Relax, Eat and Watch the Super Bowl

Unless I'm with my friends who enjoy watching the Super Bowl, I don't care that much for the Super Bowl game. I mainly perceive this opportunity to spend some quality time with my friends, as well as pig out on my favourite junk foods, as opposed to simply watching the game. I also love to use this opportunity to make homemade food to share with my friends. I've never been the type of person to watch sports games, like my dad and my brothers. When they would be spending time watching hockey games in the living room together, I would often read a book on the large beige sofa, spend time in the basement, or hibernate in my bedroom. If I was doing nothing in the living room, I would pretend to watch the games, just to enjoy their company.

I believe that no game-watching party should occur without food, in particular junk food. Just like going to the cinema with my friends, and buying a decent bag of classic movie popcorn to binge on, Super Bowl night shouldn't be any different. Since I was a young child, I've been a sweet tooth who craves desserts like ice cream, cupcakes, cookies, chocolates and puddings. I‘m not really a "salty-snacks type of gal", however I love feasting on popcorn, potato chips, and pretzels! In addition to the snacks that are typically served on Super Bowl night, I enjoy eating things like pizza, nachos, and veggie dogs.

Super Bowl night will be quiet out of the ordinary this year, due to the stay-at-home, and social distancing protocols that are in place across the globe. If you're looking for a new recipe or something to recreate, a menu of my favourite Super Bowl snacks are below for you to explore.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup of salted or unsalted butter

1 cup of granulated sugar or sugar substitute (e.g. coconut sugar, xylitol, stevia, monk fruit sweetenter, or erythritol)

1 cup of light brown sugar (optional)

2 tsps of vanilla extract (artificial or natural)

2 large eggs

3 cups of all-purpose flour or flour substitute (e.g. banana, coconut, almond, quinoa, cassava, tapioca, etc.)

1 tsp of baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 cups of chocolate chips (Dark, milk, or white. For a healthier alternative, you can also consider swapping regular chocolate chips for stevia-sweetened chocolate chips, carob chips, cacao nibs, or organic chocolate chips).

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 or 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking pan with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. In a different bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.

3. Mix butter, and sugar/sweetener until you have a "frosting-like consistency".

4. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract until soft and fluffy.

5. Consolidate the dry ingredients and mix well.

6. Include your 2 cups of chocolate chips and combine well.

7. Roll 2-3 tbsps of dough at a time into "ping-pong size balls", and then place them proportionately spaced on your prepared cookie sheets. If you find it easier, feel free to use an ice cream scooper instead of a regular soup spoon for the cookie dough.

8. Bake in the preheated oven for roughly 8-10 minutes. After they are done baking, remove them from the oven when they are just starting to turn brown.

9. Let them cool on the baking pan for 2 minutes prior to transferring them onto a cooling rack or plate.

Pita Pizzas

Ingredients

6-10 whole wheat or white pitas (depends on how many people are coming)

1-1/2 cups of tomato sauce

1-2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese (or Daiya vegan shredded mozzarella cheese)

Toppings of your choice (a few ideas are sauteed mushrooms/onions, tomatoes, pepperoni, ham, etc.)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degree Fahrenheit. Prepare the baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Gather the pitas and spread some tomato sauce on them.

3. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the pitas.

4. Prepare and cook your desired toppings. If you don't want to pre-cook for toppings (e.g. sautee your mushrooms and onions), just add your toppings onto the pita pizzas (e.g. add pepperoni).

5. Bake them in the oven for 8-10 minutes. Let them cool for about 1-2 minutes prior to cutting.

6. Cut them into triangle-shaped slices with a knife or pizza knife.

DIY Snack Mixes (sweet and savoury)

Ingredients for the savoury snack mix

1 whole bag of popcorn

1 container of nuts of your choice

1 bag of Ruffles or any brand of potato chips (any flavour is possible)

1 whole bag of pretzels

1/2 bag of cheetos

1/2 bag of Bits and Bites

1/2 bag of Goldfish crackers

Ingredients for the sweet snack mix

1 whole bag of plain or caramel flavoured popcorn

1 pack of M and M's

1 pack of Smarties

1 pack of almonds or peanuts (unsalted)

3 tbsps of chocolate chips

1-2 cups of mini marshmallows (rainbow or white)

Optional 1-2 tbsps of hot cocoa powder (for extra flavour)

Ice Cream Sundaes

Ingredients

1 tub of ice cream (any brand, any flavour)

6-10 dessert-size bowls

An ice cream scoop

Whipped cream

Cherries

Hot fudge/chocolate sauce

Caramel sauce

Peanut butter sauce

Sprinkles

Additional toppings (e.g. sprinkles, cookie crumbs, rainbow chips, fruit, nuts, coconut flakes, candy, etc.)