{Super Bowl 2012}

Tomorrow is going to be a great day! Why? The Super Bowl is tomorrow! Yes! I actually am enthusiastic about this..my husband and I bond over sports..and especially love watching pro football. We also love eating some delicious appetizers and treats during the games. So, for your pre-game day post..I will be giving you some of my tried and true super bowl recipes. Go Patriots!

Super Bowl Sausage Puffs!
1 lb fresh, ground spicy pork sausage
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
2 (8 oz) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a medium skillet, lightly brown sausage and drain. While sausage is still hot, add cream cheese and stir until cheese is melted and mixture is creamy.
Cool completely.
Separate crescent rolls and arrange into two rectangles. Form log of sausage mixture lengthwise down center of each rectangle. Fold over the long sides of pastry to cover sausage log. Place on un-greased cookie sheet, seam down.
Brush with egg white and sprinkle with poppy seeds.
Bake 20 minutes until crust is golden. When completely cooled, slice into 1 1/2 inch slices.

Rachael Ray's Guacamole
2 avocadoes
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 large jalapeno chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped or grated
Grated peel and juice of 1 lime
Salt

In a medium bowl, mash the avocado. Mix in the onion, jalapeno, garlic, lime peel and lime juice; season with salt.

Queso Dip
1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel® Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained
1 pkg (16 oz each) Velveeta® Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Combine undrained tomatoes and cheese in medium saucepan.
Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until cheese is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently.
Serve warm as a dip with tortilla chips, crackers or cut-up fresh vegetables.

To make in microwave, combine undrained tomatoes and cheese in 1-1/2-quart microwave-safe dish; cover. Microwave on HIGH 5 minutes or just until cheese melts, stirring after 3 minutes. Remove from microwave; stir until mixture is well blended. CAUTION: Dish will be hot; use hot pads.

Pretzel Poppers
1 1/2 C warm water
1 tbsp
2 tsp kosher salt
1 pkg active dry yeast
4 1/2 C all purpose flour (approx)
2 oz unsalted butter
vegetable oil (for pan)
10 C water
2/3 C baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten w/ 1 tbsp water
pretzel salt

Directions:
Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed unit well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4-5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl an then oil it well w/ vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover w/ plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50-55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line 2 half sheet pans with parchment paper (NOT wax paper!) and lightly brush w/ vegetable oil. Set aside.

Bring 10 C of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into about 1 or 2 inch pieces. Roll each piece into a ball. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

Place the pretzel poppers into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a slotted spoon. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel popper with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

I like to serve these with the queso! Yum!

Quick and Easy Apple Dip
1 1/2 C brown sugar; packed
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 8 oz cream cheese
1 C grape nuts cereal

Blend together sugars, vanilla and cream cheese. Stir in grape nuts. Cut up apples into slices and soak for a few minutes in lightly salted water or orange juice. This will help prevent browning.

I hope you find something you're interested in trying out for your Super Bowl parties tomorrow! Have fun and enjoy!

sincerely fabuless, the windy city.