Kare Kountry Celebrates: Super Bowl

Begin with an invitation that will bowl over your guests. Write your party details on a piece of paper and attach to the back of football trading cards. Or, photocopy part of the sports page from the newspaper or a sports magazine. Write your party details in one of the columns. Ask guests to dress in their team colors.

Create a centerpiece: Place a bunch of pennants in a foam ball and place the ball inside a football helmet. Add crushed soda cans and trading cards to your centerpiece.

Use football T-shirts, jerseys, jackets or sweatshirts as a buffet table covering. Or decorate your table with green felt or Astroturf and white tape as yard lines. Use wooden dowels for goal posts. Making pigskin placemats scores a touchdown at any party.

Decorate the room with your favorite team colors using crepe paper streamer football Mylar balloons. Hang a football piñata. Play Sports Rock and Jams CD or Cassette. Hang football posters and pennants in your party room. You can create team pennants from colored card stock and attach to wooden sticks.

Transform your room into a Super Bowl stadium. Rent some bleachers or simulate bleacher seats with folding chairs arranged in a semi circle. Or arrange your furniture in the same fashion. Place goal posts at each end of the room. Got a tiny TV set? Surprise your guests with a large screen television. Many electronic stores will rent them for the big game.

As your guests arrive pin the name of a football player or coach on the backs of guests as they arrive. Guests have to guess who they are by asking questions of others. Award gag prizes to the first 2 people who guess correctly.

Design a raffle in which guests record their answers before the game's kickoff. Charge everyone a minimal fee and award a cash prize to the guest who answers the most questions correctly. Questions could include: First player to score, First team to score, First second and third quarter scores, Team leading at half time, Winner of the game.

Hang a Football piñata and let the kids break it.

Make sure you have some activities for the Football widows. They can discuss favorite books they have read or view a movie in another room.

For the food portion of the evening, why not ask your guests to prepare and bring their favorite chili recipe and have a chili fest. Give an award for the best tasting chili. Or you could even provide the recipes for them to make.

Super Bowl Chili

1 (16 oz.) can chopped tomatoes, do not drain
2 (15 oz.) can dark red kidney beans, not drained
1 lb. ground beef
1 small red pepper (chopped)
1 1/2 cups water
Dash Worcestershire Sauce
2 dashes garlic powder
1/8 t. pepper
1 t ground cumin
1 pkg. instant onion soup mix
1 T chili powder
2 T sugar
1 T dried oregano

Brown ground beef in large saucepan, drain grease. Add water and seasonings. Let simmer approx. 10 minutes. Remove mixture to large pot. Add tomatoes, kidney beans, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer approx. one half-hour. Make a day ahead and reheat during the second quarter so it will be ready for half time. Top heated chili with shredded cheddar cheese and green onions. Serves: 8-10

Goal-Line Chicken Salad

4 1/2 c diced cooked chicken
1 1/2 c diced apples
3/4 c halved green grapes
6 T sweet pickle relish
6 T mayonnaise
6 T ranch salad dressing
3/4 t onion salt
3/4 t garlic salt
Lettuce leaves

In a large bowl, combine the chicken, apples and grapes. In a small bowl, combine the pickle relish, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, onion salt and garlic salt. Pour over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Serve in a lettuce-lined bowl. Serves: 18

Over the Top Nachos

These nachos can be served as a meal, but all the good stuff makes for a great appetizer or snack while watching a game.

Serve with sour cream and salsa.

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
salt and pepper to taste
1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 (14.5 oz) package tortilla chips
jalapeno pepper slices to taste (optional)
2 (8 oz) packages shredded Cheddar & Monterey Jack cheese

In a large frying pan, brown ground beef with onion, salt and pepper over medium heat. Break the meat into very small pieces while it is cooking. After the meat is thoroughly cooked, drain off the grease.

Arrange chips on a microwavable platter. Spread beans over the chips. Layer with 1/2 of the cheese, the ground beef mixture, and remaining cheese. Arrange jalapeno peppers on top. Microwave on medium high until cheese has melted. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings

Superbowl Popcorn

4 qt popped corn
12 oz peanuts
2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c melted butter
2 t lemon pepper
2 t cumin
1/4 t cayenne pepper
2 t chili powder
1 t paprika

Combine popcorn, peanuts, and cheese in a large bowl. Set aside. Add spices to melted butter one at a time, stirring constantly. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat. Yield: 6 servings

Nacho Popcorn

1 t paprika
1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 c melted butter
10 c freshly popped popcorn
1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

In a small bowl, stir paprika, chili powder, and cumin into melted butter. Gently toss butter mixture with popcorn, coating evenly. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss until coated. Makes 10 cups.

Build Your Own-Sundae-Buffet