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.

It's Too Hot To Cook

 Pumpkin spice and sweaters may be showing up but it's still summer. It's still hot  = too hot to actually cook. Forget about firing up the oven. It's time to eat cool.

Ali Slagle , a freelance food editor wrote about this in yesterday's New York Times Foo section. AS we all know it's still too dang hot to cook and even grill. This is why we have to rely on our grocery stores  and deli counters.There should be four groups. Always have raw veggies and even fruit like melon and citrus.Have prepared proteins like rotisserie chicken or charcuterie. Keep in mind that canned tuna and salmon go along way too. Other proteins include beans, hummus and tofu. Starches are a must too. Try a nice loaf of Italian or French bread. Crackers and even rice cakes make nice bases too.Seasonings and condiments are also important.Have an everything bagel spice mix as well as that summer staple olive oil, This last is great not just for salads but to drizzle on prosciutto and mortadella as they're stacked on slices of ITalian bread.

The recipe Ms Slagle gives are good.There are ricotta toasts topped with melon, corn and salami.Almonds and sherry vinegar give it crunch and zing.You could sub in marinated peppers for the melon. Another chill recipe is the everything bagel dip with raw veggies,This is a fun pool party dish, carrying nutritional weight thanks to the addition of mashed trout or salmon fillets. Greek yogurt provides the base , giving the dip a lightness. Salad lovers will enjoy the easiness of adding a shredded already cooked chicken to chopped  nectarines and salad greens such as mature spinach leaves . The dressing is an easy buttermilk goat cheese and shallots. Other ideas include hearty dips made from beans or fish. Charcuterie boards offer a variety of different meats and cheeses for sandwiches. Any kindof salad is good , especially Nicoise packed with veggies and tuna. YOu could also pile it ob crispy and oiled French bread too.

It's still too hot. Don't cook. Stay cool with easy no cook meals.