Sunday Recipe: Super Bowl Feast

You don't have to be a Packers fan or a Steelers fan to eat like a champion on Super Bowl Sunday. In the event you want to plan a Super Bowl party menu, or just bring a contribution to somebody else's Super Bowl party, I've included the recipes for a number of dishes, any of which make a great Super Bowl treat, and all of which transport well if you're viewing somewhere else.

Don't be the guest who shows up with a bag of chips you bought at the Gas N Sip on your way over. Don't be that guy. Be the guest who shows up with the dish that wows everybody.

Mushrooms stuffed with pine nuts

Leek, Olive and Gruyere Galette

White Bean Dip

Green Goddess Dressing [served over a leafy green salad with grilled chicken or served with poached salmon]

Mini Turkey-Spinach Meatballs. These are simply my turkey spinach meatballs, made smaller (about 1 inch in diameter, maybe a hair bigger), which make great finger food. Because of the size, you need to bake them for a much shorter time period, around 15 minutes, but check them after 10. I serve them with marinara sauce for dipping, but they really stand alone, too.

Needless to say, Go Steelers!

Sunday Recipe: Green Goddess Dressing (on a green salad with chicken)

The first time I had green goddess dressing, it was served on some poached salmon, which was fantastic and a perfect mix, but its also just an amazing salad dressing. If you're going to serve it on a salad, I like this dressing on a very simple salad -- just some boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked stove top in the winter or on the grill in the summer, seasoned with just some salt and pepper and served on top of fresh leafy lettuce you like. Romaine and green leaf lettuces work well, and Bibb lettuce is sublime. Add some scallions to pick up the scallions in the dressing.

I can tell you, this stuff is so good, you could put it on a your stinky old gym socks and it would make them at least palatable.

Also, if you care about such things, it is sure to impress if you make it for a date or some friends. It is easy as pie. Actually, its much easier than pie which, I am told, can be hard to master. This? Not so much.

You will need
1 cup mayonnaise
one bundle of scallions - chopped
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves (it's one large bundle of basil, essentially)
1 lemon - juiced
1 clove of chopped garlic
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
heavy pinch of kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup sour cream

Add the mayo, one bunch of scallions, basil, garlic, lemon, anchovy paste, salt and pepper into the food processor and mix. When the basil and scallions are little shards of deliciousness, add the sour cream and pulse again. Taste for salt, but it's this simple. Also, again, people will be impressed.