Not So Typical Super Bowl Snack Recipes

The Super Bowl is a time for gluttony. It is a single day that exists for Americans to binge on food in the glory of competition. Unlike holidays, the main courses are junk food appetizers rather than gourmet courses. If you want more than a bag of potato chips, pork rinds and dip, here are some recipess for guaranteed Super Bowl winners.

Cheese Potato Bacon Skins and Dip

- 4 potatoes with skin

- 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

- 1/2 cup chopped sweet pickles

- 6 strips of chopped bacon (already cooked)

- 1 cup sour cream

- 1/4 cup horseradish

- 1 tbsp dijon mustard

- 1 tsp sugar

1.) Cut potatoes into quarters. Scoops out majority of potato inside leaving a small lining on the skin. You'll use the potatoes later.

2.) Bake skins at 475º for 10-15 minutes, until crispy.

3.) Mix together pickles, cheese, bacon and potato. Pour the mixture into the skins and cook for 5 minutes.

4.) Mix together sour cream, horseradish, dijon mustard and sugar to create dip.

5.) Serve!

Zucchini Fries and Garlic Dip

- 2 zucchinis

- 1 egg white

- 1/4 cup milk

- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

- 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

- 1 cup buttermilk

- 1/2 cup mayonnaise

- 1/2 package of ranch salad dressing

- 1 clove of garlic

- 1/4 tsp oregano

1.) Chop zucchinis into 3-inch pieces.

2.) Whisk egg white and milk in bowl.

3.) Mix parmesan and breadcrumbs in separate bowl.

4.) Dip zucchini pieces into milk and egg then roll in Parmesan and breadcrumb mix.

5.) Bake on cookie sheet for 20-30 minutes at 425º.

6.) Mix buttermilk, mayonnaise, ranch, garlic and oregano in a bowl to create dip.

7.) Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Fries and Honey Spice Dip

- 1 tbsp brown sugar

- 2 1/2 tsps cinnamon

- 1/2 tsp ginger

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 2 lbs sweet potatoes

- 1 tbsp canola oil

- 1/2 cup sour cream

- 1/2 cup plain yogurt

- 1 tbsp honey

1.) Mix brown sugar, 2 tbsp cinnamon, ginger and salt together.

2.) Skin and chop potatoes into shoestring slices.

3.) Toss potatoes in oil in bowl.

4.) Add mixture from step one into bowl of potatoes and cover the potatoes well.

5.) Bake on cookie sheet for 30-35 minutes. Turn halfway through baking.

6.) Mix sour cream, yogurt, honey and 1/2 cinnamon into small bowl to create dip.

7.) Enjoy!

Caramelized Onion Focaccia

- 2 tbsp butter

- 1 tbsp olive oil

- 2 chopped onions

- 8 slices of provolone cheese

- 1 loaf of focaccia bread

- a dash of salt and pepper

1.) Melt butter and olive oil in skillet. Cook onions in it from 15-20 minutes until caramelized. Sprinkle salt and pepper on.

2.) Cut focaccia in half lengthwise.

3.) Line focaccia with a few pieces of cheese. Place onions on top of cheese. Put remaining cheese on top of onions.

4.) Bake for 15-20 minutes until all cheese is melted.

5.) Cut into wedges and serve!

Sausage Balls

- 1 lb Italian sausage

- 2 cups shredded colby cheese

- 1 beaten egg

- 2 cups biscuit mix

- dash of cayenne pepper

- 1/4 cup cocktail sauce

- 1/4 cup chili sauce

1.) Mix uncooked sausage, cheese, egg, cayenne and biscuit mix in bowl.

2.) Bake on cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes at 375º. Turn balls halfway through.

3.) Mix cocktail sauce and chili sauce together to create sauce.

4.) Eat up!

Now armed with your game plan, have a fun day and may the best team win (although, I must say as a Bears fan, the best team doesn't even have a chance to win ;-))

How to Whisk Away the Winter Blues

It is the dead of winter for all of those of us in the western hemisphere. Now that the Christmas season is officially over, the cold weather can sometimes now feel like a drag. If winter has gotten you down, here are some tips to help get you through the rest of the season and hopefully enjoy it as well.

Keep Fresh Flowers in Your House

One thing to greatly help get you through the barren of winter is to have nature around you. There really isn't anything more beautiful in nature than flowers. The sight and smell of these lovely plants are sure to delight your senses and help you escape the lack of live vegetation outside. Keep flowers in at least one room of your house and replace them weekly or biweekly to get full effect. Be sure to rotate your flower choices as well. You don't want Poinsettias after the holidays, even if they can live that long.

Decorate in Light Colors

Christmas decor is the epitome of rich colors. Dark hues of green and red give gorgeous contrast to the white snow on the ground. Once the holiday season is over though, having dark colors around can remind you of the glorious season which has just ended and/or make you feel stuck. Dark hues can also have the power of seasonal depression on some people. Avoid any downtroddeness by minimizing or eliminating dank colors for winter. Stick to brighter and/or paler colors such as yellow, orange, lighter blues and lighter greens. If you are feeling that a grand change is in order, paint one or a few rooms in your homes. If you're looking for a temporary change to trick your mind, change the adornments on your tables and walls and possibly your comforters. This change will make you home uplifting and serve as a refuge from the season.

Eat Summery Foods

Now, I'm not talking about lemonade or popsicles. Obviously, you should steer clear of cold foods. They will only make you the cold even more. To put yourself in more a summer mindset, eat foods like hot dogs, hamburgers and if you're lucky enough to be able to right now, barbecue. Your taste buds will put you in a summery state of mind, at least momentarily. For most people, eating as a splendid pleasure, so use it to help you this winter.

Play Sports Indoors

One thing that people miss most in winter is the ability to go outdoors without the snow inhibiting each thing you do. The snow and cold make is difficult or impossible to play most sports outside. If you're feeling cramped inside your house, go the gym or rec center and join in a league or some pick-up games. There are sure to be other people missing outdoor sports just as you are (if your friends don't want to play). Even in the tiny town where I grew up, there were constantly games of basketball, indoor soccer and baseball during the winter. Get your blood flowing in the games you love and you'll soon forget what season it is.

Go Have Fun Outside

To make the season more bearable, see the good sides of it. Other than the beauty of snow, there are other things that only come once a year. Only in the cold weather of winter can you go skiing/snowboarding, sledding, ice skating, snowmobiling and numerous activities. You will see the brighter side of the season in at least one way if you can enjoy one of these things. You may even come to look forward to it next year.

Now that there is at least one month of winter to go, I hope you can use some of these ideas to cope with the blues and possibly even enjoy the rest of the season. It only comes once a year, whether good or bad.