If you want to find someone excited about the upcoming Super Bowl, look no further than Kevin and Candace Myers.
It’s not hard to tell that this family is die-hard Green Bay Packers football fans. Just drive by their Paradise, N.L. home to find banners, flags, and the team’s colours adorning the front of their house.
Their Superbowl 2021 dreams were dashed with a loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but their passion for the pigskin remains.
Candace says her husband has always loved football. With fewer games than sports like hockey or baseball - only 16 in the regular season - every game counts, adding to the excitement.
The couple has also been to Green Bay, Wisconsin to see the Packers play in their home at Labeau Field. Even their twin sons love the Packers and have sported their team jerseys since they were born.
It's no surprise then that when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, the Myers go all out, especially when it comes to game day snacks.
The menu usually consists of wings, chili, ribs, nachos, and smoked meat sandwiches. Best of all is their traditional game-day creole chicken gumbo soup, a cross between a chili and a soup, says Myers.
They also have a regular game day classic bourbon sour cocktail, which she says most certainly brings them good luck. It’s not a football Sunday without it, she says.
Myers says every year, the Superbowl is a big event, even if their team isn’t playing.
“It makes for a good way to end off the weekend,” she says.
What to Eat for Super Bowl Sunday
Not everyone who enjoys watching the Super Bowl is as big a fan of the game as the Myers family.
Ayngelina Brogan of the Bacon is Magic food blog based in Kentville, N.S., says she doesn’t even care what teams make it to the big game. Instead, for her, it’s about friends, a good half-time show and most of all, the food.
Like Brogan, across the East Coast, other football fans are also preparing their menu for the big game day.
This year, Brogan is recommending fans capitalize on the usual football Tex-Mex by serving up a full-on Mexican dish involving pork.
Pork, says Brogan, is a staple in Mexican celebrations, often roasting it over an open spit all day.
Without a convenient outdoor spit, she uses the oven or a slow cooker to make Yucatan-style Mexican pulled pork. By using the slow cooker, she says, the host doesn't have to be in the kitchen the entire time.
Myra Hyland-Samson of Isle Madame, N.S., runs the blog Delicious on a Dime. Although she doesn’t know a lot about the Super Bowl - and has never been to a Super Bowl party - she does know a lot about great snacks.
She offers lots of great options that are all budget-friendly, making it cost-effective even if you're hosting a group of your bubble pals. Plus, they're all crowd-pleasers, so there's something for everyone, she says.
Her favourites include homemade pizza pockets, garlic fingers, pepperoni pizza dip, and Mediterranean hummus.
For those who aren’t up for making their own snacks, Jen McKenna, owner of Cured Creations in Charlottetown, P.E.I. says businesses like hers can make game day easy. Cured Creations offers a specially-curated Super Bowl charcuterie board full of local products, homemade dips, four types of meat and other popular snack food.
However you celebrate, grab your bubble friends and family members and make it an excuse to try some great new recipes.
Mexican Pulled Pork: Cochinita Pibil
Recipe from Ayngelina Brogan, Bacon is Magic
Ingredients
- 4 lbs pork shoulder
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 3 oz achiote paste
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 tsp all spice
- 1 stick ceylon cinnamon
- 1 tsp dried Mexican oregano or regular if you do not have Mexican
Instructions
1. Add all ingredients to a resealable bag and marinate overnight, turning every few hours.
2. Preheat oven to 300F.
3. Transfer pork shoulder and marinade to Dutch oven. Add 1 cup water to the bottom of Dutch oven. Cook for three hours or until cooked to 165F. The pork should be tender enough to pull apart with a fork.
4. Rest for 20 minutes then shred with two porks. If any juice is remaining in Dutch oven, pour over pork. Serve with pickled red onion, cilantro, corn tortillas, and fresh soft rolls.
Homemade garlic fingers and donair sauce
Recipe by Myra Hyland-Samson, Delicious on a Dime
For Garlic Fingers
- Pizza dough
- 1/2 package of bacon
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese (half a large package or 225 grams)
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- For Donair Sauce
- 1 can evaporated milk, very cold
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 6 tsp vinegar
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
For Garlic Fingers
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. If you're using a single sheet pan make sure your rack is in the centre of the oven. If you're using two pizza pans, make sure there isn't a rack too close to the bottom of the oven - that both racks are in the middle.
2. Cook bacon using whatever method you prefer, drain and chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. Shred mozzarella cheese.
4. Mince garlic and mix into melted butter.
5. Spread pizza dough onto two oiled pizza pans or one oiled sheet pan. Brush with garlic butter. Sprinkle with chopped bacon. Cover with shredded cheese.
6. Bake in preheated oven, until bottom of dough is lightly browned. For a single pan, this will probably take 12-14 minutes depending on the thickness of your crust. For two pizza pans, rotate them halfway through so each spends some time on the bottom, and bake for 12-14 minutes (depending on thickness of crust).
For Donair Sauce
1. While garlic fingers are cooking, make the donair sauce. Use a hand mixer to whip evaporated milk until it's light and fluffy.
2. While whipping the milk, gradually add sugar, vinegar and garlic powder. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated and the sauce isn't grainy - probably 2-3 minutes in total.
3. When garlic fingers are cooked, cut them into long fingers, and serve hot with donair sauce.
Quick and healthy Mediterranean dip hummus
Recipe by Myra Hyland-Samson, Delicious on a Dime:
Ingredients
- 1 cup hummus (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
- Small bunch fresh parsley
- 2 green onions
- A few olives (optional)
- 1 tomato
- Tortilla chips (or other option) for serving
Instructions
1. Slice about a cup of lettuce, crumble about 1/4 cup of feta cheese, chop a few tablespoons of fresh parsley and green onions (1-2 green onions) and pit and chop some olives (optional).
2. Slice a tomato and use a sharp knife to take the seeds and watery pulp out, then chop the remaining tomato meat into small chunks. Steps one and two can be done in advance to save time on game day.
3. Spread hummus on a large plate or serving dish. Top with shredded lettuce, parsley, green onions, tomato feta and olives (if using).
4. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, carrot sticks, potato chips, crackers, or baguette crisps.
