Advice for a good Football Party
by Sharon Bowers

A football party is not the time to roll out your recipe for pan-seared foie gras. Sports fans, even the gourmet kind, want food that's quick and hearty--and doesn't take too much attention away from the game.

So with an audience this distracted, don't worry about putting together a stunningly elaborate menu. Spend your creative cooking energy on the best pot of chili or stew that you can manage. For variety, make several dips, whether for pretzels and potato chips, or carrot sticks, green pepper strips, and celery. (Vegetables for agitated football fans should be raw. Crunching helps work out aggression.)

Buffalo wings are a perennial favorite, but you don't have to settle for the usual type made with hot red sauce. Try one of our recipes for Teriyaki Wings, Broiled Mustard Wings, Sesame Chicken Wings, and more. Any of these treatments will also work on chicken drumsticks or thighs, which make meatier snacks than wings.

When it comes to desserts, think hand-held. Bars and cookies arranged on platters require no additional serving dishes, unlike pies, cobblers and ice cream. If you want to make a cake, try a rich pound cake without frosting. That way, it can be pre-sliced and held like a cookie. And it's a lot less messy than ice cream when everyone flings their hands in the air to cheer a touchdown or curse a ref.