Tag Archive for: comfort food

Crowd-Pleasing Super Bowl Dishes

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Need to feed a few hungry football fans at your Super Bowl party? Super Bowl Sunday is famous for the big game but also everything that comes along with it, such as getting together with friends and family and good eats. 

Whether your home team is playing or you just want a reason to gather, you might need some inspiration when it comes to what to serve. Here are some crowd-pleasing Super Bowl dishes to keep everyone cheering, regardless of what happens on the field. 

1. Buffalo Wings

You simply can’t have a Super Bowl party without serving wings. And classic buffalo wings are a crowd favorite. These wings are tossed in a buttery sauce and served up with celery and blue cheese sauce. 

2. Homemade Potato Chips

Bags of chips are one option for your guests. But you can really impress them with a batch of homemade potato chips, served up crispy and delicious with your favorite dip. 

3. Classic Beef Chili

If you don’t have a favorite beef chili recipe, this one will get everyone excited on game day. You make it with lean ground beef, tomato sauce, and red kidney beans. Don’t forget to add toppings like onions, cheese, and sour cream. 

4. Vegetarian Chili

Not all football fans are carnivores. You can also make some delicious vegetarian chili with ingredients like black beans, pinto beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, and more. 

5. Warm Spinach-Artichoke Dip

This warm spinach-artichoke dip is made with four types of cheese, frozen spinach, and tons of tender artichoke hearts. The dip is baked and served with a crispy, golden brown. Serve with crackers or toast. 

6. Classic Deviled Eggs

People who normally don’t enjoy eggs seem to just devour deviled eggs at a party. This recipe for classic deviled eggs is sure to be a hit at your next gathering, where people need finger-sized snacks while watching the game. 

7. Ultimate Nachos

Whether you’re making this tray of ultimate nachos for an appetizer or the main event, it’s sure to create an impression. It has a filling combination of tortilla chips, meat, cheese, beans, seasoning, and more. 

8. Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork

This slow cooker barbecue pulled pork can be made into sliders or full-sized sandwiches for your guests. Set out additional toppings like sliced onion, coleslaw, cheese, and dill pickles so everyone can personalize their creations. 

9. Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

There’s just something fun about stabbing meatballs with a toothpick as you eat them off of your football-shaped paper plate. These slow-cooker Swedish meatballs are simple to make and so tasty. 

10. Firecracker Shrimp

Who doesn’t love shrimp at a party? Made with sweet chili sauce and sriracha, these firecracker shrimp have a bit of kick to them, which might be fitting when you’re watching the biggest game of the year. 

11. Smoked Brisket

This smoked brisket recipe will take your Super Bowl party to the next level. Your guests will be thrilled with a Texas-style brisket that is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Serve it with some rolls, beans, cole slaw, and other complements for an amazing meal. 

12. Loaded French Fries

This is the french fry version of nachos. Instead of chips, you’ll cover your favorite type of french fries with cheddar cheese, gravy, bacon bits, sour cream, and other delicious ingredients. 

13. Beer Cheese Fondue

If you want to give your guests something else fun to do, consider whipping up this beer cheese fondue. They can take turns dunking bread cubes, fruit, and veggies into the melted goodness as a snack. 

14. Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Don’t forget the desserts! These double-chocolate cookies are both chewy and crispy at the same time. Your guests will continue talking about them long after the final whistle blows. 

15. Football Cookies

Another dessert and snack idea for your Super Bowl party, and the littlest fans in the crowd, is football cookies. These are simple sugar cookies shaped like footballs and topped with chocolate icing. You can get as elaborate as you want with your decorations. 

Visit Nick’s of Calvert for High-Quality Ingredients and Pre-Made Dishes

Whatever you decide to prepare for your Super Bowl gathering, make sure you are using high-quality ingredients. At Nick’s of Calvert, our full-service meat counter is the centerpiece of our store. We also offer quality and affordable grocery items as well as pre-made items at our deli. Visit us today to pick up all your Super Bowl supplies, or give us a call at (410) 414-7105 with any questions. 

