Quick, Affordable Super Bowl Treats
The big game is tomorrow and crowds will be gathering in living rooms around the country.
Wherever there are football-watching crowds, of course, munchies are needed. But even if you're crunched for time, you can still plan the perfect Super Bowl party.
Dede Wilson, contributing editor of Bon Appetit magazine visits The Saturday Early Show with ideas on how to throw a last-minute Super Bowl party with a minimum of fuss and expense.
Everything on her shopping list was chosen for taste, quality and price. Foods loaded with additives did not make the cut; every item costs less than $10; and everything is easy to find at supermarkets, natural food stores, or warehouse stores.
Presentation
Remember that even the best of foods can be a turn off if they're not presented well. Rather than dump snacks onto a paper plate or serve them out of the package, think about attractive ways to offer them to your guests.
MUNCHIES AND APPETIZERS
Tostitos Natural Yellow Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
These are manufactured by Frito-Lay and contain all natural ingredients, with no added preservatives or colors. They're available in two varieties: Blue Corn and Yellow Corn. They have a great crunch and are perfect for scooping salsa.
Frontera salsa
Made in small batches using time-honored methods and fresh natural ingredients. Fire-roasted to concentrate, sweeten and intensify natural flavors.
Terra chips (original)
These vibrantly (and naturally) colored chips come in a variety of fabulous flavors. The original kind — a seasonal mix of taro, sweet potato, yucca, batata, parsnip, taro (colored with beet juice), canola oil and/or sunflower oil, and salt — achieve a satisfying balance of flavors; complex, nutty, rich, delicate.
Cape Cod jalepeno cheddar
Cape Cod chips are all natural and are hand-cooked in small kettles that allow careful monitoring of flavor, texture and quality. This variety has a spicy, yet creamy jalapeño cheddar flavor that is sure to please even the most discriminating "heat junkies."
Kettle chips
These have no transfats, no MSG — nothing artificial. They do have a great crunch, and are available in some very innovative flavor combinations.
HOT FOOD/MAIN COURSES
Ling Lings dumplings/spring rolls/potstickers
They're high quality and easy to prepare, Ling Lings All Natural Products contain no preservatives and have 0 grams of trans fat per serving. They also contain no added MSG (except for what naturally occurs in soy sauce). Each item is available in several varieties and sizes.
Han's sausages
These are all-natural sausages, which are available in many styles (chicken, pork, lamb and veal) and many flavors. They can be found in the refrigerator section of many food stores. Wilson considers these a good, healthy choice.
American flatbread pizza
All-natural pizzas baked in a primitive wood-fired earthen oven.
DESSERT
Ice cream sandwiches (Homemade!)
Take cookies and make a sandwich with the ice cream. Then roll the edges in shaved chocolate. You can mix and match flavors. You can do these the night before and freeze them, then pull them out at halftime.
Haagen-Dazs ice cream
Ice cream made from the purest ingredients. Available in numerous flavors, and styles (light ice cream, frozen yogurt, etc.).
Dancing Deer cookies
Scharffenberger dark chocolate
This comes from an artisan chocolate maker who follows an old-world style of chocolate making, using restored vintage European machinery and small batch production to ensure quality.
BEVERAGES
Fizzy Lizzy sparkling juice (non-alcoholic)
Fizzy Lizzy is made solely from fruit juice and seltzer. It comes in six flavors and has absolutely no added sugar, corn syrup, or preservatives.
Stella Artois
This is a Belgian beer that dates back to 1366. It is brewed using only natural ingredients.
Bass Pale Ale
This beer was first brewed in England back in 1777. Today, it can be found in pubs throughout the world.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager
An American beer. This variety was first brewed by Samuel Adams back in 1984.