#game-day-dip

#game-day-dip

(Family Features) In the midst of peak homegating season, with football championships taking center stage and action heating up on the hardwood, a good game day host knows you can never have too many delicious snacks on hand. Kicking off the madness can be as easy as these Crispy Potato Skins, a hearty watch party classic that keeps fans fueled and engaged with the game on the big screen.

If the thought of sharing room temperature guacamole dip with a bunch of friends of friends on Super Bowl Sunday isn't exactly exactly your idea of pigskin paradise then, well, you're going to want to keep reading. Sure, it seems like everybody on the planet is focused in the NFL's big game, which returns to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday after a 10-year absence.

But no matter my current level of interest in the league itself, one thing I can always get behind is a game-day watch party. I'll take any excuse to gather friends, eat snacks, drink beer, and be merry, especially when I can do it all from the comfort of my own living room. What better way to spend one of the coldest months of the year?

If you're someone who prefers drinking big and brash barrel-aged stouts, Hopleaf's Stephanie Brennan recommends seeking out a bottle of Barrel-Aged Abraxas from Perennial Artisan Ales. The brewery's seasonal Abraxas imperial stout is made with cinnamon sticks, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and ancho chilis, creating a hugely complex, rich-tasting beer. However, if you're lucky, you might be able to get your hands on one of Perennial's rare barrel-aged editions.

The first thing to know about queso fundido is that it's not " queso," the creamy dip, often based on Velveeta, eaten with chips. Queso fundido, which translates to "melted cheese," is just that: It's melted cheese to which you can add sautéed mushrooms, poblano peppers or chorizo. It must be eaten the moment it's done, when the cheese is warm and stretchy.

Game day is just around the corner, and if you're planning to skip the stadium crowds and tailgate from the comfort of your own home, you're in luck. Some of the South's most talented chefs are sharing their winning recipes: the kind that turn any living room into the ultimate watch party destination. From New Orleans' iconic seafood-forward bites to South Florida's fresh Mediterranean flavors, these dishes bring professional flair to your home spread without requiring a culinary degree.

Tempura shrimp may seem like an odd item to get at Aldi, but it's surprisingly tasty. In fact, after trying 14 seafood products from the retailer, we ranked the Fremont Fish Market find as the top option. Simply bake them in the oven, and you're ready to serve the delicious appetizers at your get-together. Each package comes with a dozen pieces of shrimp that are crunchy on the outside and succulent on the inside.

When it comes to party favorites, homemade beer cheese hits the spot by offering a tangy, hoppy dip that is more complex than it sounds. Served with soft pretzel bites or pizza rolls, any beer cheese recipe can disappear fast on game day. For those who have experienced a batch of leftovers, beer cheese can be cleverly incorporated into a variety of recipes.

Tanya Holland, especially among Bay Area foodies, needs no introduction. She's the award-winning celebrity chef behind Oakland's Brown Sugar Kitchen, B-Side BBQ and Town Fare, and the author of multiple cookbooks. She competed on Top Chef, hosted Tanya's Kitchen Table on the Oprah Winfrey Network and today serves on the James Beard Foundation's Awards Committee. For the Super Bowl this year, she'll be at a cousin's 80th birthday party.

It's insanely creamy. It starts with a base of refried beans, which are already creamy on their own. Then, I mix in some sour cream or Greek yogurt to make them even creamier and richer. It's super tangy, thanks to the sour cream, canned green chiles, and melty cheese on top. It couldn't be easier to make. Just stir together the base ingredients, top with cheese, and bake for a bubbly, crowd-pleasing appetizer!

Just as with any party prep, you'll want to get as much as you can done ahead of time. This allows you to focus on keeping hot food hot the day of the party and not on any last-minute stirring of onions into sour cream. Ideally, everything that needs to be hot should be cooked well before game time, then reheated just before you need it.

One of the restaurant's owners, who was of Dominican heritage, requested that the menu showcase dishes reflecting her family's recipes, albeit with a modern twist. At the time, I was unfamiliar with Dominican cuisine, so I immersed myself in research by visiting local neighborhood establishments and seeking out the limited cookbooks available.

Meet my favorite white bean chili recipe! A plant-based spin on white chicken chili, this creamy vegan recipe is a perfect meal for busy weeknights and game day alike. It's easy to make with basic ingredients (and minimal chopping!), and the flavor is oh-so-good. Spices like cumin and coriander add earthy depth, and canned green chiles and fresh lime juice make it zesty and bright. Load up your bowl with toppings like avocado, jalapeños, and cilantro for a hearty, healthy, and delicious meal!

Imagine it: The skillet arrives at the table, still hot from the oven, cheese stretching with every chip pull, bacon sizzling at the edges, and a pop of green from the parsley and avocado. It's the kind of snack that makes you a legend among friends.