The football season is heating up as the list of contenders for the Super Bowl dwindles. Whether you’re excited about tailgating parties for the sportsmanship or the commercials (what are the Clydesdales going to do this year?), it’s getting on time for party prep.

Here are 5 recipes to ensure that your Super Bowl party this year is the best yet.

1. Football Pizza

Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser, and you can’t get easier than the prep for this one: you simply place your pepperoni in the shape of a football, and finish it with sliced white cheese as the football’s “laces.”

[Photo credit: Babble]

 

2. The Super Bowl Slammer

Mix things up this year by offering a themed cocktail in addition to beer! Good cocktails for Super Bowl parties are those that are delicious, fun to drink, and easy to serve in a pitcher. Why? Because guests will be happy and the host/hostess will have an easy time serving them, freeing you up from tending bar the whole time.

The Super Bowl Slammer is the perfect example of just such a cocktail:

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Grenadine
• 12 oz Dr. pepper
• 2 oz apple-flavored whiskey

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together
2. Delight guests with fresh flavor that has a good kick

And if you do serve beer in addition to cocktails, save room in the fridge and kick things up a notch by serving them in a Giant Inflatable Football Cooler:

 

4. “Interception” Ice Cream Sandwiches

When it comes time for dessert, no one can resist a perfect little ice cream sandwich. Get creative this Super Bowl with these ice cream sandwiches that even include real football plays on the sticks:

[Photo credit and recipe courtesy of TheCelebrationShoppe.com]

 

 

Ingredients:

• Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches
• White cake icing
• Wooden Spoons

Directions:

1. Use a Sharpie to draw referee stripes or football plays on the wooden spoons
2. Lay ice cream sandwiches out on a sheet of wax paper
3. Pierce one end of each with a knife so wooden spoons can be inserted easily later
4. Cut the edge of a Ziplock bag to make an icing bag, spoon in icing, and make the football piping
5. Freeze sandwiches in a large plastic container until you want to serve
6. Tip: If you serve them at halftime and they’re hard frozen, they should last the full 30 minutes!

 

4. Your team’s colors in drink form

If you know most of the people coming to your party are rooting for one team in particular, make a drink that incorporates those colors. For example, if you’re cheering for the Greenbay Packers, go all out with the Greenbay Margarita:

Ingredients:

• 12 oz bottle of Corona
• 12 oz can of limeade
• 12 oz tequila
• Green food coloring (optional)
• Salt (for the rim)
• Lime wedges for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a pitcher with ice, Corona, limeade and tequila
2. Add a few drops of green food coloring if you have it
3. Pour into salt-rimmed glasses
4. Garnish with a lime wedge

Makes 6 – 10 drinks

 

5. Healthy buffalo wings

There’s no question buffalo wings are a classic Super Bowl food. But if you’ve got vegetarians coming to the party or you just want to be healthier in the new year, consider going veggie this year. It turns out you can make delicious buffalo wings with cauliflower (who knew?!), which you and guests can enjoy guilt-free:

[Photo and recipe courtesy of Gimme Delicious]

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower (approx. 4 cups of florets)
• ½ cup milk (for vegan: use water or almond or soy milk)
• ½ cup water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp of paprika
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground pepper
• 1 cup frank's red hot sauce
• 1 tbsp butter (for vegan: use earth balance buttery spread)

Instructions:

1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or grease with oil
2. Preheat oven to 425 F
3. Wash & cut cauliflower head into bite-sized pieces
4. Mix milk, water, flour and spices in mixing bowl until batter is thick and able to coat cauliflower without dripping
5. Dip the cauliflower in batter, shaking off excess before placing cauliflower on baking sheet in a single layer
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown (flip over halfway through to get both sides)
7. While cauliflower is baking, make buffalo sauce: use a small saucepan on low heat to melt butter and mix in hot sauce. Remove from the heat just as it starts to melt. Stir together and set aside.
8. Once cauliflower is done, remove from oven and put all the baked florets into a mixing bowl with the wing sauce
9. Toss to coat evenly
10. Return cauliflower to baking sheet and bake for another 20-25minutes
11. Serve with ranch, blue cheese, or your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!