Super Bowl Sunday

A great time on Super Bowl Sunday can be had if you stick to the following basic game plan:

• The Super Bowl Party


• Great (not just good) Television


• Super Bowl Commercials


• The Super Bowl Halftime Show


• Oh yeah, the Teams!

So cool, and simple. Making your own invitations look like Super Bowl tickets is a unique twist to add to your party.

You can do this quite easily on your computer in a few simple steps.

What You Will Need:

• Photo editing software


• Color printer


• Card stock

1. Open up your favorite photo editing software and create a new image measuring 2" by 5.5" (standard event ticket size).


2. Search for whatever image you want to display on your ticket - Lombardi trophy, a football, etc. (I chose an aerial view of the stadium the game is played at)


3. You can even find a bar code sample image and add that as well.


4. Color the background of the ticket and add your image(s).


5. Add text to the ticket with the time, location, and any other important items like admission - food or drink.


6. When you have it how you want it to look, print out a batch and mail them out.

Here is what I came up with in less than 10 minutes:

When it comes to the food for your Super Bowl party it is best left to this adage - keep it simple, stupid.

Here is our typical Super Bowl Sunday spread:

Main Dish
Make your own sub sandwich - lots of choices of meats, cheeses, and even veggies.

Side Dishes
Meatballs and spicy chicken wings

Garnish (no caviar here folks)
Chips, pretzels, tortillas and dip, pickles (both sweet and dill - we don't discriminate at our Super Bowl Party), and maybe even a cheese and veggie tray.

Beverages
Yes, we have them ;)

Dessert
After eating all of the above food, who has room for dessert? Oh yeah, I usually have a hankerin' for something to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Here's my favorite - we call it Puppy Chow at my house:

• 12 oz. box Crispix cereal


• 1/2 cup butter


• 1 cup peanut butter


• 12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips


• 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar

In a microwave safe bowl combine butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips - microwave for 2-3 minutes. Stir it once or twice during the cooking time until it's smooth.

Place the cereal in another bowl and pour the melted mixture over it. Mix it around with a spoon until the cereal is evenly coated.

Pour the coated cereal into a large sealable bag and add the powdered sugar. Shake it until the cereal is evenly coated with the powdered sugar.

Empty the puppy chow onto a sheet of wax paper so it will cool off and dry. Place it in an airtight container after it has cooled.

I usually keep it in the fridge until it is time to serve it to keep it from being too sticky.

We got this recipe off a box of Crispix ages ago.

Live:
1975-85
(3CD)

I'm looking forward to some classic Boss when Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play the halftime show of Super Bowl XLIII

Here are some songs off their Live 75-85 album that could easily relate (by their title) to the Super Bowl:

• I'm on Fire


• Cover Me


• Born to Run


• No Surrender

Super Bowl XLIII features a team that is playing in its very first Super Bowl with a team that has not only played in 6 (this will be their 7th) Super Bowls, but has won 5 out of those 6 times.

Arizona couldn't hardly sell out their opening round Wildcard game and has since gone on to defeat the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Philadelphia Eagles to advance to Super Bowl XLIII. They've won with the arm of the future hall of famer Kurt Warner and a wide open pass attack.

Pittsburgh advanced to their 7th Super Bowl on the strength of their league-leading defense and the steady play of their offense led by Ben Roethlisberger.

Who am I rooting for?

Well, whenever I am impartial to both teams (which, being a Detroit Lions fan is EVERY Super Bowl) I like to root for the underdog.

So I'll be cheering on the Arizona Cardinals but I won't cry if they lose - I've used up all my tears as a Lions fan.