Super Bowl Recipe Roundup

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It’s almost Super Bowl Sunday, and that means it’s time to get your game-day menu dialed. Football is pretty much a religion in our house, and so the Super Bowl always means lots of friends, fun, and of course, food.

It’s a day that traditionally has tons of very heavy and unhealthy foods, so I always try and come up with a menu that is still festive and snack-oriented, but has a healthier spin to it. I wanted to share with you guys some of my favorite game day recipes, and what is on my menu this year …

To keep things on-theme, I have two recipes that look like footballs and are always a big hit …

Beet Hummus

Makes about 4 cups

Ingredients:

1 cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) rinsed and drained

1/2 cup tahini

1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice

3 large garlic cloves minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

3 medium beets cooled cooked – (Wrap beets in foil and cook at 425 degrees for 1 hour or until tender).

Water for blending

In food processor combine ingredients adding one beet at a time to get to the beet taste desired. Puree until creamy. If too thick, add a little water to get to desired consistency.

Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with sliced almonds, feta cheese, thinly sliced scallions, and sliced radishes. Or if you don’t have that handy, just use a pretty basil garnish.

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Spicy Port Butter Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

1 tsp sesame oil

2 tsp chopped jalapeños

2 tsp of lemon grass (sliced)

1.15 lb ground pork natural

2 pinches of salt

1/4 cup lime juice

1/4 cup cilantro (chopped)

1tsp chopped mint

1 large garlic fine chopped

Chili sauce (to taste and optional)

Directions:

Over medium high heat and the sesame oil in a skillet, sauté the lemon grass then add the jalapeño.

Add the ground pork and salt and cook into fully cooked please be careful to not overcook as the meat will get dry.

Once fully cooked removed from the heat let it cool off

Once cooled, place cooked pork in a mixing bowl and add lime juice, cilantro, mint and garlic. Toss to combine and let the flavors meld for a bit, 10 – 15 minutes.

Ok...if you like herby flavors then you are done! Just taste it and see if you would like more salt of any extra items!

But if you like spicy please add chili sauce to the mixture slowly to taste it really brings out the flavors better and adds the spicy kick in an Asian way.

Arrange your plate with the butter lettuce around and place a nice bowl with the filling in the middle!

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Next up, Burger Bites. They are small, packed with flavor, and I have eliminated the bun.

Burger Bites

Yields: 20 bites

1 lb of ground beef

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

20 pieces of cheddar or Monterrey jack cheese sliced into 1 inch squares

4 pieces of bacon cooked (do not overcook)

10 grape tomatoes cut in half

20 slivers of jalapeno or pickle if desired

20 skewers

Break each piece of cooked bacon into 5 pieces. This will give you enough bacon for each burger bite.

Combine ground beef with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Shape all 20 pieces at once into round patties about 1″ in diameter, making sure to flatten so the burger bite will be able to stand on a tray. Set aside.

Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat and place all burger bites into pan at the same time.

Brown for about 3-4 minutes and flip each burger bites. Top with the square pieces of cheese and continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes.

If the cheese is not melting, cover the pan for about a minute and remove cover.

Remove burger bites from pan and plate on serving dish.

Top each bite with a small piece of bacon, a sliver of pepper or pickle, half of grape tomato and then slide the skewer in the middle of the tomato to secure.

Serve and enjoy

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Next are these Buffalo Chicken Dippers …. They are not the healthiest dish I have ever made. BUT, they are a healthier alternative to deep fried wings, and are sure to be devoured by your guests.

Next up are my Roasted Chicken Butter Lettuce Wraps which are equally healthy and delicious!

Buffalo Chicken Dippers

Ingredients

• 12 wooden skewers

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1/3 cup hot sauce divided (Or your favorite based on your desired heat level)

• 1 pound chicken tenders cut into strips

• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

• 1/2 cup fat-free blue cheese dressing or your favorite blue cheese dressing

• 4 carrots cut into sticks

• 4 celery stalks cut into sticks

Instructions

1. Soak skewers in water 15 minutes.

2. Heat broiler; line broiler pan with aluminum foil.

3. In a bowl, stir cornstarch into 1 tablespoon hot sauce until smooth; stir in remaining hot sauce.

4. Add chicken; toss to coat. Let marinate for 30 – 60 minutes.

5. Thread chicken lengthwise on skewers; reserve remaining hot sauce mixture.

6. Place chicken in pan so skewers hang off edge; cover exposed sticks with aluminum foil.

7. Broil 4 minutes. Turn chicken; brush with remaining sauce.

8. Broil until chicken is cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes.

9. In another bowl, combine blue cheese and dressing.

10. Serve chicken with celery sticks and blue cheese dipping sauce.

Inspired by Epicurious

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And if you’re into the lettuce wraps in general (like I am), then you should also try these …

One of my other go-to game day favorites is this Beet Hummus.

Roasted Chicken Butter Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

1 Head of Butter Lettuce hearts (small)

1 Avocado (sliced)

1 Orange (sliced)

½ cup roast chicken (shredded) – Make your life easier, use store bought.

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 bunch of basil, plus 1 basil leaf (chopped)

1 teaspoon cilantro chopped

Pinch of salt

Drizzle of honey

Combine all above ingredients and refrigerate.

In a small bowl combine:

1 jalapeno sliced

1 radish sliced thin

Juice of one lime

Let the jalapeno and radish soak for about 15 minutes

Take one lettuce leaf placing it in front of you with the rib of lettuce faced horizontally.

Place one basil leaf in center of lettuce leaf, add desired amount of filling and then top filling with alternating one slice jalapeno, then one slice of radish, then another slice of jalapeno and then one slice of radish. Drizzle a touch of balsamic reduced or glazed balsamic on top.

Roll-up lettuce leaf and secure with toothpick if desired.

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For some southern cooking, you have to try this dish …

And last but not least, this Herbed Feta Dip is delicious … To keep it a little bit healthier, I like to serve it with vegetables.