SMALLER SUPER BOWL PARTIES
The Super Bowl and spectator parties will, like all events for the past 11 months, be different this year- few fans in the stands, few guests at the parties. In fact, some at home parties may be for residents only. But, as with other celebrations, we’ll try with some adjustments and changes, to create new, fond memories.
For me, fewer people means more casual and more casual means less work, easier prep, serving and clean –up for the cook. So, though I’ve written many Super Bowl posts over the years, for different types of parties, menus and recipes (see Jan. 31, 2013, Feb.2, 2014—Wings Jan. 29, 2015, Jan. 25, 2018, Jan. 16, 2020,) this will be a first, the small Super Bowl party for fewer than 8 participants.
However, be there 2 or 20, the food requirements are the same. Traditionally, Super Bowl food should be fun, filling, easily eaten, preferably from paper plates, without utensils. Hopefully, for a smaller group, it will involve minimum prep, easy serve and quick clean-up.
The answer which sprang to mind was a sandwich or taco filling crock pot recipe. It could be prepped hours ahead, cooked in and served from the same pot, leaving only the one pot to clean. Best of all, the pot could be plugged in near the T.V. for access-because Super Bowl is the one T.V. event when no one wants to miss commercials.
Here are 9 recipes which fill the bill, chosen for their easy prep, lack of need for many condiments and accompaniments and ingredient versatility. (For more options see posting for Aug. 15, 2019.)In these days of rising food prices, I concentrated on dishes which could use meats interchangeably. Anyone who follows my blog knows that chicken, turkey and pork are substitutes for each other. In the recipes below pork also stands in for the beef.
Most slow cooker recipes are conversions from conventional stove top and oven ones. I’m including a conversion chart in case you want to experiment with some family favorites. There are a few helpful tips about crock pots to know first though.
1) You can keep food warm in a crock pot on low, but never use one to reheat food. Don’t turn it off for hours and turn it on again to warm food for serving.
2) Crock pots, like microwaves, retain moisture. A rule of thumb is to use about ½ the liquid of a conventional recipe. You can add more as the dish cooks.
So for Super Bowl this year, get some paper plates and napkins, a plastic mat for the crock pot, plan to put your feet up, sit back, relax and let the others serve themselves.
CONVERSION CHART
IF RECIPE SAYS COOK ON LOW COOK ON HIGH
15 to 30 minutes 4 to 6 hours 11/2 to 2 hours
35-45 minutes 6 – 10 hours 3 – 4 hours
50 minutes to 3 Hours 8 to 18 hours 4 to 6 hours
RECIPES
Far East Steak Sandwich: Serves 6
1 lb. . Thin sliced sandwich steaks-pork scoloppine
2 garlic cloves minced
1 onion thinly sliced
! bell pepper julienned
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
¾ tsp. powdered ginger
3 Tbs. Soy sauce
4 0z can sliced mushrooms drained OR 1 cup fresh
Provolone cheese slices
Put all ingredients but cheese in cooker, cover and cook on low 6-8 hrs. Serve on sub rolls topped with cheese…
Meatballs for Sauce: Serves about 6
This is a recipe I used for the many years I was automatically assigned the meatball sandwich booth at the local elementary school Spring Fair. It makes up well in bulk and can be served in any sauce to fit the occasion. An added tip is that the frozen meatballs can be microwaved 1-2 min alone or with sauce until warm and served as a canapé or over pasta.
Recipe for meatball Sandwiches– Makes 18 meatballs
1 lb. ground meat-use sausage or a mix
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
½ hamburger bun in crumbs
½ small onion in fine dice
1 egg
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cups SAUCE home-made or commercial, any variety-tomato, Alfredo etc.
Combine all the ingredients except the sauce in a large bowl. Mix together well. Roll into balls about 1 ½ inch diameter. Place, well separated, on a foil covered cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18 min. Cool on sheet.
