3 Super Bowl Appetizers

Thought I would share a couple of appetizers for the upcoming Super Bowl party.  Enjoy the game and the party.

1.  Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tsp sugar

2 cups Bread flour

1 cup All Purpose flour

2 tbsp salt

1/2 cup Butter, melted

1 cup Pamesan cheese, finely grated

1/2 cup pepperoni slices, cut into small pieces

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 cup Pizza sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the Bread flour, AP flour and salt. Set aside.

Combine the active yeast and water in a mixing bowl fitted with a dough hook. Let it sit for a few minutes to make sure your yeast is working. Add the sugar and mix for a quick second. Add the flour mixture in batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Let the dough hook work its magic for 5 to 6 minutes until the dough has come together into a large mass. Remove the dough to an oiled bowl and let rise for 60 minutes.

After an hour, remove the dough from the bowl and cut into small 1/2 inch cubes. Dust with flour to prevent them from sticking together. Set aside.

Spray 6 small bundt pans with PAM or cooking spray. (You could also use a large bundt pan)

Melt the butter in a small bowl.

Combine the cheese, pepperoni, oregano, salt and garlic in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and mix together with a spoon. Toss in the cut dough and make sure it all gets a coat of the butter mixture. Start layering the cubes into the bundt pans until they are 3/4 of the way full. Let sit for 30 minutes for the dough to rise a little more.

Place bundt pans into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the bread and cheese is golden brown. Serve with warmed marinara sauce or pizza sauce.

2.  Pizza Appetizers

Pizza dough

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

3/4 cup marinara sauce

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup sliced pepperoni, chopped (or meat of your choice)

1 cup marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Using a rolling pin shaped pizza dough into a large rectangle.

Spread sauce evenly over dough making sure to leave 1/2" around the tops and sides free from sauce. Sprinkle with garlic salt, basil, cheeses and pepperoni. Roll the dough up tightly to form a log. Slice into 1 inch pieces.

Place rolls on lightly greased baking sheets. Sprinkle additional Parmesan on top of pinwheels after 5 minute of baking.  Bake an additional 5 minutes. Broil tops for 1-2 minutes until cheese is golden brown. 

Serve hot with extra Parmesan cheese and pepper flakes for people to shake on their warm appetizers (just like in a pizzeria).

3.  Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings

12 chicken drumettes

6 pieces of bacon

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

2 Shakes of hot sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut each bacon slice in half. Season each piece of chicken with salt and pepper.  Wrap each chicken drummette with a ½ piece of bacon and secure with a wooden pick.

Stir together brown sugar, onion and garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and two shakes of your favorite hot sauce (I like Louisiana Hot Sauce).   Use a fork to mix and moisten your flavored brown sugar.  Dredge wrapped chicken in mixture. Coat a rack and broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place chicken wrap on rack in broiler pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until bacon is crisp.  Test your chicken with a meat thermometer to make sure drummettes are at 160 degrees.  Drummettes come in many sizes.  The smaller the drummette, the shorter the baking time, so check during the baking process. 

Take out the toothpicks before serving.

If you like it hot, you can always add more hot sauce.

These wings are sweet and hot, making them a great appetizer if you like that combination. 

Variation:  You can always take it another direction and replace the Worcestershire sauce with soy sauce and add powdered ginger for an Asian flavor.  These are baked, but you can also do them on the grill, making sure you turn on all 4 sides.

Tomorrow is Sunday.  I'm sharing breakfast burritos with you.  

Keep playin’ with your food and have a nice Super Bowl Party.

Be happy and may God bless you and yours.