Give fans the opportunity to get invested in the game (literally) by providing a betting squares pool. Print a pool grid from a template online or make your own on a piece of poster board. Draw a 10-by-10 grid and write the name of one team on the top of the grid and the other team on the left-hand side. Invite contestants to buy squares for $1 to $5 per square ($1 per square puts $100 in the pool; $5 per square makes it $500), filling in their chosen squares with their initials. After all the squares are filled, draw numbers (0 to 9) out of a hat and assign each number one at a time, moving from the left to right along the top of the grid, and top to bottom down the side of the grid. The object of this pool is to have the combination of numbers that match the last numbers in the score of the game (i.e., if the score was 21-17, then the person whose square is located at the intersection of 1 and 7 would win). Give payouts at the end of the first quarter (10 percent of the pool amount), at half time (15 percent), at the end of the third quarter (10 percent), and at the end of the game (65 percent).
“Turf” Centerpiece February 2, 2012
Make your table into a football field feature by setting up a mini field as your centerpiece. Use a flat of wheatgrass or an Astroturf doormat (unused, of course) as the “field.” Place the turf in the middle of your buffet and decorate it with mini plastic footballs or toy football players. Use white electrical tape for making lines on Astroturf, or white paint if you’re using wheatgrass. Wheatgrass can be ordered through a florist or purchased from a health food store with a juice bar, or at some local farmers markets. Astroturf doormats and remnants are available at many home improvement stores.
Hamburger Cupcakes September 10, 2011
There’s still ample time and good weather for grilling, and I have a fun BBQ theme dessert idea, courtesy of one of my hip baker friends – hamburger cupcakes!
Hamburger Cupcakes
1 batch vanilla cupcakes (made from mix or homemade)
1 batch chocolate cupcakes (made from mix or homemade)
1 container vanilla icing or homemade butter cream frosting
1 package shredded sweetened coconut
Red, yellow and green food coloring
Toothpicks
Sugar in the Raw (optional)
1. To make buns: Prepare a batch of vanilla cupcakes but be sure not to use paper liners (grease the baking tin instead). Use a mix or make them from scratch using your favorite chocolate cake recipe. Sprinkle tops with Sugar in the Raw before baking to create the look of sesame seeds on the tops of the buns (optional).
2. To make burgers: Prepare a batch of chocolate cupcakes but be sure not to use paper liners (grease the baking tin instead). Use a mix or make them from scratch using your favorite chocolate cake recipe.
3. To make ketchup: Mix red food coloring with ½ container of vanilla icing.
4. To make mustard: Mix yellow food coloring with ½ container of vanilla icing.
5. To make lettuce: Place shredded coconut in a ziplock bag and squeeze several drops of green food coloring into the bag; seal the bag and mix until coconut is coated with coloring.
6. To assemble, cut the “buns” (vanilla cupcakes) in half vertically and cut the “burgers” (chocolate cupcakes into thirds. Use a piping bag to put the “ketchup” on the bottom bun, then place the burger on top of the ketchup and then use a different piping bag to put the mustard on top of the burger. Sprinkle the lettuce on top of the “mustard.” Finish by placing the top of the bun on top and then secure with a toothpick to hold it all together.
Note: You’ll have extra “burger” parts – they’re great for the pastry chef to enjoy!
March Madness Party March 1, 2011
March Madness is one of the most-watched and wagered-on annual sporting events. Host a casual and energetic game-day party during the month of basketball madness. Selection Sunday is the best opportunity for that first party, but there are games all month—through the Final Four and the crowning of the national champion—so you have several party dates to choose from. Check out www.ncaa.com for the tournament schedule for the season and plan your party accordingly.
Make this party a slam dunk by providing a great viewing environment and serving some delicious snacks. Choose a menu that gives a nod to a team’s locale, or put a hip twist on traditional game-day fare by serving some upscale snacks.
Check out my monthly column on The Family Groove for more ideas on how to host a fabulous March madness theme party: http://www.thefamilygroove.com/mar11_EntertainingOnTheEasy.htm
Etch-it Cups Giveaway February 10, 2010
The fun people over at Etch-it Cups have supplied two sets of their great party cups and 6 packages of their Etch-it tags (15 per package) for this Hip Hostess Blog giveaway. Three winners will be chosen for this giveaway (2 winners will each receive a package of Etch-it cups; 1 winner will receive the Etch-it tags).
I’ve blogged about these cups before – they are great for keeping track of your drink. Each cup has a little “chalkboard” on it. Simply remove the protective cover, then etch your name or a cool design with your finger and your cup is personalized. Never Lose Your Drink!
For info. of where to buy Etch-it Cups online, visit their site at http://www.etch-it.com/onlinepartners.htm
To enter the Hip Hostess Blog giveaway for the Etch-it Cups and Tags, click on the link below. Winners will be randomly selected at 10pm EST on February 12, 2010. Winners will be notified via e-mail. One entry per person. Good luck!
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dF9FWnE4bmxheVlTdkczQVJSY2Rkc1E6MA
Guinness Cheese Burgers March 14, 2008
Spice up your standard burger with the addition of Guinness. The beer adds a great deep flavor to the meet and keeps it super juicy. The contrast of the sweet caramelized onions and the sharp cheddar will make your mouth water. Serve with oven-baked sweet potato fries and a slaw to round out the meal. Or make these into mini burgers (“sliders”) and serve them at a sports-theme party. These burgers are perfect any time of year, but especially apropos for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Guinness Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Onions
2 large yellow or white onion, sliced into rings and separated
2 Tbs. unsalted butter1 lb. high quality ground beef (85% to 90% lean)
¼ C. Guinness draught beer
¼ C. chopped yellow or white onion
1 garlic clove
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 (or more) splashes of Tabasco
1 tsp. salt
fresh ground pepper
olive oil
4 oz Irish cheddar cheese cut into thin slices
4 hamburger buns, lightly toasted or grilled
1. Heat a sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat and add butter. When butter is melted and starts to foam, add onion rings to the pan and stir to coat all of the rings with butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are a deep caramel color (about 10 minutes).
2. Combine next 8 ingredients (beef through pepper) in a mixing bowl and mix with your hands until just combined (do not over mix or meat will be tough). Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Shape beef into 4 equal patties, about ¾” thick. Rub each side of the patties with olive oil. Sear burgers for about 30 seconds to seal in juices, then reduce heat to medium. For medium burgers, cook patties for about 3-4 minutes on the first side and 2-3 minutes on the second side. Divide cheese evenly four ways and put cheese on top of burgers once you flip them to cook on the second side.
3. Remove burgers from the grill, put on a lightly toasted or grilled bun, top with caramelized onions and other desired toppings. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 burgers
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I use organic grass-fed and grass-finished beef, which tends to cook about 30% faster so vary the cooking time accordingly.
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For juicy burgers, beef with a higher fat content (80-85% lean) is generally used, but since you are adding the beer and onions you can use leaner meat (90% lean) and still have a very juicy burger.
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To keep juices in the meat, only flip burgers once and do not press down on the burgers while they are cooking.
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If the cheese is not melting fast enough you can close the cover or the grill or cover the grill pan with a lid or cookie sheet to speed up the melting process.
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When selecting the cheese, use a cheddar aged for 1 year or less – you don’t want it to be too sharp for these burgers.