by Sherry Law

Created on: January 23, 2011   Last Updated: January 25, 2011

Every year, football fans spend an estimated $50 million dollars on snacks in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday.  Besides a television, of course, great snacks are the prime ingredient for a fantastic Super Bowl party.  But this is NOT the time to be spending the whole part, or even most of it, in the kitchen.  While some scattered bowls of nuts, some beer and a few pizzas courtesy of your nearest pizza delivery service  will do in a pinch, why not give your guests a selection of snacks that are tasty and will satisfy even the hungriest fan.

By spending a couple of hours in the kitchen prior to the party, you can be the ‘host with most’ (snacks that is) and still spend only minimal time in the kitchen during the game.

Chili, either home-made or the already-prepared variety, is considered by many football fans to be a staple at most Super Bowl parties.  If using already-prepared (canned) chili, think about ‘doctoring’ it up a bit - the addition of some chopped jalapeno peppers or some cubed (already cooked) steak can make a world of difference in the way it tastes.   Before serving, be sure and add some shredded cheddar cheese to each bowl.  Serve with chopped onions and hot cornbread.  If you’re not into making your own cornbread, Marie Calendar makes some great cornbread that you can get either in the freezer section of your grocery store or at your local Marie Calendar restaurant.  Many deli’s also sale cornbread to-go.  Crackers will do, but the hot cornbread adds a special touch to the chili that just can’t be beat.

Sausage balls are another favorite fix-ahead.  Mix a cup of Bisquick, a cup of grated cheese and a pound of sausage in a large bowl (be prepared for a sticky mess).  When mixed, shape into small balls and place on a baking sheet.  Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes or until the sausage is done.  Serve hot or cold, though hot is better.  You can make these even better by shaping them into tiny footballs.  A note of caution: if you serve football shaped snacks, be aware that some of the more enebriated fans may choose to throw them at each other than into their mouth!

A quick queso-type dip can also be made ahead of time by combining Velveeta cheese (a 2-lb package cut into small cubes), a pound of cooked ground beef, a can of Rotel tomatoes and a chopped onion in the crock pot.  Heat, stirring occasionally,

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