Super Bowl Fun

Super bowl festivities in NYC is genius. Take the craziest city, add the biggest event and what do you get?  Fun.  The actual game?  Yeah that's going to suck.  But who cares about that?

Times Square has been taken over by the Super Bowl, making what is always an ADD inducing feast for the eyes ever more crazy.  The best thing for sure is the extra point taker in the middle of Times Square.  The kids just get cheered, but if you are any older than 13 you better be ready to be heckled if you miss your kick badly.  If public humiliation isn't your thing, you can also take a photo with the Lombardi trophy, go sledding on the giant toboggan run, rock out to the live music, or get autographs from the various players that stop by.  Sound like you're type of event yet?

And this is just the free stuff. So the stuff I am going to be doing, as I really have no desire to spend thousands of dollars to go to the huge parties.  But I'm sure if you were inclined to go that route, the MAXIM, ESPN, and other parties will surely make it worth you're while. 

Cold? Yes.   But at least for the week leading up to the actual game, that hasn't stopped the party at all. 

Food and Football

What's the best part of watching sports at home?  Well, the best part is your warm while those at the game are dealing with 30 degree weather if they are lucky.  But the second best part, at least for me, is coming up with a fun menu to eat throughout the night. 

So with the boyfriend and the parents coming over to watch the first set of NFL playoffs games, I had to come up with a menu that would keep us going.  What I came up with was Greek Style Stuffed Mushroom and Buffalo Chicken Wanton Cups for Appetizers.  My parents came out of the 11degree NYC weather and were greeted with two different warm appetizers.  My favorite was the buffalo chicken cups, but the boyfriend found it to be a bit to creamy/cheesy so he preferred the mushrooms.  Either way, by the time the appetizers were gone, it seemed as if the Colts were already down 20 points.  Luckily we had wine and board games to amuse us.

And then, suddenly the game was interesting! Somehow, someway, the Colts came all the way back to win the game.  And how did we celebrate?  By pouring the rest of the wine into our glasses and then sitting down to the main course.  To finish off the night we had braised short ribs that had been cooking all day and a green bean/potato salad.  Perfect hearty winter fare. 

I love to cook.  And I love sports.  So its great that I get to do two of my passions at the same time.  And its even better when I get to share those passions with friends and family.  Here's to a great new year filled with amazing sporting events and even better food!