Touchdown! Superbowl Sunday Extravaganza

It's Superbowl time again, when Americans pause in their busy lives to take time out for television. And also football.

Happily, the NFL provides a handy Superbowl Countdown Clock to aid in your party planning.

When planning your menu, do an end run around dishes that require last-minute preparation or split-second timing. Draft "make ahead" and "serve yourself" and enjoy the game. Or the commercials. Whichever you're into.

Make the most of regional cuisines - there's almost always three to choose from: good guys, bad guys, and hosting stadium. If New Orleans ever makes it to the Show, laissez bons temps roulez, and oh, we will feast! I know, ain't going to happen, but a cook can dream, can't she?

Get assorted hoagies (or heroes or grinders or subs or po-boys) from your local joint and slice them into handful-sized portions. Set out a bowl of chips and your favorite salsa. A bag of pretzels, a sixer of beer, and thou... Not as poetic, but probably more fitting to the season.

• Antipasto Bites
• Aunt Jen's Pepperoni Bread
• Baked Potato Wedges
• Bruschetta
• Cayenne Pretzels
• Chinese Honey Barbeque Chicken Wings You won't find these at your local "Wings and Things" - a little different take on chicken wings. Not hard, but give yourself plenty of time to cut the wings into sections. Marinates overnight.
• Cucumber Dill Salsa A cooling respite alongside hot salsa.
• Homemade Tortilla Chips The kids love making these. A lot of fun and delicious. Use your own favorite spice blend and make it a House Special.
• Hot Bean Dip
• Low-Fat Bread Crisps
• Mini Spinach Quiches
• Pan-Grilled Quesadillas
• Popcorn
• Spicy Popcorn Make it in an air popper and it's a low-fat treat...so you can indulge in Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Pie
• Super Salsa
• Taco Pie Make ahead and chill overnight, then bake just before serving. Serve hot with tortilla chips.

In the Center

Chili Recipes: Chili is a part of Superbowl like turkey is a part of Thanksgiving. Well, almost.

• Superbowl Chili This is classic chili. Make it as hot as you like it. (Remember, the spiciness will grow as it stands, so if you make it ahead of time, go easy on the spicy until game day.)
• Cincinnati Chili A little different take on the traditional chili. Cincinnati chili isn't usually super-hot-spicy make-your-lips-burn; the cinnamon and cocoa bring a flavorful twist on classic chili. Serve it over spaghetti with beans, chopped onions, and grated cheese for proper Five-Way.
• Vegetarian Chili A meatless version for our vegetarian friends.

Of course, there are other things to place on the fifty-yard line, so to speak...

• Cheddar Cheese Soup
• Chicken Satay It's meat-on-a-stick! Let me hear the people say "Woo-hoo!"
• Corn and Potato Chowder mit Bacon
• Crispy Phyllo Pizza A different take on traditional pizza.
• Dim Sum Pork Strips Make the pork ahead and serve sliced, either warmed or cold, with crusty French bread.
• Fresh Tomato Tart
• Hoagie Salad
• Homemade Pizza
• Konigsberger Meatballs
• Meatball Subs
• Swedish Meatballs

On the Sides

• Ann Sherman's Beer Bread
• Baked Beans
• Grandma Green's Crunchy Cabbage Salad
• Grandma's German Potato Salad Great served warm or cold. Mayo-free, there's fewer food-safety worries with this style potato salad on the sideboard.
• Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
• Marilyn's Marinade
• Rosti Potatoes
• Traditional Cornbread

• Bread Pudding Serve warm with warmed Hard Sauce (see below). Top with ice cream or whipped cream.
• Chocolate Bread Pudding Serve warm with warmed Hard Sauce (see below). Top with ice cream or whipped cream.
• Hard Sauce
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Pie
• Rich One-Bowl Brownies
• Sarah's Signature Blondies
• Tiger Butter Don't worry, no tigers were harmed in the testing of this recipe!

• Hot Buttered Rum Cuddle up on the sofa after they leave and ignore the dishes.