5 Super Bowl-Inspired Wedding Appetizers

It's the day before the Superbowl and so many of my guy friends are stocking up on chips and dip and frozen chicken wings. I've seen a few cute sports-related weddings recently -- even a fishing one -- and I thought that some of you DIY-style ladies would like to test run a few appetizer recipes before handing it off to caterer or handing it to a trusted friend.

1. My Mom's Chili

The wonderful thing about chili is that freezes fantastically! A friend of a friend's mother made chili every week for months to serve at her wedding.

My mom's version is super easy and vegan: one can of kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans, half a can of vegetable broth, half a chopped onion, a carrot, cumin, paprika, and one jalapeno pepper, deribbed, deseeded, and thinly slice.

2. College-style Chicken Wings

This was taught to me by a frat boy in college. He would take a gallon freezer bag, fill it half way with chicken wings, and add a clove or two of chopped garlic, sugar, salt, soy sauce, olive oil, and his secret ingredient -- shh! vinegar -- and freeze. Every time his buddies would come over to watch football, basketball, or play video games, he would dump the frozen chicken on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for half an hour.

I was introduced to them during our Shakespeare final cramming session. Alas, he did not have a recipe.

3. Grace's Guacamole

This is a regular staple at the SimplyBridal office. We make it about once a month since all you need is a grater, a knife, and fork as utensils. Grace mashes two avocados with half an onion, a few squeezes of lemon juice (about half a lemon), a diced tomato, paprika, salt, and pepper. We eat it off chips, bread, spoons. It's delicious!

A word of warning. Guacamole turns an unappetizing brown color if made too long in advance. However, if you leave the seed in it, it should be fine or perhaps your caterer has magical powers.

4. Hillary's Bagel Pizzas

It seems all my best football recipes come from college, although, this may be because this is the only time I've ever followed sports -- mainly my college team losing spectacularly.

Nothing's easier than toasting a bagel half, rubbing the cut side with a clove of garlic, and topping it off with your favorite spaghetti sauce, cheese, and pizza toppings. Then it's off into the broiler for five minutes. Sounds messy? Not if you go easy on the sauce and stick to simple toppings like fresh herbs.

I imagine this will be adorable as mini bagels. It can also be a blast from the past with a childhood favorite of bagel bites!

5. Jacqueline's Nachos

Okay, I don't really see how you can serve this as a wedding appetizer unless you all wore bibs. But Jacqueline who sometimes writes for this blog whipped up an awesome batch of nachos the other day and I think they're perfect for a more casual pre or post-wedding celebration!

You will need: one pound of ground meat cooked with taco seasonings(follow the packet's instructions), half a pound of cheese (we used a combination of Monterey Jack and American Cheddar), sour cream, and Grace's guacamole. Spread a mound of tortilla chips on the bottom of a baking sheet, sprinkle a layer of cheese and meat on top, add more chips, and alternate with a pure cheese layer at the very top. Stick it under the broiler until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Finally, top with guacamole and sour cream right before serving.

Have fun!

Posted by Natalie T.