Friday Five: Game Day Food

Get ready for game day with these cheering-from-the-couch friendly recipes.

Rumor has it there's a big game on Sunday? Truth be told, my interest quickly waned when the Packers lost in the NFC Championship game; although I guess if I had to choose I'd root for the Falcons.

But, really? I'm just in it for the food. Here are a few recipe ideas to amp up your game-day feast.

Slow Cooker Beef Chili

Cauliflower Buffalo Bites

French Onion Dip

Avocado Hummus

Greek Layered Dip

What's For Dinner: Sweet Potato Chili

My intention for our Super Bowl dinner/snackathon was that I would eat a bowl of veggie chili while D chowed down on some homemade buffalo hot wings. Unfortunately, I filled up on too many pretzel dogs (look for a post on those later this week) and nachos. Long story short, this chili will be the feature of tonight's dinner hour instead.

Sweet Potato Chili (printer-friendly version)
makes 6+ servings

1/2 white onion, chopped
1/2 yellow pepper, chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 15-oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 oz-can pinto beans or black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 no-salt added cup tomato sauce
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 small can low-sodium vegetable juice
1/2 cup frozen whole-kernel yellow corn
1 package (10 oz) frozen sweet potatoes (or 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder

1. Add the chopped onion, pepper, and garlic into a 1.5 or 2-quart slow cooker.
2. Stir in the rinsed beans.
3. Pour in the chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce, and vegetable broth, and vegetable juice.
4. Add in the frozen corn and sweet potatoes.
5. Season with cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and cocoa powder.
6. Place the cover onto the bowl and cook on high for 4.5 to 5 hours.
7. Serve with toppings such as oyster crackers, shredded cheese, or plain Greek yogurt.

What I'm Searching For: Super Bowl Snacks

Watching the Super Bowl wouldn't be any fun without a big spread of food, right? Though we'll likely just have a party for two (or three, if you count the dog), I think I may still need to cook up a few items to munch on while we watch the game. Here are a few savory (and sweet!) things I've found both around the interwebs and in my archives to serve as inspiration for treats to eat this Super Bowl Sunday.

1. Mini Pretzel Dogs / 2. Fiesta Bean Cups / 3. Super-Simple Nachos / 4. Super Bowl Chili / 5. Spinach-Artichoke Dip / 6. Curried Tofu and Avocado Dip / 7. Baked Pita Chips / 8. Baked Brie / 9. Brown Sugar Fruit Dip / 10. Nutella Brownies / 11. Red Velvet Whoopie Pies / 12. Salted Caramel Brownies

What's For Dinner: Veggie Beef Chili

Last weekend I had plans to make a veggie chili, but someone insisted that I add in some beef. Luckily for him, I had yet to do the grocery shopping for ingredients I needed to make the recipe, so I picked up some grass-fed beef while at Whole Foods. However, I think this chili would be just as good without the beef, or you could always substitute in some soy crumbles as a meat substitute. Long story short, this chili was hearty and delicious, and would make an excellent addition to your Super Bowl game-day meal plan.

Veggie Beef Chili (printer-friendly version)
makes 6+ servings

1/4 pound grass-fed ground beef
1 15-oz can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable juice
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
1 small zucchini, chopped
1/2 yellow or orange sweet pepper (ribs and seeds removed), chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1 clove garlic, minced
dash cayenne pepper
dash paprika

1. Brown the meat in a skillet over medium-high heat, about 5-7 minutes. Cover a plate with a paper towel. Spoon the cooked meat onto the plate to drain off the excess fat.
2. Add the meat along with the rest of the ingredients to a 1 1/2- or 2-quart slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours on the low setting, or 3 to 4 hours on the high setting.
4. Serve with toppings of your choice, such as oyster crackers, shredded cheese, plain Greek yogurt, or green onions.

Snacktime: Super-Simple Nachos

Since the Super Bowl is just around the corner, I thought I'd post a super-simple nachos recipe. I made these nachos last weekend for the championship games on Sunday. Though I used grass-fed ground beef in the recipe, you could easily swap out the meat with soy crumbles or just double the beans to make a vegetarian option.

Super-Simple Nachos (printer-friendly version)
makes two hearty servings

1/4-lb grass-fed ground beef (I like White Oak Pastures, which can be found at Whole Foods in many areas)
2 cups tortilla chips (I used whole-grain scoops)
1 cup kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup salsa of your choice
3/4 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded (use more or less depending on your love for cheese)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Brown the beef over medium-high heat in a skillet on the stovetop. Scoop the cooked meat onto a plate covered with a paper towel to remove any excess grease. Set aside.
3. Fill the bottom of a 9" pie plate (or other rimmed dish suitable for the oven) with tortilla chips. (If using scoops, make sure they are scoop-side up.)
4. Add the toppings starting with ground beef, then kidney beans, then shredded cheese. Top all with the salsa.
5. Bake in the oven until the cheese is nice and melty, about 5 minutes. (Keep your eyes on the nachos to ensure the cheese doesn't burn.)
6. Let cool slightly and then eat up!
7. Cheer on your team to victory.