Let the games begin! In the next two weeks we’ll watch two
major sports event: the Winter
Olympics and the Super Bowl. I find that if I keep things simple…and plan
ahead…I can watch the games, be a considerate hostess, and enjoy the food. In
fact, the food is the BIG thing to me during sports parties and I must confess
that I watch the Super Bowl primarily to see the commercials. But I’m an avid
Winter Olympics fan (and I wouldn’t miss the big opening night), so I want to make sure I can watch my
favorite events and still eat well.
Choose a theme… and
then build the menu around the theme so all the foods go well together. I
usually choose Italian, All-American, or Mexican themes.
Italian food is
always a hit, so why not serve Pizza. You can pre-bake a batch of homemade crusts
(my crust recipes call for a 10-minute prebaking before topping them) and then
freeze, tightly wrapped. Or, buy ready-made crusts by Whole Foods or Udi’s, or
your favorite GF source. On the big day, greet guests with appetizer slices of
Pizza hot from the oven, but then set out the remaining crusts and toppings and
let them make their own as the party flows on. A big mixed greens salad and a vegetable platter and dip complement
the pizza. Plenty of wine (or whatever you like to drink with pizza) and a platter
of fresh-baked GF cookies (who
doesn’t like GF Chocolate Chip cookies?) complete the meal.
Have bowls of these pizza toppings ready for your guests to
use: GF pepperoni, such as Hormel,
browned GF sausage, such as Applegate Farms, thinly sliced mushrooms, finely
chopped onions, sliced black olives, very thinly sliced red or green bell
peppers, and plenty of cheese. For your dairy-free guests, jars of pesto sauce
can be an alternative to cheese. Make Pizza Sauce beforehand or buy one you
like and have it on hand, plus lots of napkins so the “chefs” can clean up
behind themselves.
All-American food your preference? Keep Chicken Wings hot in a slow cooker, served
with your favorite dipping sauce. Provide heaping bowls of Coleslaw and Potato
Salad, nestled in bigger bowls of ice to keep them cold. Big jugs of iced tea
(and whatever alcoholic beverages you prefer with wings) hit the spot. Peanut
Butter Cookies complete this down-home meal.
Mexican themes are one
of the easiest ways to entertain and eat. Whip up a hearty Chili or Green Chile
Pork Stew and let guests serve themselves from a slow cooker whenever they wish.
Set out fresh-baked Cornbread (we like butter and honey for drizzling), some
bowls of Guacamole, Corn Chips, and a big pitcher of margaritas, and you’re
set. A platter of fresh-baked Brownies (spiked with a little cinnamon for a
Mexican touch) should keep the troops happy, long after your favorite team won
(or lost).
When you plan ahead and have everything ready on the big
day, all you have to do is tear yourself away from the TV long enough to periodically
check on your guests to make
they’re not setting your kitchen on fire and that their drinks are
refreshed. You’ll find recipes for
all of these dishes at www.GfreeCuisine.com,
if you’re a subscriber). Recipes for Pizza, Brownies, and Chocolate Chip
Cookies are at http://www.savorypalate.com/recipes.aspx.
May your favorite team or Olympic athlete win!
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