Me at Cowboys Stadium Opening Gala!

Keep It Simple So You, too, Can Enjoy the Party!

Remember, it doesn’t have to be gourmet to be good! A Super Bowl Party is the most casual of all parties! I suggest these Texas favorites for your Super Bowl Party:

Texas Caviar
Ingredients:
½ onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 jalapeño peppers, chopped
1 Tbs minced garlic
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 (18 oz) bottle zesty Italian dressing
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained
1 (15 oz) can black-eyed peas, drained
½ tsp ground coriander
1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix together onion, green bell pepper, green onions, jalapeño peppers, garlic, cherry tomatoes, zesty Italian dressing, black beans, black-eyed peas, and coriander. Cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 2 hours. Toss with desired amount of fresh cilantro to serve.

Texas Trash
Ingredients:
½ cup butter, melted
¼ tsp celery salt
¼ tsp garlic salt
1 ¼ tsp seasoning salt
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbs Tabasco sauce
1 cup Cherrios toasted oat cereal
2 cups @h3at Chex
2 cups Rice Chex
2 cups Corn Chex
1 cup pretzels
1 cup nuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250. Mix the first seven (7) ingredients in a cup with a spout. Mix all dry ingredients in a baking pan. Pour the butter and seasonings over the dry mix, stirring until each piece is coated. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool. Store in an air-tight container.

Texas-Shaped Tortilla Chips
There is nothing more popular in Texas than chips and salsa, and I think the Texas-shaped tortilla chips from www.texastreats.com are the best!

Frozen Margarita
The world’s first frozen margarita machine was invented in Dallas, Texas, in 1971, by Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez.
Ingredients:
1 cup of ice
1 ½ oz tequila
½ oz Triple Sec
½ oz lime juice
3 oz sour mix
Lime wedge for garnish
Salt for rimming glass (optional)

Preparation:
Pour the ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth. If desired, salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass. Pour contents into the glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.

Sassy Super Bowl Punch
Ingredients:
8 oz Vodka
4 oz Cointreau
5 oz Orange Juice
5 oz Cranberry Juice
Splash with Champagne to taste

Go Green!

Go to your local hardware store and purchase some inexpensive Astro-turf carpet to use as a cover for your Super Bowl Party! Buffet table. Take adhesive tape and make lines to depict the yard lines on the field. Be sure and remove the chairs from your table so your guests can get to your fabulous Super Bowl Party! spread without tackling each other! If you want to spread your guests throughout the house, the best way to do it is to set up separate food stations in different areas.

NO Dishpan Hands!

No need for fine china! Go to your local party store and purchase football-themed paper goods or visit Internet sites that carry fabulous items done specifically for the Super Bowl, such as 4Fun.MakesParties.com

Surfing and Seating!

Hide the remotes so your channel flipping friends will be out of business. Besides, the commercials are sometimes the best part of the game (so plan your bathroom breaks accordingly!). Additionally, consider placing smaller TVs in various rooms throughout the house, and setting aside one room without any television for those who are looking for a quieter place for conversation.

Remember, your guests will not want to stand the entire time, so plan for seating. Don’t hesitate to provide throw pillows, bean bag chairs and stools.

Dress the Part!

Invite your guests to dress in the jersey or colors of their favorite team! This will add an unbelievable amount of décor, color and fun to your party at no cost to you! As the host, you should of course be dressed in a referee’s outfit!

The text reads “Whether performing with his 14-piece big band or a three-piece trio of piano, acoustic bass and drums, Hunter Sullivan adds some Vegas-style swing to your wedding with his spot-on Sinatra covers.”

I couldn’t agree more. Congrats, Hunter!

To view the full slideshow, click here.

To visit Hunter’s website, click here.

Hunter Sullivan

Tis the Season!

• Develop a Shopping Budget and Strategy – First and foremost, determine how much you can afford to spend on your holiday gifts – especially in the wake of current economic challenges. Plan your day around getting those must-haves before they run out. If needed, you can always plan a second trip to the mall for more common gifts that are likely to remain in stock for a longer period of time.

• Take A Load Off – Prior to shopping, visit your mall’s Web site to see what services are available to customers. Some malls, including many GGP malls, offer services like valet parking and complimentary coffee. You may also be able to take advantage of coat check services where you can not only leave your winter coat but also drop off packages as you accumulate them.

• Lifesaving Moves – Bring a partner in crime, or even a team of friends to help you conquer the mall this year. It’s always good to have someone you trust to provide a second opinion when shopping. Also, be sure to leave time in your shopping day for lunch at your mall. Shopping feels better on a full stomach, plus if you plan it a little earlier or later in the day than most other shoppers, you can scoop up all the sales while most people are taking a break.

Gobble gobble and happy shopping!