February brings us the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LVI and, hopefully, more snow. While we might not be hosting big parties this year, what better time to prepare some fun foods when settling in to watch sports with family or friends.
Whether you choose to offer smaller bites for game-time snacks or lean into a big spread depends on your commitment to the kitchen. Less time in the kitchen means more time watching athletes break records, win medals and score touchdowns.
Let’s break it down: dips for ease, smaller bites for cooler nights and bigger commitments for the foodie in all of us.
My all-time favorite is a hot spinach-artichoke dip with tortilla chips, crostini or crackers. It’s warm, cheesy and delicious.
Chips and dips
My all-time favorite is a hot spinach-artichoke dip with tortilla chips, crostini or crackers. It’s warm, cheesy and delicious. My aunt and uncle make shrimp dip and buffalo chicken dip with bagel or pita chips along with the classic potato chip and onion dip.
Hummus and pita chips or crudité speak to the healthy while guacamole, salsa and chips along with hot queso dip with jalapeños will please anyone.
Small bites
Pigs in a blanket with hot mustard are not only nostalgic but fun and tasty. They can easily be vegetarian. With a can of crescent rolls and hot dogs and a few minutes in the oven, these babies are ready in no time.
Who doesn’t like Buffalo chicken wings with celery and bleu cheese dressing? There are many versions of wings, too: Korean style, Jamaican style, barbecue, breaded and air fried or just plain salt and pepper wings. Any of these are perfect for eating while watching TV.
Ranch dressing is great on any type of wing and good with pigs in a blanket, too. For the vegetarians in the house, cauliflower wings are scrumptious.
Egg rolls are easy to make and bake; the sauce is key. I love sweet chili sauce with my eggrolls, but lemon soy and green onions with a splash of sesame oil are very good, as well.
Other small bites include meatballs, always a hit with marinara and/or pesto sauce for dipping. Shrimp cocktail with cocktail sauce is also an easy dish. Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese are a nice morsel and excellent finger food.
Bigger commitments
My family loves sports and food. Pizza with toppings is always on their Super Bowl table. It is a laborious meal if made from scratch. Buying dough and rolling it out with assorted toppings cuts down on time. And yes, there’s always frozen pizza, but that somehow seems like cheating.
Nachos are a hit and they can be made individually or on a big tray. There are many variations, but jalapeños are a must.
Philadelphia-style soft pretzels are a definite commitment to make from scratch, but they will take center stage at any table. Try my recipe in this edition. Mustard is great, although some prefer a cheesy dip. Occasionally, I’ll acquiesce, but my first choice is always mustard.
Lasagna or baked ziti can feed a large group. Street tacos take time to prep, but, boy, are they good. In the end, maybe go more gourmet with scallops wrapped in bacon or beef tenderloin bites with horseradish sauce. Stuffed wonton cups filled with almost anything such as poke, spinach dip or shrimp salad might take some time but are worth the effort.
In my house, poke or ramen bowls with toppings rule the table.
When the Super Bowl and Olympics are over, there’s hockey and basketball to create plenty of opportunities to prepare a feast of fun foods.
Pigs in a Blanket
From the kitchen of Priya Hutner
1 package of organic beef hot dogs or veggie dogs
2 cans crescent rolls
Mustard for dipping
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prep a baking sheet with parchment or silicone and spray with oil. Cut hot dogs into four pieces. Open a can of crescent rolls and cut the dough into four strips. Wrap the hot dog pieces in dough and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with stone-ground mustard or honey mustard.
Try Priya’s recipe for Pretzels with Cheesy Beer Dip
