Super Bowl Food

When it comes to celebrating Super Bowl Sunday, there are several ways to prepare. Some fans wear team jerseys for days, others use their bodies as canvases for their team's colors and still others send invitations to only like-minded friends to come watch the game. In our house, the only preparation we care about is the food.

Game food can be tricky. You've got a bunch of people sitting on your furniture with a drink in one hand and a dip-slathered chip in the other while screaming at the television and making wild gestures. Although there may be spills and drips,  there is a way to minimize the damage: make one-handed food.

These ideas work well for a rowdy crowd and will please the men as well as the women in the group.

Nothing says game food like a good roast beef sandwich. This recipe for Roast Beef Sandwiches with Sweet and Sour Onions can be made on dinner-sized rolls so they are more portable. Marinate the onions in the morning, then assemble the rolls before the game. The tangy onions are perfection with the blue cheese and arugula. Put together a few with some sharp cheddar if the kids don't like "moldy cheese," as my children call it.

Like sandwiches, meatballs are a popular choice when it comes to feeding the masses. But these Enchilada Meatballs mix things up by adding a southwestern twist to an Italian staple. The actual meatballs can be cooked a day ahead, then drizzled with enchilada sauce, sprinkled with cheese and reheated on game day. Served with toothpicks, they provide a tasty bite while still leaving one hand free. I added a small can of diced green chiles to the meat mix, and the flavor was a good foil for the sweetness of the cornbread crumbs.

Dip is one of the easiest dishes to serve at any gathering, and this dip is no exception. This delectable Mexican Spinach Dip was so delicious (and completely naughty) that even my non-spinach eaters loved it. This recipe made one huge bowl of dip, so I split it up into two, which cooked more quickly. Dividing it also lets you leave one bowl mild while stirring in some chopped pickled jalepeno to liven up the other. Serve this with tortilla chips or veggies.

Crostini may seem like an uptight food to serve at a football game, but they are not. These Artichoke Parmesan Crostini were a hit with two out of four kids and were devoured by my husband. Real men can (and will) eat crostini. These toasty slices of baguette can be topped with anything, such as tomato and mozzarella, thinly sliced ham and melted Swiss, or cheddar and tart apple slices. The vehicle is the bread, and the topping is up to you.

Whether we have a houseful or just the six of us, game food is as essential to enjoying the Super Bowl as those anticipated commercials.