Tasty touchdown: Super Bowl finger food

It's that time of year again! Just a few days until Super Bowl Sunday and whether you’re in it for the game, 49ers vs. Chiefs, or the music– superstars Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performing at half-time, you’re gonna want some good food. Here are three simple, but delicious, finger foods that will keep you more than satisfied throughout the evening.

Bacon-Jalapeño Dip

It’s Super Bowl, we can be a bit indulgent right? If you love all things cheesy, bacon-y and with a little heat, this baked bacon-jalapeño dip is the dish for you. It uses easily accessible, affordable ingredients and is perfectly warm and comforting.

For this dish you’ll need:
8 ounces of cream cheese  
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese  
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/4 cup of milk
4 slices of chopped cooked bacon
1 tablespoon of bacon drippings
1 teaspoon of white vinegar
2 thinly sliced jalapeño peppers
1/4 cup of breadcrumbs.

• Preheat your oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the breadcrumbs and mix well.
• Transfer the mixture to a baking dish (We use a bunch of small ramekins or you can you one large dish) and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top.
• Place the dish in the oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes, until it is golden brown and bubbling.
• Serve with veggie sticks, tortilla chips or crusty bread and enjoy!
 

Buffalo Wing Popcorn

Popcorn and buffalo wings are pretty much a must when it comes to watching big sporting events, so why not kill two birds with one stone with this mind-blowing buffalo wing popcorn? Yup, buffalo wing-flavoured popcorn, this is a thing.

For this recipe, you’ll need:
8 cups of popped popcorn (that’s 1/2 cup of kernels),
3/4 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of water 
1/4 cup of your favourite red hot sauce
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
non-stick cooking spray.

• Preheat oven to 300ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with the cooking oil. Also, spray a large bowl with oil, place the popcorn in the bowl and set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar and water and bring to a boil.
• Boil the mixture until you get a caramel that is a deep amber colour, this should take approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove from heat and mix in the hot sauce and butter. When the bubbling dies down, place the mixture back on the heat and add in the salt, baking soda and cayenne.
• Working quickly, pour the mixture into the bowl of popcorn. Toss to make sure all the popcorn is well coated and then transfer it to the baking dish, making sure all the popcorn is lying in a single layer.
• Bake in the oven for approximately 20 minutes, mixing it half way through. . .  And it’s done!
• This popcorn is great either chewy and warm straight from the oven or crunchy after it’s been left to cool down.
 

Rosemary and Garlic Sweet Potato Fries

Fries are another game night staple, but if you’re feeling a little sophisticated, jazz things up with these aromatic rosemary and garlic sweet potato fries.

For this recipe, you’ll need:
2 large sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons of minced fresh rosemary (or 1 tablespoon of dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
1 tablespoon of olive oil,
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.

• Preheat oven to 425ºF. Next, in a large bowl combine the rosemary, garlic, salt, black pepper and olive oil and mix well. Set aside.
• Cut your sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch strips–don’t worry about peeling them, the skin is nutritious and will crisp up deliciously in the oven. Put the sweet potato strips into the bowl with the oil mixture and toss to coat evenly.
• Pour out onto a baking sheet, making sure there is space between each fry. Place in oven and bake for 12 minutes.
• Flip the fries and bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes until they are golden brown and flesh is fork tender.
• Delicious with regular old ketchup, but kick things up a notch by serving it with a spicy ketchup or garlic aioli!

Happy Super Bowl Everyone!