Seahawks vs. Broncos Super Bowl XLVIII menu

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Super Bowl this year: hometown star Russell Wilson, new commercials, and of course, the food.

January 28, 2014; 6:00 AM • by Stephanie Ganz

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Super Bowl this year–hometown star Russell Wilson, maybe Flea’s junk, new commercials, and of course, the food. That’s all thrilling enough, but before I can get into it, I need to admit something, right now, to everyone: I’m pretty sure the reason the 49’ers didn’t make it to the Super Bowl this year is…me. I was so hoping they would win and provide me with the opportunity to incorporate avocados, edible flowers, and rice-a-roni into my team-themed Super Bowl menu, that I think I might have jinxed them.¹ I care about one football team for one lousy second, and dreams get crushed. I’m left with Seattle. Oh great, tossed salads and scrambled eggs.

The Super Bowl is, like, the Super Bowl of cooking holidays, but without the obligatory family baggage of Thanksgiving. If you care about football at all, it’s also probably a great day to watch football. Instead, I’ll focus on the food, with a Seattle vs. Denver menu that covers the four basic Super Bowl food groups (Dip, Wings, Chili, and Beer) and then some. Whether you’re rooting for the Broncos, the Seahawks, or the commercials, this menu has all the bases covered…or all the downs or whatever.

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Seahawk Artichoke Crab Dip

If I were a hawk who lived by the sea, this would be my go-to dip for entertaining purposes. It’s got everything an Osprey could want in a snack: crab, artichokes, and copious amounts of dairy. I’ve been thinking about this dip since Tim Vidra introduced me to it at last year’s Super Bowl party, so clearly it’s a dip that makes a good impression. Put it on a Ritz, hot sauce optional.

John Elway’s 5-Spice Wings

What’s better than going to the Super Bowl one time? Going FIVE times. As football heroes go, Elway is a fine specimen. He spent his entire professional career with the Broncos, leading them to six AFC championships and FIVE Super Bowls, before retiring to become the team’s Executive Vice President. As wings go, [these hoisin-glazed wings from Just a Taste are also heroes, baked not fried, and with only FIVE ingredients.

Seattle Dogs in Blankets

Hot dog variations fascinate me. You’ve got New York dogs, classic with mustard and kraut. Chicago is downright fancy with pickles, peppers, and poppy seed buns. And a Kansas City dog is nothing more than a reuben in hot dog clothing. Seattleites bend minds by adding cream cheese to their dogs, thanks to a bialy-hot-dog crossover that sounds like it must’ve been messy, at least at first. Seattle Dog advocates keep things weird, adding grilled onions and/or jalapenos to the party. I was skeptical of this combination until these Jalapeno Popper Pigs in a Blanket came into my life and changed it forever.

Denver Post Pork Green Chile

Despite a thriving culinary scene, pinning down the Denveriest ingredients remains challenge. Only one ingredient really stands out–green chile. From what I can tell, the Denver green chile is basically a hatch chile, except it’s not from the hatch region of New Mexico. It’s a long, thin green chile that ranges from mild to !AY, CARAMBA! You can find green chile all over Denver menus, though not necessarily in Denver omelettes, which I feel is a glaring oversight. If you’re a smart summer pepper hoarder, use your frozen stash in this recipe. If not, the canned variety will do just fine.

Beecher’s Mac & Cheese

This very mac is available for consumption at the Seahawk’s CenturyLink Field, but thanks to freezing and shipping technologies, you can also buy it at The Fresh Market. Beecher’s flagship cheddar has been rolling in awards since a short time after they opened their doors at Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 2003. For now, Wegman’s is the only VA source for Beecher’s cheeses, but you can order them online . If you, instead, substitute the best aged cheddar you can find, I promise not to tell anyone…this time.

Bronco Brownies

People love coincidences, especially stoners, so the coincidental match-up of the football teams from the only two states in the country that allow recreational marijuana consumption is, like, totally awesome, man. Super Bowl XLVIII, aka the “bud bowl,” has given rise to scores of new weed memes and weird bets. I can’t tell you to put weed in your brownies because it’s illegal here, and my mom reads this. But I can tell you to alter your consciousness with these espresso brownies, which could potentially combat the effect of certain recreational depressants, should you require such stimulation.

Beer

In order for it to be a truly super bowl, there must be beer, and both Seattle and Denver have impressive microbreweries to choose from. For authentic game day drinking, you can find Seattle’s Pyramid and Denver’s Breckenridge locally at Ellwood Thompson’s and Total Wine. Or cheers to the spirit of the microbrew with something from closer to home. You can find Hardywood and COTU brews at Kroger, yay!

January 28, 2014 6:00 AM 2