Comfort Food Recipes to Get You Through the Winter

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One of the most challenging things about cooking for yourself and eating well is knowing what to cook. During the wintertime, the opportunity for meats, stewed veggies, and warm, yummy comfort food is top of mind. To help get you through the winter, here are a few easy and delicious—and mainly healthy!—comfort food recipes to turn to. While some of the recipes require more time to prepare, many are quick and easy and are perfect for the busy parent. 

Beef Stew

One of the easiest and most classic wintertime recipes is a beef stew (or lamb stew). There are dozens of recipe versions out there, so take your time looking through a few if you want. One beef stew recipe that we love is this easy Instant Pot one that features all of the classic stew ingredients like onions, garlic, carrots, and potatoes but can be prepared and cooked in just over an hour. Here’s a slow cooker version of another stew if you have the time or don’t have a pressure cooker.  

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

For many, nothing sounds tastier on a cold winter day than chicken and dumplings. While this recipe requires a slow cooker and therefore demands some preparation, the recipe itself is very easy and straightforward. In fact, prep time is only 10 minutes! Just be sure to give yourself the full five hours of cook time. Note: while this recipe is delicious, it is made with canned soup and refrigerated biscuit dough, neither of which are the healthiest choices. It’s always best to cook using fresh, non-processed ingredients when possible. 

Kalua Pork

If you want something that’s super delicious, easy to prepare, and fast, Kalua pork is a great option. Chef Michelle Tam of NomNom Paleo has created an Instant Pot Kalua pork recipe that is Whole30-approved and requires a mere 10 minutes of prep time. Served alongside mashed sweet potatoes or the recommended cooked cabbage, this dish is sure to be a hit in your home and is great for serving guests.  

Ribs

Most people eat more meat in the wintertime in keeping with the seasons, as fruits and vegetables that are fresh aren’t in abundance. While ribs notoriously take hours to prepare and perfect, The Castaway Kitchen has a recipe that requires only 15 minutes of prep time. These tasty, flavorful ribs use garlic, apple cider vinegar, ginger, peach, and coffee grounds to bring out bold, savory flavors. Cook time is 3.5 hours. 

Rotisserie-Style Chicken

One of the yummiest and easiest wintertime meals is a rotisserie chicken, which you can pick up prepared and ready to eat from Nick’s of Calvert on your way home from work any day. If you want to prepare your own, this rotisserie-style chicken (that’s actually cooked in an oven) has great reviews and is simple to make, requiring 15 minutes of prep time and under 1.5 hours of cooking time. This is a super easy and healthy chicken recipe that can be served alongside veggies, a salad, or mashed potatoes for a hearty yet healthy meal. 

Mushroom Risotto 

Creamy, savory, and packed with nutrient-rich mushrooms, a great mushroom risotto really hits the spot. This vegetarian recipe is also gluten-free. Loaded with butter, cream, and freshly grated parmesan, you won’t find anyone who doesn’t love this dish. While the ingredients are straightforward, note that this dish does require constant stirring, so make sure you have about a full hour to commit to this meal before you start making it. You can serve this alongside another dish, such as a salad or chicken, but it’s also hearty enough to be eaten alone as the main course without any sides. 

Find All of Your Wintertime Recipe Ingredients at Nick’s of Calvert

Whether you’re looking for fresh mushrooms, the prime cuts of meat, spices, or a great wine to sip on while preparing all of your wintertime meals, Nick’s of Calvert has you covered. For years we have been carrying the highest quality meats, produce, and other food products and providing customers with the attentive customer service they deserve. And while we have all of the ingredients that you might need to prepare a yummy wintertime meal, we also sell premade comfort food options for those nights when you just don’t have the time or energy to cook. To learn more about what we carry or to ask a question, feel free to call us at (410) 414-7105. We open at 9:00 a.m. on the weekends and 10:00 a.m. on the weekdays.