Score Big With Chic Super Bowl Party

Colin Cowie Has Ideas To Make It Winner With Fans, Non-Fans, Men, Women Alike

(CBS)  You have less than two weeks to plan the perfect Super Bowl party.

If chips, dip and pizza don't sound perfect to you, celebrity event planner Colin Cowie had some great ideas on The Early Show Wednesday for an easy-to-pull-off, chic soiree sure to score a touchdown with everyone, even those who aren't into football.

Remember: Aside from football, food and drink are the main events!

Put out a few football bowls for popcorn, mixed with some groovy platters to serve other food items. And keep with the theme of the Bears against the Colts by filling glass containers with candy in each team's colors.

Beer is the gold standard for football games, so why not set up a beer bar? Cowie's had 20 varieties of beer and ale in a bucket, with plenty of ice. For those who prefer cocktails, Cowie created the "Super Bull Highbowl," which is made from citrus vodka, Red Bull, Gatorade, and cranberry juice.

Women frequently prefer different fare than men, but this is one Super Bowl party where everyone is going to love the food. Cowie had food for guys and gals, as well as a main course for all to enjoy.

First, he had three flavors of Dale and Thomas Popcorn: Southwest Cheddar Chipotle, Sweet and Spicy Barbecue, and Kettle Corn. These are to start.

Appetizers were North African deep-fried spicy chicken wings (which can also be cooked on the grill), turkey chili with assorted toppings, and grilled cheese paninis with Canadian bacon.

Appetizers for the women were chopped salad, and crudite with green and white veggies, dip and toasted pita wedges.

For the main course, pasta fagioli: It's a one-pot wonder, and it's always great to have something bubbling on the stove.

As for dessert: Popcorn (Chocolate Chunk & Caramel, Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Drizzle Corn, and Cinnamon Cream Drizzle Corn) and, an interactive, fondue-like dessert: brownies, strawberries, banana wedges and cherries on a long tray with four bowls, and in each bowl is a dipping option of chocolate, caramel, whipped cream, and toasted nuts.

SETTING UP

Cowie says the absolute, best way to successfully host a party like this is with as little fuss as possible.

That means preparing everything in advance, then allowing your guests to help themselves.

To start, you want to put all the popcorn into six different bowls; you could serve the salty flavors first and the sweet flavors at the end.

The chili should be put into 12 bowls and placed on a tray with add-ins at the end: cheese, sour cream, onions, chips. Put the tray with the bowls out on the coffee table, so everyone can take what they want.

Along the same lines, the grilled cheese with Canadian bacon paninis can be made and cut into four pieces, then made available for everyone who wants them.

For the gals, the chopped salad can be served in a similar way as the chili: Fill a dozen bowls with the salad and place all the bowls on a tray inside the refrigerator. People can come and get it, and it'll be chilled.

For the pasta fagioli, you just have the pot on the stove simmering, and put a pile of dishes next to it; again, self-serve made easy.

When it comes to dessert, you have the sweet popcorn flavors, plus a fully interactive station with brownies and fruit on a long tray with four bowls of chocolate, caramel, whipped cream and toasted nuts; it's kind of like fondue, because people can dip their fancy.

For recipes, go to Page 2.

[preventa]

Please let me know the type of healthy, high fiber bread mentioned by Colin on the Weds, morning early show.

[jennifers11]

I watched the segiment this morning with Colin Cowie. He made grilled cheese paninis on there I wanted to know the name of the bread that he used to make those. I am hoping that you can email me with the name of that bread. Thank you so much for you time and for doing that segiment it gave me alot of good ideas.

[cbsnews001]

Colin mentioned a type of bread he used for the grilled cheese paninis that wss low in carbs and high in fiber but there is no recipe on page 2 for this sandwich. Can you tell me what kind of bread he recommended?
BF

[marykdulce]

I would like to know what the crushed red chili's are...can crushed red pepper seeds be used as a substitute? Is there a name to look for in the stores? Thank you.

MaryKDulce