Calling all football fans! And I mean ALL football fans. The one day of the year that EVERYBODY pays attention to who has possession of the ball is approaching and that means the time has come to start planning your Super Bowl party. Cue the in a nutshell all-star team bringing you a list of to-dos from the savoury spread to placing bets and everything in between.
DOWN. SET. HUT.
1. PRE-GAME HILARIOUS BETS
Photo via cnbc.com
If you’re inviting big-time football fans to your gathering, this should be the easiest party you throw all year. A Broncos or Seahawks fan will not care about the green & brown decor, or the football shaped cookies you made for dessert. Their eyes are going to be glued to the screen. It’s those who have joined the Super Bowl bandwagon, and the party that comes with it, that you want to cater to.
A fun way to get the party started is to place some pre-game bets of the most obscure variety. Just to make things interesting (and hilarious).
With the help of Bovado.com, we’ve compiled some of the most bizarre bets you can make with your friends before the game. Especially for people who don’t care much about the big catches and fumbles, this will engage them in watching.
Get your guests to pitch in $5 a sheet (or whatever you feel comfortable spending) and get a team together to keep track of the specifics. At the end of the night, winner takes all!
Clink the link below for a free print out sheet to pass out to your pals:
Super Bowl 48 Bizarre Bets by inanutshell.ca
2. THE FIVE ESSENTIAL SUPERBOWL FOOD GROUPS
Ok, so we already said that football fans aren’t going to care about the tens of thousands of cute Pinterest projects you could spend an entire week creating, but, with that said, everyone who thinks of Super Bowl Sunday associates the epic day of first downs with super snacks. Below, a list of the five essential Super Bowl food groups and what we think are the best of the best recipes.
A) Meat.
Whether it be pigs in a blanket, rib shanks, beef brisket or, if all else fails, anything wrapped in bacon – the football fan in your life is LIKELY not a vegan.
Image via robj98168.blogspot.com
Ingredients
1 can water chestnuts
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 lb. bacon
Combine soya sauce and sugar.
Cut bacon in thirds.
Wrap chestnuts in bacon and secure with toothpicks.
Brush soya mixture on bundles, turn and repeat. Place on rack and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
B) Chicken wings.
I know what you’re thinking: don’t chicken wings fall under the meat category? No. They don’t. Not on Super Bowl Sunday. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that 1.2 BILLION chicken wings will be consumed on Feb. 2. And for that? They deserve their own category.
Visit our friend and go-to-recipe-girl The Domestic Blonde for this Honey Sriracha Wing & BBQ Sauce recipe.
C) Sliders.
Again, with the meat. Okay, maybe they’re not actual food groups. In any case, sliders are the perfect Super Bowl party food. Bundle a couple in a napkin and take them bake to your seat and BOOM. Consumed. No need for utensils or any other sort of decorum, for that matter.
This recipe for Sloppy Joe Style Sliders sounds quick, easy and delish.
D) Chilli.
If you’re getting REALLY creative, get your fellow foodie friends to bring a couple different kinds of chilli for an unofficial cook-off. Or, just make your own (since you know it will be the best, anyway).
While we’re not expecting you to be too health conscious on Super Bowl Sunday, here’s my Sweet and Spicy Paleo Chilli recipe. The paleo part will really offset the 20 beers you’re about to drink …. right.
E) Nachos & dip. So much dip.
Again, catering to our can’t-take-our-eyes-off-the-screen friends, we’re going to suggest you pull a hero move and make personal cups of 7 layer taco dip for guests to bring back to their seat. That way, no one dribbles on your carpet, couch, foot, etc.. You, and your cleaning lady, can thank us later.
PRO TIP: Make sure your cup has a wide mouth and that your chips are small. Take it from someone who once tried to pull this off using any ol’ cup – my knuckles had more dip on them than the chips. Fail.
This recipe was so easy, I whipped it up in about 10 minutes last night!
3. PERSONAL ICE BUCKETS
Image via talesofarantingginger.com
We’re gonna focus, one last time, on those die-hard fans you invited. The ones who RUN to the bathroom at commercials (hey wait, I thought the commercials were the best part of the Super Bowl?) to go to the bathroom and bark at whoever’s nearest the kitchen to get them another drink. In a nutshell here to save friendships, one beer-run at a time. Head over to a party store (we checked, Party Mart, in Orleans, is in stock) and for $3-$6 you can pick up some personal ice buckets you can pop beside the couches for easy access to replenishing drinks. The football fans you invited will be SO impressed by your ingenuity they may even tear their eyes away from the TV long enough to give you a high five.
4. HALF-TIME HELMET DRAW
Since we’ve paid so much attention to the football fanatics, time to turn back to the people who just came for the snacks and gossip. And prizes. Although these people are likely the same guests that REALLY want to see Bruno Mars (or more hopefully the Red Hot Chilli Peppers), have a quick half-time draw set up. Depending on how many friends you invite, write a few of the player’s names down on pieces of paper. This will take a little research, BUT we’ve got you covered. MAKE SURE you include: Russell Wilson, Peyton Manning, Marshawn Lynch and Knowshon Moreno in there. At halftime, have guests draw the name of a player that could win MVP. At the end of the game, when the Most Valuable Player is announced, whoever has that name will win a fabulous prize! Our suggestion: Alberta Premium Dark Horse Whiskey ($29.95 found at the LCBO) for your Broncos fans and the Cooper Hawk’s Reisling ($15.95 found at the LCBO) for the Seahawks loyals in your midst.
5. NO FUSS, NO MUSS – A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE VENUES
Don’t want to go through the hassle of planning your own party? Better head to your favourite watering hole to really get into the atmosphere surrounding the year’s biggest game. If you haven’t called to make a reservation, do so IMMEDIATELY. Below, two of in a nutshell‘s favourite spots around town to catch the game.
St. Louis Bar and Grill (on Elgin St. and Clyde Ave.)
Game day specials include:
$5.99 24oz Bud
$14.99 1lb Wings + 20oz Draught
Bud Girls Giving Away Free Swag
Home Made Chili
& jersey give-a-ways for both teams
Call to make a reservation: 613-231-1116 (Elgin St.) or 613 274-0296 (the NEW Clyde. Ave location).
The Senate Sports Tavern & Eatery (Clarence St. – Byward Market)
Image via Facebook
Game day specials include:
Special Superbowl menu
Tons of games
Many great prizes including an autographed John Elway Jersey custom framed by Jerseyed.ca
Call to make a reservation: 6130695-5523 ($30 deposit per person at time of reservation to be put towards your bill at the end of the night. No cover charge.)
Happy Super Bowl Sunday, nuts. (-and- GO SEAHAWKS! ;))
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