Superbowl XLVIII Game Day Food

Turkey Chili

Today is the NFL Superbowl XLVIII (I had to look that one up on-line: it's #48) and up until this weekend I seriously didn't even know which teams were playing! What can I say I'm not the best football fan. When I started dating Dave I actually used to pretend I was a huge football fan. Dave is really into football and had Buffalo Bills season tickets with his dad for over 20 years. I remember acting all interested in football just to impress him. I had no clue what was going on in the game, nor did I care. The only thing I cared about was winning Dave over with my so-called football spirit. I would dress in Bills colors, I know cheesy, I would join fantasy football leagues at work, and I even learned about some of the players. By far the best thing I did to show my football spirit was make killer game day appetizers and food! Looking back, I think Dave knew right away that I wasn't the football fan I claimed to be. I don't think he said anything because he didn't want the scrumptious food to stop on game days! Luckily my facade of love'n football only lasted the first fall we dated...I figured after dating 6 months I was safe to come clean. After that, every Sunday I would go to the mall while he either went to the game or watched it at home. While I may not go to the mall every Sunday anymore, I still make killer appetizers and meals on game day. Dave and the boys have grown accustomed to it. So for the Superbowl today I made two recipes on my top 10 go-to appetizers list: "Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip" and "Homemade Potato Chips with Blue Cheese and Scallions." I also made "Turkey Chili." You probably won't see my chicken wing dip or homemade potato chips recipe in Eating Well magazine so at least the Chili is healthy! Salud to making killer food on game day and not having to pretend to like football anymore! And salute to Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers...I just burned off my chicken wing dip calories by dancing to the half time show!

Homemade Potato Chips with Blue Cheese and Scallions,
this was inspired by Jo Jo Wine Bistro's recipe. Had it there once and have made it several times since.   

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

Turkey Chili Recipe: (Click to print recipe)

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

3 lbs ground turkey
1 yellow onion diced
2 green peppers diced
2 32 oz cans of tomato sauce
1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
2 15 oz. cans of red kidney beans
1/4 chili powder
2 tb. cumin
2 tb garlic

Optional garnish:
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, scallions, avocado, chopped cilantro, nachos.

Brown ground turkey and garlic in a large pan over medium heat. With a slotted spoon, scoop ground turkey into crockpot. Add onion, green pepper.  Add drained kidney beans, diced tomatoes with juice and stir.  Add tomato sauce cumin and chili powder.  Mix well. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Place in bowls and add garnish.

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip: (Click to print recipe)

Ingredients:

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
1/2 cup Frank's Redhot Sauce
1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
1/4 cup crumbly blue cheese
1 large can of chunk chicken in water.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In bowl mix all of the ingredients. Place mixture in an oven proof dish and bake for 20-30 minutes or until it's bubbling. Serve with nachos, baguette bread, corn chips, or celery.

Homemade Potato Chips: (Click to print recipe)

Ingredients:

3 large russet potatoes
peanut oil - amount depends on pan you use
sea salt
3 tb. sliced scallions
3 tb. crumbly blue cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Depending on the size of pan pour peanut oil until it's about 1/2 inch in pan. Heat until it reaches about 375 degrees. Using a mandolin slicer (be careful, I sliced a finger before) cut potatoes 1/8 inch thick. Not overcrowding pan place potato slices in oil until lightly browned. Using a large slotted spoon pick up potato chips and place on a baking sheet with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Continue to do this until all of the potatoes are deep fried. Place potato chips on another baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt and blue cheese over chips and bake for 10 minutes. Place on a platter and sprinkle scallions. Eat while they are warm.

Food Impressions:

Nate: "I don't like the blue cheese on the chips and or the blue cheese in the chicken wing dip." (He had a bag of popcorn instead of the apps I made. We all said "more for us!") He loved the turkey chili and had two bowls.

Tyler: "The chicken wing dip tastes just like Duff's spicy wings and blue cheese."

Zachary: "These potato chips are way better than eating them out of the bag. The cheese is so good on the chips. This is the best chicken wing dip I've ever had...and I made it." (He didn't eat any chili because he was too full from eating the apps!)

Dave: "Perfect food for game day."

Andrea (me): The chips were good but I thought I browned them too much. Blue cheese was good but sour cream would also be a nice touch.  The chicken wing dip was killer...I ate way too many but couldn't help myself because they were so addicting. I, like Zachary was too full to eat any chili. Glad it makes good leftovers and freezes well.

Chips deep frying

Zachary made this recipe all himself,
that's how easy it is to make!

My boys eating killer apps while watching the Superbowl!