregano for added zest. Ms. Clark recommends making the frico into one large crisp to be broken apart later.The cheese can be served hot or cold. If you're making it for a crowd then fry it into neat little rounds about the size of potato chips or Ritz crackers.

Ms. Clark pairs it with zucchini which adds a certain sweetness and offsets the supreme saltiness and bite of the cheeses,It's  made the  same way as plain frico but then the zucchini slices are added on top along with shredded basil. Sliced squash is good but I would add sausage rounds for an entirely different adventure in taste.Another idea is teaming the frico chips with thin slices of prosciutto or even regular ham. Ms. Clark also recommends rose or white wine to go with the chips. Since this is cider season as well I would go with a strong heady alcoholic one to complement the cheese's saltiness.

Frico is a great weekend dish. Make it for yourself and enjoy the crunch and flavor of fried cheese. They also make a great appetizer for when friends drop by for a movie or a game. Either way , they are tasty and a great way to use any Parmesan, Pecorino or Romano cheese.