Super Bowl Snax

Maybe it's just me, but the one downside to sports/movie snacks (because they all taste amazing) is that my tummy feels all rumbly afterward because of all the processed food (and who knows what ingredients) that was just dumped into my system.  Here body--handle THIS.  Thanks!  My husband (who really really likes his traditional super bowl foods) secretly agrees about the unpleasant brick in one's stomach post-game.  SO, this year I decided to root around and find recipes that are healthy (iow--no digestive hang over), not-too-unusual, cheap, and delicious for the game.  I'm also joining Real Food Wednesday at this blog--check out the other great ideas there!

Nachos Sanos
Packaged chip dips often have a lot of preservatives and bad oils in them and cheese-wiz or heat-and-serve nacho dips are horrible for you.  Here's a delicious alternative that takes 10 min. to prepare (unless you choose to do lots of extra chopping for more toppings).

• Preheat the oven to 375
• Bean dip (to be put on top of the chips or kept on the side for dunking)
• 1 can re-fried beans (Trader Joe's organic, canned)
• 1/2 block cream cheese (4 oz., organic is good, raw is best)
• 1/2-2/3 cup salsa (whatever you like; I use Costco's Kirkland organic--it's like a gallon for $5!)
• Mix the above over low heat in a small pot
• Line an edged baking pan (the biggest one you have) with parchment paper
• Fill the pan full of tortilla chips (I used organic Kirkland brand)
• Put shredded cheddar (I use Trader Joe's raw milk cheddar) over the chips
• Add your favorite ingredients: chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers, jalapenos, drops of hot sauce, olives, black beans, more salsa, shredded chicken, etc.
• Add the bean dip
• Stick the whole thing in the oven for 5 min. or so until the cheese bubbles and is "nacho-y"
• Add cold/warm temp toppings like sour cream, guacamole (just smash a fresh avocado), or lettuce
• Enjoy!  [My favorite just has cheese, bean dip, guac, and sour cream; my guy likes "the works"]
• Diet modifications--It's already wheat/gluten free if your chips are 100% corn.  It's easy to do this dairy free--just remove all the cheese/cream parts and it still tastes amazing!  High protein?--more beans and chicken.

Rubbed Wings & Sticks
Often prepared sauces & marinades have high fructose corn syrup, flavor enhancers & tenderizers (like MSG), preservatives, more sugar, bad salts, and bad oils.  Look for a sauce in the refrigerated section to avoid preservatives, or local bbq sauces with fewer strange ingredients, OR make this easy and delicious rub below.

• 2 Tablespoons melted butter
• 3 cloves garlic pressed
• 2 teaspoons chili powder [add more chili or add some cayenne pepper if you like it to be spicy!
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Sea salt (the best are Himalayan or Celtic b/c the minerals are still there) & pepper to taste
• 10 chicken wings/drumsticks
• Put all of it in a large plastic bag and shake to coat
• 375 for 1 hour [I'd usually make at least a double batch of these!]

Chips & Herb Dip
This is SO easy and addictively delicious (I'm not kidding).  It ends up kinda tasting like ranch dressing except like 1000x better.

• 8oz. cream cheese (pre-whipped is easy, organic is good, raw is best)
• 1 t. rosemary (I crush mine up a little first)
• 1/s t. thyme
• 1/4 t. garlic powder
• 1/4 t. freshly ground pepper
• Mix it all with the cream cheese and serve OR refrigerate for up to a day or so for an even better taste.
• Serve with crackers (my favorite is a hearty wheat), pita pieces, pita chips, sliced bread, or whatever [you could even pre-spread the crackers, add smoked salmon on top, and serve plated like an appetizer]
• Leftover ideas: IF you have any dip leftover (and that's a big "if"), here are some ideas:
• eat it sneakily before anyone else discovers it
• put it in an omelet (SO good)
• put it on a sandwich as a delicious spread with leftover meat or deli meat
• put it on a slice of bread with a fried egg on top
• put it on salmon and warm it up (I have not yet tried this, but it seems like it would be delicious)
• This is my "I only have 3 min. to make something for that party" go-to recipe.  :)
• It would work well with fresh herbs too--just adjust the amounts a bit to taste

Other ideas:

• Homemade chili
• Homemade meatballs with a good-quality bbq sauce in a crock-pot
• Popcorn (make it the old way, not in a microwave, and add your own butter and salt)
• Potato skins with real bacon and cheese and onions on top--DON'T use bacon bits, esp. the unnaturally red, hard ones--words can't express how sad it is that someone invented such a culinary travesty
• Cold veggies & homemade dip--or use that cream cheese herb recipe above but replace the cream cheese with sour cream!
• Homemade sun tea instead of soda
• Quesadillas from scratch
• What others can you think of??

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