1. Do your prep ahead of time. Chop and slice veggies and cheese in advance, store in plastic containers in fridge, ready to be placed out on a platter.
Bonzai Chopper ($19.95)
2. Choose foods that require little, if any, silverware. Keep warm finger foods warm in self-serve crock pots and warming plates.
Ginny's Zebra Digital Slow Cooker ($69.95)
Triple Buffet Server ($89.99)
3. Streamline beverage choices. If you feel the need to offer something beyond beer and sodas, choose one punch or something like margaritas that you can mix up in quantity, in advance.
Stainless Steel Margarator ($129.95)
4. Ask guests to contribute a dish for a potluck.
Cupcake Courier ($34.95)
5. Have plenty of coffee ready well before the party ends.
Ginny's Double Coffeemaker ($79.95)
6. Dips and salsas are the perfect low-hassle, serve-yourself Super Bowl party food
Hot crab appetizer
8 oz cream cheese or 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 TBSP milk
1 can crab
3/4 cup imitation crab, diced
1/3 cup onion, finely chopped
1 tsp horseradish
paprika
1/3 cup slivered almonds
Combine all ingredients except paprika and almonds. Put into oven safe dish that has been coated with cooking spray. Top with paprika and almonds. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes. Serve with crackers or cocktail rye bread.
Hot Beef chip dip
8 oz cream cheese or 1/3 less fat cream cheese
2 TBSP milk
2 1/2 oz. package dried beef, chopped
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp horseradish
1/2 cup sour cream
Combine all ingredients. Put into oven safe dish that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with corn chips or rye chips.
Sweet Meatballs
2 cups brown sugar2 cups whole cranberries
2 jars chili sauce
2 cans Bavarian kraut (drained)
5 lb. bag of meatballs
Combine all together. Pour into two 9" x 13" pans. Bake at 350° F for 2 hours. Check to make sure they aren't getting too browned.
Chicken Nachos for the slow cooker
16 oz Pepper jack cheese (Monterey jack with hot peppers), cubed3/4 cup salsa
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
9 oz package deli or frozen chicken breast strips, chopped
8 oz container sour cream or low fat sour cream
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
3 scallions, chopped
Spray 3- to 4-qt. slow cooker with cooking spray. Add cheese, salsa, beans and chicken, and cook on low for 2 hours, stirring once. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir, and cook on high for another 30 - 45 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.
Healthy Salsa
1 TBSP olive oil2 TBSP red wine vinegar
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups plum tomato, chopped
1/2 cup scallions, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped (or to taste)
15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
11 oz. can shoe peg corn, drained
4 1/2 oz. can chopped green chilies, drained
In medium bowl, combine first 3 ingredients, mix well with whisk. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Serve with tortilla chips.