Categories: Eat & Drink; Adventure & Sports

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Are You Ready For Some Football?

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Great. Your boyfriend/spouse/significant other/partner wants to have people "over to watch the game". And while you may loooove football, this might be a giant pain in the rear, because we all know what happens: you're the one stuck organizing, preparing for, and managing the day while everyone else sits around and yells at the TV.

 

But you know what? It can also be fun. Call me crazy, but even if you're stuck spearheading the whole thing, entertaining (with proper advance notice, of course) is a fabulous excuse to drink, eat, and be merry. And a simple Sunday football game is no exception. Here's how to make it fun, no matter how much effort you want to put into it.

Option 1: Just the basics, please

Are you short on time, money, and/or patience?  No worries.  As long as you have food and drink, your guests will be happy.

Food: Let someone else cook

No matter how much effort you’re putting into your football Sunday, when it comes to food, keep it simple.  People won’t love having to try to balance a plate, fork, and knife on their lap while their attention is on the TV, and you won’t love it if they accidently spill it on the couch during an overzealous cheer.  Stick with finger foods, or food that can easily be scooped into guests’ mouths with one utensil.

Oh!  And guess what?  This is not the day to serve up healthy fare.  Your guests want naughty, tasty comfort food, not lettuce cups and carrot sticks.  Luckily, these foods are the easiest to grab, like chips and dip at the grocery store.  Even easier?  Order take out or (even easier!) delivery.    

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Tostitos with a Hint of Lime: I could live on these. And pair them with a jar of salsa (dumped into a bowl) and there you have it. Easiest. H’our derve. Ever.

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Everyone hearts pizza! So a simple phone call to your favorite pizza joint is not only going to be a crowd-pleaser, but probably the easiest party food you’ll ever serve.

Presto Pizzeria Restaurant

1936 Beacon St, Brighton, MA 02135

I have never been to Presto. But after reading jilliancyork’s guide to “Boston’s Best Pizza” in which she describes the slices as “greasy” and “unbelievable”, this seems like a must-try to me.

I have never been to Presto. But after reading jilliancyork’s guide to “Boston’s Best Pizza” in which she describes the slices as “greasy” and “unbelievable”, this seems like a must-try to me.

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All men love buffalo wings. It’s a biological fact.

Whatta Wing

218 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02474

Four choices of heat (from mild to suicide) glaze big, meaty wings for a deliciously messy meal.

Four choices of heat (from mild to suicide) glaze big, meaty wings for a deliciously messy meal.

www.whattawing.com

Drink: It's just a football game

Get plenty of beer.  End of story.

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Stock your fridge full of beer and you’ll have immediate happy guests.

Charles St Liquors

143 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114

Charles Street Liquors is known for its h-u-g-e collection of brews (“Wall of Beer”, anyone?), so you can pick up Bud Lights for the guys and some cool microbrews for the girls.

Charles Street Liquors is known for its h-u-g-e collection of brews (“Wall of Beer”, anyone?), so you can pick up Bud Lights for the guys and some cool microbrews for the girls.

Don't forget...

Paper plates, napkins, and utensils are a MUST.  Sure, it sounds low-end, but your guests really won’t care (they’re there to eat and drink!) and cleanup will be a breeze.

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Yes, my friends, THIS is a paper plate. Forget those flimsy ones that grease seeps right through; these are so cool, you’ll want to use them instead of your regular dishes.

Check them out here...fabulous!

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These adorable wooden utensils are the cutest things ever and are more eco-friendly than plastic.

Buy them here

Where to get the Sunday game goods

If you're not into football...

...check out these guides to brush up on things if you’d like to join in on/understand/pretend to understand the conversation.

Who Will Win Super Bowl XLIII?

The Football Lover's Guide To New York

Holy Cow, It's Football Season in Denver!

Your 2 Most Eligible New England Patriots Bachelors

 

Option 2: Step it up

Maybe you’ve got some time (and the desire) to make things a little more party-ish.  And even though this is a super-casual get together, maybe you still want to unleash your inner hostess.  Here are some ideas to go above and beyond take out and add a few extra touches to your afternoon of football-watching.