Heat sauce over medium heat in a pan on stove top. Add meatballs and cook 15 minutes until flavors meld and meat is heated through. Serve hot on sliced buns with sauce.
TO FREEZE: Freeze meatballs in an air-tight plastic bag on a flat surface, so they don’t crowd together. Best re-heated in sauce thawed, but can be done frozen –increase cooking time to 20 minutes.
Beef (or Pork) Fajitas-Serves 12 From 365 slow Cooker Recipes by Publications International Ltd.
1 ½ lb. beef flank steak or pork loin-cut in 6 pieces
1 cup chopped onion
1 green bell pepper cut in ¼ inch pieces
1 Tbs. cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper chopped
2 minced garlic cloves or ½ tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. EACH chili pepper, cumin, coriander
½ tsp. salt
(1) 8 oz. can diced tomatoes
(12) 8 inch flour tortillas
Toppings-Sour cream, shredded Cheddar cheese, guacamole, salsa
Combine all ingredients save tortillas and toppings in a crock pot. Cook Low 8-10 hr. or High 4-5 hr. Remove and shred meat, return to pot and heat through. Serve on tortillas with toppings.
All in One Mexican Turkey Ole-Serves 4-6-From Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good
2 lb. ground turkey
1 large onion –chopped
4 oz. can green chilies- chopped
3oz. can jalapenos –chopped
15 oz. can tomato sauce
2 lb. Velveeta cheese
Tortillas for serving
Brown onion and meat, drain. Place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook Low 4 hr. or High 2 hr. Serve hot rolled in tortillas.
Cranberry-Barbequed Chicken: Serves 6-8* 8/15/19
6 cups cubed cooked chicken
15 oz. can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 cup barbeque sauce
1/2cup diced celery
½ cup diced onion
Salt and pepper
Put all ingredients in a slow cooker, cover and cook on high 2 hr. or low 5 hrs. Chicken will shred when stirred, or simply ladle out. Serve on rolls, optionally spread with mayonnaise. The addition of lettuce is also optional.
*Spreading rolls with mayonnaise is a serving suggestion
Easy Mexican Chicken– Serves 6-8 Adapted from Cooking with 3 Ingredients by Ruthie Wornall
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
(1) 4 oz. can enchilada sauce
1 tsp. or to taste Taco Seasoning Mix
Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on Low 6-10 hr. or High 3-4 hr. Stir well to shred chicken* Serve on tortillas
Toppings-Sour cream, shredded Cheddar cheese, guacamole, salsa
*May also be cooked in an oven at 350 deg. for 1 hr. increase sauce to 10 oz.
Oriental Chicken-Serves 6-8 –Adapted from Cooking With 3 Ingredients by Ruthie Wornall
6 boneless chicken breasts or thighs
1 cup orange juice
1 oz. envelope dry onion soup mix
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1-2 Tbs. sugar
Place chicken in the bottom of the crock pot and pour over the liquids, then sprinkle with the soup mix and sugar. Cook on Low 6-10 hr. or High 3-4 hr.* Remove meat and shred, return to pot and heat through. Serve hot on rolls.
*May also be baked in an oven at 350 deg. for 30 min. turned and baked 30 more.
Barbequed Pulled Pork: Serves 6-8- From Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good
2-3 lb. boneless pork roast cubed
2 onions –chopped
12 oz. bottle barbeque sauce
¼ cup honey
Rolls
Place meat and next 3 ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on Low 6-8 hr. Remove meat and shred, return meat to pot and heat through. Stir well and serve on rolls.
Topping suggestions: diced tomatoes, sliced onions, lettuce
Shredded Pork: Serves 4-6– From Fix-it and Forget-it Cookbook by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good
2-3 lb. pork butt roast
(1) envelope taco seasoning mix
½ -1 cup water
Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on Low 24 hr. Remove meat and shred, return to pot and heat through. Serve on rolls.
Topping suggestions: diced tomatoes, sliced onions, lettuce
