Fact: Unless you are a Patriots fan, Giants fan, or degenerate gambler, Sunday’s Super Bowl holds little direct value for you. You used to get psyched for the commercials, but now you can just watch those all online, for better or worse.
So, you’ve got no skin in the game, and little other reason to stay glued to the TV this Sunday, right? Then why would you even bother dragging over to some acquaintance’s house on a Sunday night in the dead of winter?
The food, stupid.
Super Bowl Sunday is one of those times when America earns its reputation as a gluttonous nation. Why fight it? I’m going to kick it off (wordplay is fun!) with a pair of recipes-one sweet and a bit time consuming, the other savory and simplistic. I invite you to share your own game day goodies in the comments, to give us all a chance to figure out what we want to make and shop in advance of the game. One rule: no salads, unless the word ‘taco’ or ‘hamburger’ appears in the title.
Let’s start simple and savory:
Pepperoni Bread:
What you’ll need:
1-Pillsbury pizza crust (or some other pre-made, refrigerated crust)
2-tablespoons olive oil
1/3-1/4 lb thinly sliced pepperoni
8 0z shredded mozzarella cheese
Garlic powder
Grated parmesan cheese
1) Preheat the oven to 350°
2) On a smooth, dry surface, spread out the pizza crust in a rectangular shape, pulling it as thin as possible with out tearing it. Brush the surface with olive oil (if your rectangle got pretty big, you might need a little more), then sprinkle with garlic powder to taste
3)Spread pepperoni across the surface-ensure full coverage to the edges of the dough. Cover pepperoni with a thin layer of shredded cheese (again, this can be a matter of taste)
4) Carefully roll length the dough into a long, narrow tube, as though you were rolling a pumpkin roll. The seam should end up on the top of your loaf, where you can simply pinch it closed. Use a sharp knife to cut a few slits in the top of the loaf, about an inch or so apart. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and additional mozzarella, if desired.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the loaf is lightly browned.
Simple, right? And fatty, for sure. Now, onto something sweeter, and a little more challenging:
Salted Caramel Brownies
Brownies:
¾ Cup flour
1 cup white sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa
½ tsp. baking powder
6 tablespoons melted butter
2 lg. eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1) Preheat to 350
2) Combine dry ingredients, whisking lightly
3) In a separate bowl, combine butter, eggs and vanilla, then add slowly to dry ingredients, stirring until combined.
4) Distribute batter evenly into a lightly greased 9-inch square pan
5) Bake for 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out nearly clean
Caramel:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 ½ tablespoons evaporated milk
¼ tsp vanilla
½ cup powdered sugar
1) Melt butter over medium heat
2) Add brown sugar and milk, cook for 2 minutes
3) Remove from heat, mix in vanilla and powdered sugar, whisking until smooth
4) Pour over cooled brownies, smoothing evenly, allow 20 minutes to cool
Topping:
2 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate-coarsely chopped
Combine the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl, microwave for 30 seconds, stir until smooth. Drizzle over brownies. Sprinkle with sea salt, let stand until set.
Still, not terribly difficult, right? It’s just a little baking from scratch. Granted, neither man nor Super Bowl party can subsist on pepperoni bread and salted caramel brownies alone. What do you guys have to share for Sunday?
