she cooks…he cleans

There’s a big day coming up soon in the US for football enthusiasts.  We rarely watch sporting events, but we appreciate any excuse to graze through party food and make a meal of appetizers.  I’m not sure what we’ll be feasting on this year, but here’s some ideas from our archives.

You can’t have a party without dip – but skip the sour cream and ranch dressing mix for something more interesting (and nutritious) like this Roasted Eggplant and Sweet Pepper Dip.  It’s a little like baba ghanoush with the sweetness of roasted peppers thrown in.  Serve it with crackers, pita triangles, or as a dip for vegetables.

Speaking of crackers, these gluten-free Crispy Nutty Crackers are just the thing to serve with cheese or spreads.  There are six kinds of nuts and/or seeds in every bite, so they have lots of flavor.

However if just sitting down with a bowl of cheesy crackers is more your thing, these 3-Cheese Crackers are addictive and will really hit the spot.  You can’t go wrong with Cheddar, Parmesan and Jack cheese!  They are SO much better than the kind that come in a box, and are surprisingly simple to make.  Try to share…

If you’re a cheese lover, you will enjoy this Jalapeno and Pimento Cheese Ball.  This kicked-up version of pimento cheese, with smoked Gouda, Monterey Jack cheese and roasted jalapeno peppers  is sure to be a hit.  Roll it in roasted pumpkin seeds for a more spectacular presentation.

What’s a party without bacon?  These Mushrooms Stuffed with Cream Cheese and Bacon are quick and easy.  Bake them in mini-muffin tins to keep them from falling over, and serve ’em hot, right out of the oven.

Ready for something a little more substantial?  Chicken wings are practically a requirement for game-day eating, and these Lemon-Pepper Wings are a good no-fuss choice.  I like all varieties of wings with gooey sauces, but if you invited people over, you probably don’t want lots of sticky fingers around your sofa.  Whether you grill them or bake them, these are crispy and delicious.

So…what have we left out?  A big bowl of mixed nuts?  Something sweet?  How about a little of both, with Candied Rosemary Walnuts?  I made these previously to go with Honey Walnut Shrimp, but they are irresistible all by themselves.  They will go fast, so you may want to double the recipe (if you do, you may need to cook in two batches).

Candied Rosemary Walnuts (makes 3 cups)

• 3 cups whole walnuts (or a mix of nuts if you wish)
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup coconut palm sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• sea salt, to taste

Preheat oven to 350F.  Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes.  Remove from oven and set aside.  In a large skillet, melt the butter.  Stir in the coconut palm sugar, honey, and rosemary until well blended and the butter is foamy.  Add the walnuts and cook over medium-high heat, tossing continuously, until the walnuts are well-glazed with the sugar mixture (3-4 minutes), being careful not to burn the walnuts.  Spread the walnuts back out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet to cool.  Sprinkle with sea salt while hot.  Toss them around occasionally to keep them from sticking together.  The sugar-glaze will harden and will not be sticky when they are cool.  Store in a sealed container at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Yeah, not big sports fans around here, but hey, always up for a party! Kick off Super Bowl Sunday with the hysterical routine by Andy Griffith “What It Was, Was Football” on Wit & Wisdom of Andy Griffith. Funny!

Maybe you think of football in another way, like the rest of the world? We gotcha covered with Ginga – The Sound Of Brazilian Football about the worlds most popular sport, soccer! Can’t go wrong with the music here, including Jorge Ben…footie!