Super Bowls: Buffalo Chicken Chili

I'll admit it. We're not really football people.

But, that doesn't mean we don't know great game day fare when we see it.  In fact, we've been known to throw a mean Super Bowl party... with an emphasis on Puppy Bowl and commercial watching, of course.

But even so...  it's really all about the food anyhow. Isn't it?

Since the Super Bowl tends to fall at one of the coldest times of the year, it's a great time for soup. And chili always seems to be a perennial favorite for parties. But, you don't need to make the same old boring recipe.

Creamy blue cheese, crisp celery, succulent chicken, and a nice hot sauce kick. These are the things that make the buffalo wing a perennial favorite. But, deep fried wings aren’t exactly every day fare.

This recipe pulls together all the flavors you love from buffalo chicken wings into a nourishing soup that’s perfect for a weeknight meal or an afternoon of watching football (or commercials) with friends. 

A topping of chopped celery and creamy Gorgonzola cheese gives the soup texture and an added layer of flavor. If you’re not a blue cheese lover (though we encourage you to give it another try), sub out the Gorgonzola for Feta cheese or Queso Fresco.  

For even more of that "chicken wing" feel, use shredded roasted chicken added toward the end of cooking instead of the ground chicken.  

Buffalo Chicken Chili

©BURP!

Game Day or Any Day: Beer Cheese Spread

It could be the Wisconsinites in us talking here, but we're pretty sure that most party food is better with a bit of craft beer.

And we're not just talking about the kind you drink.

Cooking with beer isn't anything new. In fact there are countless recipes that can help you use up the brews languishing in your fridge. A wide variety of soups, stews, breads, and side dishes can benefit from the complex, yeasty, malty flavor of a good brew.

Of course, one of the best flavor pairings for a good quality beer is always cheese.

Countless cheeses are enhanced by the right beverage pairing. For instance, why not try a goat cheese paired with wheat beer, a mascarpone with a fruity  brew, or a Cheddar with a nice nutty brown ale? Gorgonzola and other blue cheeses go great with Barleywine. And Gruyere can be the perfect match for a dark Lager or a Bock.

We decided to use beer and cheese pairing as an inspiration for this delicious recipe -- a cheese spread that makes full use of the flavors of beer, cheese... and the smokiness of a bit of bacon.

Really, how can you resist?

If you feel like you’re falling into a rut with your game day appetizers, fear not. This recipe that will revive your repertoire and put a smile on the faces of the beer lovers in your group.

All you need is a bottle of flavorful beer and a block of good quality cheese to make your appetizer spread anything but ordinary.

 Butter makes this cream cheese-based spread seductively rich and creamy, while beer, mustard and a hint of smoky bacon ensure that the flavors in this spread will never fall flat.

Serve with pretzels, crackers or kettle-cooked chips… and a beer, of course!

Beer Cheese Spread

©BURP!