Game Day Meal: Super Bowl XLVII Edition – Pig(skin) Candy & Football Strawberries

by Amy Johnson, Managing Editor, HockeyPub.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It’s the day that football fans wait for all year long.  The ultimate game, the championship, the Super Bowl.  And if you’re like most sports-minded households, you’re probably planning to entertain some friends or family for the game (oh, and the commercials).  Nothing conjures up more images of tasty, pub-style grub like a Super Bowl party…bring on the chili con carne, the wings, the burgers, and the SNACKS!

Today we’ll highlight three fantastic finger foods to help round out your game day menu.  First up isn’t a recipe as much as simply a suggestion for a unique presentation of a party classic: shrimp cocktail.  When your guests are trying to juggle a plate piled up with goodies and a drink and silverware, the balancing act can be a bit tricky.  Why not give them a easy way to carry their shrimp cocktail in one hand and a beverage in the other?  Here’s how: pour a small amount of cocktail sauce into a martini glass, then hook steamed shrimp in a circle around the entire rim of the glass.  Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of parsley!

Next up we have a recipe that was submitted by our friend Louise, a team member at All Habs Hockey Magazine.  She discovered this interesting snack while watching a cooking show on television and thought it would be the perfect thing to nosh on during a game!  And believe me, all you bacon lovers out there are going to want to cook up piles of this stuff!  It’s called “Pig Candy” (but for this feature, I’ve dubbed it “Pig(skin) Candy”.  What is it?  Candied bacon that packs a bit of heat!

Pig Candy
Recipe courtesy of The Kitchy Kitchen

Prep time: 10 minutes
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
8 strips thin cut bacon
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.  Mix the brown sugar and cayenne pepper in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place a wire rack on top it.  Lay the bacon strips vertically on the wire rack and cover them with a thick layer of the sugar mixture.

3. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until the ends of the bacon have begun to curl.  Flip the bacon strips and spread another layer of sugar on the back side.  Return to the oven for 4-6 minutes until bacon is crispy but not burnt.

4. Allow the bacon to cool on the wire rack for about 15 minutes and then cut into bite-sized pieces.  You’ll need to refill this bowl often – these tasty treats will go fast!

Last, but certainly not least, we have a fun dessert that’s easy to eat but tastes oh-so-decadent.  Chocolate-covered Football Strawberries!  I found a photo of these themed berries online and set to work recreating them on my own.

Gather a few basic ingredients: strawberries, baking chocolate (I chose to use semi-sweet chocolate, but milk or dark chocolate work too), and white decorator’s icing (or white baking Chocolate).

1. Start by melting your chocolate in a double boiler on the stovetop.  Remember to keep the temperature low, with the water just simmering, so as not to burn or break down the chocolate.

2. In the meantime, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and select the biggest, roundest, most plump strawberries you can find.  Be sure to leave the tops on the strawberries for texture and contrast.  Insert a toothpick into the top of each strawberry – this will make dipping them in the chocolate so much easier.

3. Next, prepare your frosting (or melted white chocolate).  Snip the corner of a plastic storage bag and squeeze the frosting or melted white chocolate into the bag.  Insert the open tip into a small hole decorating tip, twisting the bag behind the frosting to hold it in place and allow you to put enough pressure on it to squeeze through the tip.

4. One at a time, dip and twirl each strawberry in the melted chocolate until the entire piece of fruit is covered.  Allow excess chocolate to drip off of the bottom before returning it gently to the baking sheet.  After dipping all the strawberries, place the baking sheet into the refrigerator to chill and harden for about an hour.

5. Decorate each berry with one straight line at the top and bottom of the strawberry, then draw a single line down the middle with four or five perpendicular lines over top of it to represent the laces of a football.  And there you have it, chocolate-covered strawberries that look like mini-footballs!

Whether you’re rooting for the 49ers and Ravens, or just can’t wait to hang out with good friends and family and chow down, we hope you have a super Sunday.  Be sure to send us pics and recipes of your favorite Super Bowl eats!

Photo credits: Amy Johnson

Have you got an outstanding game-day meal or drink recipe that you’d like to share with our readers? Email amy@allhabs.net to find out how your recipe could be featured on HockeyPub.com!

Tags: bacon, chocolate, featured, finger food, Football, game-day, meal, party, pig candy, shrimp, snacks, strawberries, Super Bowl