Ramona Cruz-Peters, an Allrecipes Allstar, is a dedicated fan of the Super Bowl. Her love for the Big Game dates back to her childhood, where she saw Super Bowl Sunday as a holiday. Growing up in sports-loving families, both Ramona and her husband Nik share a passion for sports, both collegiate and professional. Their mutual love for football led them to start hosting Super Bowl parties together shortly after they moved in together in 2006.
For Ramona, the Super Bowl is not just about the game itself, but also about gathering with friends and family. Whether their favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, are playing or not, the Cruz-Peters see the event as a reason to come together and have fun around the theme of football. Their parties range from intimate gatherings with close family and friends to larger celebrations with a football-themed menu and festive decorations.
When it comes to planning the menu for their Super Bowl parties, Ramona likes to include traditional recipes like Crock Pot Party Meatballs and Strawberry Footballs, while also adding a new recipe each year. She prefers individually-portioned foods and loves to decorate dishes to look like footballs. By incorporating white icing or sour cream to create football laces, even brown foods like chocolate or bean dip can fit the football theme.
In preparation for the big day, Ramona starts with a plan for the menu and decorations, followed by making shopping lists. While she saves most of the cooking for the day of the party to ensure the food is hot and fresh, she tackles any DIY décor projects in the days leading up to the event. This allows her to focus on execution and cooking on the day of the party, reducing stress and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
For Super Bowl Sunday entertaining, Ramona relies on grocery staples like frozen cooked meatballs, tortilla chips, and pre-made baked goods from her local grocery store. She also uses pre-made ingredients like phyllo cups, pie crusts, puff pastry dough, and cheese balls as a base for some of her recipes, adding her own personal touches to make them fit the football theme.
Overall, Ramona Cruz-Peters’ Super Bowl parties are a celebration of football, friendship, and good food. With a mix of traditional favorites and new additions to the menu each year, her gatherings are always a hit with friends and family alike. As a host, I strive to create a balanced and stress-free environment for my guests, providing them with a variety of options to enjoy without overwhelming myself. One key aspect of my hosting style is offering a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to cater to guests of all ages and preferences. Personally, I am a big fan of bubbly, particularly champagne and Prosecco, which I believe add a touch of sophistication to any gathering.
For special occasions like the Super Bowl, I like to have mini bottles of Prosecco on hand, chilled and ready to serve. While others may reach for a beer, you’ll often find me with a glass of sparkling wine in hand at tailgates. The effervescence and crispness of Prosecco make it a refreshing choice for game day festivities, and its versatility allows it to pair well with a variety of snacks and dishes.
When it comes to food, I have a few favorite Super Bowl recipes that I always turn to. These include Crock Pot Party Meatballs, Football Layered Dip (with sour cream laces piped to resemble a football), Mini Bacon Cheese Balls, Mini Chicken and Corn Tacos, and Strawberry Footballs (chocolate-covered strawberries with frosting laces). These dishes are not only delicious and easy to prepare, but they also offer a mix of flavors and textures that cater to different tastes.
By focusing on balance in both beverages and food offerings, I aim to provide a well-rounded and enjoyable experience for my guests while keeping my own stress levels in check. Hosting gatherings should be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved, and finding that equilibrium is key to ensuring a successful and memorable event. So, whether you’re a fan of bubbly like me or prefer a cold beer, there’s something for everyone at my Super Bowl parties. Cheers to a harmonious and stress-free hosting experience!