Shop at stores well in advance to see what football inspired decorations you can find to use for your table. I saw a large football shaped platter for just $2.00 at Dollar General, and I have seen crockpots in the shape of a football.
You can use a long piece of new green grass turf as a table runner decoration to represent the playing field. Use white tape to mark off the football scorepoints, and white plastic numbers to mark off the yardage. The goal posts can be formed out of long white straws stuck together or bent towards each other hot glued on both ends of the field.
MUFFALATTA SANDWICHES:
Buy loaves of French bread and slice off the top. Hollow out some of the bread's interior. Place layers of cooked ham, roast beef, and sliced turkey breast alternated with slices of different cheeses that you enjoy. On the top and bottom layers, place a pureed mixture of different types of pitted olives blended in a blender on high, mixed with a little mayonnaise and mustard. Serve warm, in slices, with dill pickles, to each guest watching the game.
SOUTHWEST CHILI:
2 lbs. ground sirloin
1 large onion, chopped
2 pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
2 pkg. Taco seasoning mix
16 oz. can black beans, undrained
16 oz. can pinto beans, undrained
16 oz. can kidney beans, undrained
16 oz. can Ro-Tel seasoned tomatoes, undrained
16 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
32 oz. niblet corn, undrained
2 cups low-sodium beef broth
Garnishes:
1 cup sour cream
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup sliced green onions
Saute meat and onions in a skillet until meat is done and browned. Add mixes and all the remaining ingredients in a large Dutch Oven pot. Simmer for two hours over low heat. Ladle soup into red or gold plastic bowls and add garnishes to the top of each bowl. Garnish bowls of soup with the sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions. Serves 10 to 15 people. Serve oyster crackers with the bowls of chili.
SUPER BOWL BEVERAGES:
In a large punch bowl, put two packages of Kool-Aid Fruit Punch, 1 cup Splenda, 1 can Pineapple Juice, 1 can Bacardi Pina Colada concentrate, 2 liters chilled Ginger Ale, 1 can orange juice concentrate, and fill remainder of bowl with water. Mix well. Serve over ice in large disposable red or gold plastic cups.
Make a pot of coffee for your guests who need caffeine to stay awake and alert. Have cups, spoons, napkins, coffee creamer, and Splenda or sugar available.
Have a large chest of drinks on ice ready for your guests to enjoy. You can use a red or gold cooler or a large tub. Have a variety of drinks available so all your guests will be pleased.
BITE-SIZED TACOS:
Use Tostitos Scoops and make your taco filling with everything in it that you want, such as cooked meat, salsa, sour cream, grated cheese, taco seasoning, avocadoes, guacamole, shredded lettuce, diced onions, diced tomatoes, and black olives. Fill each Scoop with the cooked filling, and serve it to your guests on a nice platter.
HOT CHICKEN DIP:
This has the flavor of hot chicken wings without all the mess and fuss.
3 cans white chicken breast meat, drained
10 oz. hot sauce
2 large bricks softened Neuchatel cream cheese
1/2 cup Bleu Cheese or Ranch dressing
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the softened cream cheese, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, canned chicken, hot sauce, and Bleu Cheese or Ranch dressing in a mixing bowl. Pour in a 13x9 inch baking dish. Top with remaining cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Serve hot with Tostitos Scoops and celery sticks.
If you have any leftovers, this can be made into chicken enchiladas the next day.
CHIPS AND DIPS:
Buy several dips already made. Suggestions are: Dean's Guacamole, French Onion Dip, Garlic and Herb Dip, Artichoke and Spinach Dip, and Chunky Salsa. Put them in bowls. Serve along with large bowls of Lay's potato chips, round Tostitos, Pringles potato chips, Funyans, or large Fritos.
CHEESE LOG OR CHEESE BALL:
Place two large bricks of Neuchatel Cream Cheese in a bowl. Add 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 pkg. chopped spinach that has been cooked and squeezed dry, and 1 cup finely grated cheese. Wrap mixture in plastic and shape into a log or a ball. Refrigerate until firm. Place on a platter with assorted crackers and a spreader, and serve to your guests. Sure to be a hit with everyone.
Another version is to leave out the spinach and add a jar of Hot Pepper Jelly on top of the cheese on the crackers.
POPCORN:
Everyone loves popcorn. Go to Dollar General and buy gourmet Clover Valley Double Butter Microwave Popcorn, four bags in a box for $1.25 or buy the same gourmet popcorn at Walmart as Pop Weaver brand 24 bags for $5.00, and pop each bag in the microwave on an upside down Corning Ware plate for 3 minutes 15 seconds per bag, or less if you hear it stop popping sooner, as it will burn fast once it stops popping. Pour the popped corn into individual serving containers and let everyone enjoy it. You can buy the red and white individual plastic serving containers for popcorn at www.kitchencollection.com.
If you are daring with your tastebuds, add spices or cheese to the popped corn. Gold could be grated cheddar cheese sprinkled on it, and chili powder or taco seasoning could be for red.
DESSERTS:
Buy several packages of individual Little Debbie cakes, and place them on large platters for an assortment of desserts.
Serve football shaped gold or red foil wrapped chocolates.
Go to Dollar General and buy several bags of cookies and serve them on platters with individual vanilla ice cream cups and spoons with napkins.
Have your guests write down the name of the player they think will be named Most Valuable Player, put them folded in a bowl, then give the winner(s) a prize after the announcement is made. If you want another game to play, do some research on the two teams playing and make up trivia questions and answers for your guests.
These menu suggestions are sure to let you have just as much fun as your guests, so you don't have to work all the time and miss the big game. Everyone should be well pleased with this menu.