• The first team to ever win five, count ’em, five Super Bowl championships was the San Francisco 49ers (during my husband’s glory days—he’s a native San Franciscan).
• The team with the most ever Super Bowl losses is the Los Angeles Rams.
• The average number of people at a Super Bowl Sunday party is 17.
• Only 5 percent of Super Bowl viewers are viewing the game alone.
• 35 percent of those who attend the actual Super Bowl Championship (itself) write it off as a corporate expense (so smart—hey boss lady M.Lisa Monroe, can I go and write it off too?).
• Six percent of Americans call in ‘sick’ the day after the Super Bowl.
• Fans spend more than $50 million on food in the four days prior to the big game.
You know what? When I think about it, I actually do care about who wins the Super Bowl this year—because I’m really a Cheesehead at heart. Or Green Bay Packers fan, to be more specific. Because I really, really like Wisconsin; our family has traveled quite a bit throughout that beautiful state, and the people there are just really nice. They love cheese, and I love cheese. And I love Beth Tickner—she’s a Cheesehead, too. So that’s my criteria for who should win this year. Just so you know.
I have two more fabulous game day appetizers for you this week. The first comes from JoAnn Carey, who summers at Twitchell Lake and works weddings and special events at the Adirondack League Club. JoAnn doesn’t even have a name for this dish, so I’m making one up for her: JoAnn’s Fabulous Stromboli Appetizer. And my mom Carol came through for me, once again, with her Amazingly Amazing Refried Bean Dip. This recipe serves a huge crowd, and is super simple to put together. Last, reader Terry from Rochester sent me her Hot Ryes appetizer—you can check out the preparation of this crowd pleaser on my blog, www.SugarAndSpiceAdk.blog-spot.com. Sooo yummy. Thank you, ladies. Enjoy.
JOANN’S FABULOUS
STROMBOLI APPETIZER
Feeds a bunch
2 packages crescent rolls
4 oz. thinly sliced salami
4 oz. thinly sliced Swiss cheese
4 oz. thinly sliced pepperoni
4 oz. thinly sliced American cheese
4 oz. thinly sliced ham
4 oz. thinly sliced provolone
1 jar roasted red bell peppers (drained)
2 eggs, beaten with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and 1/2 tsp. pepper
1 egg yolk, beaten, for brushing on top layer
Roll 1 tube of crescent roll dough out to cover the bottom and sides of a greased 13x9 inch pan. Layer all remaining ingredients (except egg mixture and egg yolk) in order listed above, covering dough. Pour egg mixture over all. Cover with 2nd tube of crescent roll dough; pinch sides to seal. Brush top with the one beaten egg yolk. Bake at 350 degrees, covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes or until browned. Cut into brownie-sized squares and gobble up right out of the pan.
CAROL’S AMAZINGLY
AMAZING REFRIED BEAN DIP
30oz. can refried beans, heated
Hot sauce
Sour cream
Guacamole
Grated cheddar cheese, or grated pepper jack
Chopped tomatoes
Sliced black olives
Sliced jalapenos (optional)
Chopped cilantro
Tortilla chips
Heat refried beans, and mix with a healthy amount of your favorite hot sauce. In a large pasta bowl (or any large decorative bowl with a flat bottom) spread refried beans in bottom of bowl. Cover beans with sour cream. Top that with guacamole, spread as evenly as possible over sour cream. Cover with cheddar or pepper jack cheese, then layer on tomatoes, sliced black olives, jalapenos and chopped cilantro. Serve with lots of tortilla chips.
TERRY’S HOT RYES
Makes 36 appetizers
1 cup finely grated Swiss cheese
1/4 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
1 14oz. can black olives, drained and chopped
1/2 cup minced green onions or chives
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Party rye bread squares
Mix all ingredients together; spread on bread. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-14 minutes, or until bubbly. Serve warm.
Please send all recipes or comments to P.O. Box 111, Old Forge, NY 13420, or e-mail them to lnwillard@hotmail.com. You can also find Leslie at her blog, located at www.SugarAndSpiceAdk.blogspot.com