Super Bowl Halftime Blitz Party

By Mindy Kobrin

Referee Party BlitzReferee Party Blitz

For some football fans, the Super Bowl is all about the game. For others, the super bowl commercials are the big draw. When planning your super bowl party, don't stop with great snacks and drinks - get both sides involved with fun games centered on the commercials and not just the big game itself. Don't forget to enter the Big Game Party Idea  contest!

 

Fun and Games

 

Start your party before game time so you can psych everyone up. Everyone loves to root for their favorite player, so up the stakes a bit:

Have a bowl with star players' numbers written down on pieces of paper. When guests arrive, they pick a player to cheer on (again, separate the teams into two bowls so fans aren't rooting for the wrong team).

You can have small door prizes for the lucky guest who picked the game's MVP or the player with the most points scored. Combine this with a traditional football pool and give your guests plenty of reasons to cheer.

Halftime Commercial Score CardsHalftime Commercial Score Cards

With the commercials and concerts getting crazier and crazier each year, pass out "commercial and concert score cards," and have your guests rate each of the big commercials on a 1-5 star scale. After the game, tally up the winners.

Atmosphere

Show your colors! Pick streamers, balloons, paper plates and napkins in your team's colors. Make sure to find out which team your guests are rooting for so you can have both sides represented.

If it's going to be a "mixed crowd," consider decorating opposite sides of your TV room for each team. If you're feeling generous, that is. Otherwise, it's your place, so your team rules.

In case the half-time entertainment leaves much to be desired, score with these high energy SuperBowl tunes:

1. We Will Rock You/We are the Champions - Queen
2. Pump It Up - Danzel
3. Hot in Here - Nelly
4. Blitzkrieg Bop / The Ramones
5. Celebration - Kool and the Gang
6. Who Let the Dogs Out - BahaJump Around - House of Pain
8. Whoomp! (There It Is) - Tag Team
9. Feelin' So Fly - Toby McKeehan
10. That's the Way I Like It / KC & The Sunshine Band

And since the SuperBowl is second to none for sport's enthusiasts, leave baskets of mini-chocolate footballs in your bathroom to get everybody ready for action.

Start your party with a bang by putting a large bowl of plastic mini-footballs and sport's trivia questions by the front door. As guests arrive, they get a gift and a great conversation starter. Not only do they have to look for someone to pass the ball with, they're then armed with sports trivia and know-how.

Snack bowls placed strategically around your home are handy for keeping guests munching without having to fight the crowds at a snack table.

Protect your big screen by having some yellow flags and soft foam footballs guests can toss when upset at the refs. And don't forget pom-poms. Whether as decorations or as party props, they can add to the fun.

It's a good idea to set up a second TV in the kitchen or another room besides your living room. Some of your guests may be there for the social aspects, and this will give them a place to chat while others are focused on the game.

Keep team-colored accessories handy for those who want to go the extra couple yards:

The key is serving food that tastes great and doesn't keep you in the kitchen or bar too long.

Halftime MunchiesHalftime Munchies

Chips and dips, pretzels and mixed nuts are always good to have on hand for munching during the game. A few of my favorite recipes are below - serve them cheese toasts, chili, and football cupcakes for an easy and occassion-appropriate feast.

If you don't have time to cook, ordering a long, pre-cut deli sandwich could be the right play.

Either way, we love to help you prepare the décor, perfect dips, drinks, snacks, delicious superbowl recipes, and a superbowl halftime show of your own. Score!

Mindy's Favorite Super Bowl Party Recipes

Punt Return Pimento Cheese Toasts
Pork, Beef and Black Bean Field Goal Chili
Banana-n-Chocolate Football Cupcakes

Really, you just can't go wrong at a Super Bowl party with a bunch of beer. You may want to ask guests to bring their favorite six-pack so you can have a nice selection, although if you choose this option have at least a 12-pack to start things off.

Non-Alcoholic Party Plays
Soda
Bottled Water
Shot glasses filled with Gatorade

Punt Return Pimento Cheese Toasts
This dresses up to be a first-down party popper!

Ingredients

10 oz. Extra-Sharp cheddar, (half white cheddar and half orange cheddar) coarsely grated approx. 4 cups
1/8 tsp cayenne
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup finely diced bottled roasted red peppers (rinse and pat dry before using)
1 French baguette (sliced crosswise 1/3-inch thick)

Preparation

  • Preheat broiler
  • Stir together all ingredients, except baguette, plus salt and fresh pepper to taste.
  • Spread bread thickly with cheese mixture.
  • Broil 5 to 6 inches from heat until cheese is bubbling and browned, approx. 2 minutes.
  • Makes about 3 dozen toast poppers.

Pork, Beef and Black Bean Field Goal Chili

Ingredients


2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground pork
1 pound ground beef
1 pound chuck steak, fat trimmed, cut into 1-inch cubes
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups water
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 6-ounce cans tomato paste
2 teaspoons sugar
3 cups diced fresh tomatoes
3 cups diced onions
3 cups diced red bell peppers
3 cups canned black beans, drained, rinsed (from three 15-ounce cans)
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 3/4 cups (about) beef broth
Grated cheddar cheese

Preparation

  • Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground pork and ground beef and sauté until brown, about 3 minutes.
  • Add cubed beef and garlic and sauté 5 minutes. Add 2 cups water; bring to boil. Add cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, and cayenne pepper. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes.
  • Add tomato paste and sugar and simmer 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, onions, and peppers and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
  • Add black beans and cilantro to chili. Add beef broth 3/4 cup at a time, until thinned to desired consistency. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.
  • Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated.) Bring chili to simmer. Ladle hot chili into bowls; top with grated cheddar cheese and serve.

Banana-Chocolate Football Cupcakes
These treats are delicious and adorable decorated with football picks.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 small bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels
Vegetable cooking spray
1 (16-ounce) container vanilla or chocolate frosting

Preparation

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, banana, and vanilla, beating until blended.
  • Stir together flour, soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to banana mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat at low speed until blended after each addition.
  • Stir in morsels.
  • Place paper baking cups in muffin pans, and coat with cooking spray; spoon batter into pans, filling cups two-thirds full.
  • Bake for 17 minutes.
  • Remove cupcakes from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks.
  • Spread with frosting, yields 18 cupcakes.

 

Forward this page to a friend