Dust off the big TV screen, vacuum under the furniture, and start planning your Super Bowl XLVI party menu. Hosting a party on the big day should be fun. If you find yourself stressing, step back and ask your significant other, family or guests to help out. From asking guests to bring specific dishes to assigning post-game clean up duties to family members, you can host a Super Bowl party and have a good time.
When is the Super Bowl?
The New York Giants and New England Patriots face off for Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 at 6:20 p.m. E.T. according to the NFL. Kelly Clarkson (national anthem) and Madonna (halftime show) will be joining the two East coast teams at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on Super Bowl Sunday.
Clear the Fields
No matter how big your living room or TV room is may not seem big enough when you have company. Declutter the room with a vengeance, leaving no stray magazine or toy behind.
* Rearrange the furniture so you have no bad viewing seats.
* Toss large pillows on the floor to create extra seating.
* Borrow a TV from one of the bedrooms and put it in the kitchen or near the food.
Bowl Bingo Blitz!
You know half the reason you're watching is for the commercials (not just to see Tom Brady's moves). Gather a handful of highlighters, coins or poker chips and customize your own Super Bowl XLVI Bingo game cards.
Touch Down Spicy Chicken Salad
No Super Bowl viewing is complete without something hot and spicy.
3 pounds of boneless chicken breasts
2 tbsp. chile powder
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. cumin
2 cloves minced fresh garlic
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. Kosher salt
⅛ tsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
1. Slice thick breasts to make thin cutlets.
2. Mix the spices in a bag and add the chicken. Ideally, marinade the chicken overnight.
3. Broil the chicken on Super Bowl Sunday.
4. Serve atop field greens or romaine lettuce with a side of bean salsa.
Bean Salsa:
1 jar salsa
1 cup frozen corn (rinse under warm water until thawed)
1 can rinsed black beans
1 chopped red pepper
1 tspn cumin
2 diced scallions
Homemade Pita Chips :
2 bags of pita chips (stale ones are fine)
Olive oil
Kosher Salt
1. lice open the pita breads and Separate the tops from the bottoms.
2. Cut into triangles.
3. Drizzle with the olive olive oil, add Kosher salt (and any other spices from cayenne pepper to cumin or garlic powder).
4. Bake for about 12 minutes on 350° or until they are crispy. Pull them before they brown.
Easy Servings
Make snacking and easy easy on guests, and yourself. People like to mingle and move around and hit the snacks frequently.
* Shot of veggies - Serve cut up carrot and celery sticks and strips of red and green peppers in shot glasses with dip on the bottom. Make up a dozen at a time and keep them on a tray of ice.
* Cupcake paper treats - Place cut brownies and cookies in miniature paper cupcake papers. Guests may not want a whole plate of dessert and serving small pieces makes it easier to try everything without over-indulging.
* Mark your territory, playfully: Snag stickers from your kid's collection and invite guests to use them personalize plastic drinking cups.
* Scoring big with snacks: Pre-fill small cups with snacks; it's neater than everyone diving into a big bowl of chips.
* Chocolate surprise cookies: Roll your favorite cookie dough into balls, flatten and put an unwrapped chocolate kiss in the middle. Fold the edges of the cookie dough completely around the chocolate.
