Food draws big cheers at Super Bowl gathering

I am surprised that Super Bowl Sunday, or the Monday afterward, has not become a national holiday.

For many, it is one of the holiest days of the year. For one whose favorite meal are appetizers, the Super Bowl is like the Thanksgiving for finger food.

Like any other holiday the focus for me, of course, is the food. In fact, before I ever actually watched football I kept myself entertained in the kitchen preparing food appropriate for football watching.

What does that mean? Well, for prolonged hours of sitting, a diet of chicken wings bathed in butter and Tabasco help keep the core warm. For the occasional burst of energy needed to eject upward off the sofa with a fist in the air, carbohydrates like chips and crackers are needed, preferably dragged through guacamole or topped with cheese.

Sausages and salamis provide protein to balance out the carbohydrates. This will slow the release of sugar to the brain. At this year’s party the most interesting sausage I ever ate came with a name like bear scat. It was delicious, though it did resemble its namesake.

Deviled eggs are classic at any picnic, but what if the eggs are farm fresh? Often they won’t peel well so instead of hollowed eggs holding its re-engineered innards with a dash of paprika, the whole mess was turned into a deviled egg salad. More protein to balance out either liquid carbohydrates or samples from the brownie plate.

Sometimes a few fresh vegetables or fruit will nestle between the cheese and crackers and the Buffalo wings to give evidence of a well-balanced meal.

But I digress. The game? Oh, right. I believe the New York team beat the Boston team.

Between snacks was the usual barrage of expensive commercials, many clever, yet some leave you wondering what product you are supposed to buy. I’m still scratching my head over what David Beckham was selling.

The game was pretty close. A lot of back and forth and running and throwing, but according to the wife of the New England quarterback, maybe not enough catching.

What about the halftime show? Hmm. I feel a little funny that I was a target audience for the Super Bowl in ways that had nothing to do about football. I was in high school when Madonna popped onto the scene and she has never gone away. I believe I have a new found appreciation for the old gal. Makes me regret those 5,000 calories in junk I ingested Sunday afternoon.

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