Superbowl party on a dime!

GUEST BLOGGER: CALLIE WARD

​February- the month full of love, an amazing date, fantastic food, the perfect atmosphere, that one truly special holiday… you know I am talking about the Super Bowl, right?  For us Valentine neighsayers, let’s bring on some FOOTBALL! Well, really let’s bring on J-Lo and Shakira for the half time show and the food. 

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​The National Retail Federation (NRF) shared a survey showing that Americans who planned to watch in 2019, 60.9 million plan on attending a party, 44 million people plan to host a party, and 13 million people will be watching at a bar. People watching the big game are estimated to dish out an average of $81 a person, totaling in $14.8 billion, the NRF said. This total does include things like apparel, decorations, and upgrading that big screen, but 79% of that cost is directed towards food and beverages- either at a home-based party or restaurant/bar. That is INSANE!

We spend more on Super Bowl food then Thanksgiving Dinner! The price for a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people averaged of $48.91 for 2019, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation's 34th annual survey of Thanksgiving Day dinner prices.
So, how can we cheer for our team or watch the commercials without going bankrupt? Here are some ways to host a party without breaking the bank:
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1. Set a Budget- You should set a spending budget for the overall party. Break it into sections, specifically party supplies, food, and drinks.
2. Shop at home- What is in the freezer or pantry that you can re-purpose? What are some of the cheap and easy dishes you already carry as staples?
3. Everyone chip in- Once you know your budget and shopped at home, delegate items to family and friends to help reduce the financial burden on your end. BYOB or BYOC (Bring your one chips)!

I won’t leave you hanging without my go to Super Bowl foods!

WINGS- Chicken wings are a staple at our house and I usually have a bag in my freezer. They cost approximately $1.65 per pound and you can usually buy them in a GIANT bag. There are approximately 4 to 5 chicken wings in a pound. That would mean there are approximately 40 to 50 chicken wings in a 10 pound (lb) bag. 10 lbs of chicken wings feeds approximately 9 people.

Callie’s Go to Baked Wings
Instructions
Rinse thawed wings in sink and pat dry with paper towels, you want to remove as much moisture as possible- this will make for crispy skin. On a lined cookie sheet (foil or parchment) place your wings and drizzle with avocado oil. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Rub wings to disrupt seasonings and oil over all wings. Place wings into pre-heated oven at 425 F for approximately 30 minutes or until they have reached an internal temperature of 185 F.
You can then dip them in your favorite sauce and bake for an additional 5 minutes or leave them as naked wings! Here are some homemade sauces for you to try:

Sauces-

Sticky Buffalo
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/3 cup Frank's hot sauce (it can be original or buffalo flavor)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons water
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add brown sugar and hot sauce and stir over medium-high heat until melted and mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in garlic powder and water until smooth.

Home Style BBQ
1 cup ketchup
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp yellow mustard
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
Salt, Pepper, and Garlic to taste
Mix all ingredients well until sugar has dissolved.

Salt and Vinegar
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
3 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Dry Ranch Mix or garlic, parsley, pepper to taste 
1/2 tsp. sugar
Mix all ingredients well.
 
Don’t forget the wing’s best friends- Bleu Cheese, carrots and celery