Food: Show off your skillz

You can (and should) still keep your game time food simple, but setting out some homemade goods will thrill your guests.  These recipes are easy and absolutely delicious.  The only downside?  You may end up hosting all the football games through the Superbowl.

Baked cheese spread

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2 cups mayonnaise
2 cups grated Colby cheese
2 cups chopped onion
Dash hot red pepper sauce
Dash Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients together and place in a pie plate or any baking dish. Bake until golden brown on top, approximately 30 minutes. Serve with Fritos Scoops or tortilla chips.

Guacamole!

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4 ripe Hass avocados, peeled, pitted, and chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
2 limes, juiced
Salt and pepper
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a and mix to a chunky consistency. Season, to taste, with salt, pepper, and cilantro. Serve immediately with tortilla chips.

Whole Foods Market

15 Washington St, Brighton, MA 02135

For lovely avocados (and the rest of your guac ingredients), Whole Foods to the rescue.

For lovely avocados (and the rest of your guac ingredients), Whole Foods to the rescue.

Individual Italian sub sandwiches

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Loaf Italian bread
6 slices hard salami
6 slices prosciutto
6 slices mortadella
6 thin slices capicola or other cooked ham
4 thin slices provolone
3 bottled hot cherry peppers or pepperincini, to taste, sliced thinly
3 roasted peppers, sliced very thin
3/4 cup finely shredded lettuce
1/2 small onion, sliced very thin
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
3/4 olive oil
1/4 cup fresh herbs (parsley,

Halve the bread horizontally, leaving one edge uncut to form a hinge. On the bottom of the bread layer the salami, prosciutto, mortadella, capicola and then the provolone, peppers, lettuce, and onions. In a small bowl whisk the red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, and oil and stir in the fresh herbs. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste, if needed. Drizzle the dressing over the fillings, and cover the fillings with the top half of the bread. Cut into individual sandwiches.

Salumeria Italiana

151 Richmond St, Boston, MA 02109

Do yourself (and your guests) a favor and spare no expense or convenience with the deli meats for your sandwich. Hands-down, Salumeria Italiana is THE place to go for top-notch quality cold cuts.

Do yourself (and your guests) a favor and spare no expense or convenience with the deli meats for your sandwich. Hands-down, Salumeria Italiana is THE place to go for top-notch quality cold cuts.

Drink: Offer up an alternative

If you have non-beer drinkers in your group (what?!) or simply want to mix it up a bit with the drink options, offer one additional, easy to make choice—something that’s not too fou fou and can stand up to the hearty food you’re eating. 

Margaritas

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4 teaspoons grated lime zest
1/2 cup lime juice from 2 to 3 medium limes
4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 cup lemon juice from 2 to 3 medium lemons
1/4 cup superfine sugar
pinch table salt
2 cups crushed ice
1 cup 100 percent agave tequila
1 cup Triple Sec

Combine lime zest and juice, lemon zest and juice, sugar, and salt in large liquid measuring cup; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until flavors meld, 4 to 24 hours. Divide 1 cup crushed ice between 4 or 6 margarita or double old-fashioned glasses. Strain juice mixture into 1-quart pitcher or cocktail shaker. Add tequila, Triple Sec, and remaining crushed ice; stir or shake until thoroughly combined and chilled, 20 to 60 seconds. Strain into ice-filled glasses; serve immediately.

Bloody Marys

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3 large stalks celery from the heart, including leaves, plus extra for serving
36 ounces tomato juice
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon grated yellow onion
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
12 dashes hot sauce, or to taste
1 1/2 cups vodka

Cut the celery in large dice, including the leaves, and puree in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until finely minced. In a large pitcher, combine the rest of the ingredients except the vodka. With the food processor running, pour 1/4 of the tomato juice mixture into the food processor through the feed tube. Then pour the contents of the food processor into the pitcher with the remaining tomato juice mixture. Add the vodka and chill. Serve in tall glasses over ice with a stick of celery.

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