Recipes and hints for everything on your Big Game menu

Big Game

OK gang, the big game is upon us and what goes better with it than a party that’s full of your Super party food favorites!
We’re talkin’:

  • Buffalo wings
  • Nachos
  • Chicken tenders
  • Burgers
  • Dogs
  • BBQ
  • Pizza
  • Cocktails
  • Beer

As much as we want to admit that all of these go hand-in-hand with a great Big Game party, we certainly don’t look forward to the Monday morning food hangover (or any other hangover for that matter.)

We are here to give you great ideas and recipes for your Super Sunday chow down.

Like everyone else, I am ready to throw down on some good bar food when it comes time for the big game, but I have learned to curb how much bad stuff I put in my body while doing it. Most of the post-Super Bowl food regret comes from sugar, gluten and food additives. Here’s how to get the same flavor without the bad stuff.

Let’s start with barbecue

Brisket, ribs, wings and whole chicken. The first trick here is do not buy any of it premade. Precooked barbecue is soaked in liquid smoke and basted with high fructose corn syrup and sugar filled sauce and then speed cooked and preserved with additives. Barbecue is not difficult, it just takes time. Even if you do not have the cast iron trailer grill/smoker rig, this can still be achieved in any home oven.

Checkout our book, Nutritious Meets Delicious: Texas Farm to Table for recipes for all of these.
The one culprit here in bad eating is barbecue sauce. Premade barbecue sauce usually contains white sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup and kitchen bouquet or liquid smoke.

For your wings, try with sugar free barbecue sauce or your favorite Buffalo sauce. Try to avoid anything teriyaki or Asian inspired as they are usually filled with sugar. Also try the smoked wings with homemade ranch in our cookbook, Nutritious Meets Delicious: Texas Farm to Table.

Easy homemade recipe

BBQ Sauce
4 cups homemade Ketchup
¼ cup Yellow Mustard
1 cup BBQ rub
¼ cup lemon juice
1 TBS Worcestershire
2 cups water

Combine in a sauce pot. Simmer 30 minutes. Cool.

BBQ Rub
4 parts Paprika
2 parts pink salt
2 parts black pepper
2 parts cinnamon
2 parts nutmeg
1 part onion powder
1 part garlic powder
½ part cayenne
1 part dry mustard
1 part chili powder
1 part coriander
1 part celery seed

Homemade Ketchup
1 TBS olive oil
½ medium red onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
One 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled
2 TBS tomato paste
1/4 cup Bragg’s apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1 TBS black strap molasses
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1/2 TSP mustard powder
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Salt and fresh ground black pepper

Directions
Sauté onion, garlic and ginger in olive oil on medium heat until soft (about 5 minutes)
Add tomato paste and cook 2 minutes. Add vinegar and reduce by half.
Add rest of ingredients and simmer 30 minutes. Let cool, remove bay leaves and puree in a blender. Strain.

* After you combine and simmer your BBQ sauce, have fun with it. Add chipotle, jalapeño, more honey, more lemon, more salt, more mustard, more BBQ rub, etc.
* Making your own barbecue sauce isn’t difficult and it’s actually pretty cool to all of your friends.

If you do not like making your own ketchup, then make sure whatever you buy is at least free of corn syrup, or search your local market or health food store for sugar free ketchup. (Yes, it’s a thing).

Nachos
Nachos are an art form in texture, balance and personal preference. With that being said, here are a few do’s and don’ts.
Do:

  • Use blue corn tortilla chips
  • Use local raw milk cheese
  • Use local organic refined or black beans
  • Use fresh jalapenos
  • Use full fat sour cream
  • Use local salsa without sugar
  • Use Grass fed ground beef or free-range chicken

Don’t:

  • Use Velveeta, American or low-grade shredded cheese
  • Use jarred jalapenos
  • Use light or fat free sour cream
  • Use anything “Avocado” from a jar
  • Use skillet mix, premade link or ground sausage or ground chicken

Chicken Tenders
Do not buy pre-breaded frozen chicken. Buy raw chicken tenders and soak them in buttermilk or beer. Dredge in seasoned gluten free flour blend and pan fry or deep fry.
The dipping sauce is the sugar bomb for chicken tenders. But now you have sugar free barbecue sauce and remember, Honey Mustard should have two ingredients, honey and mustard, so make it yourself.

Burgers, Dogs & Sliders
For burgers, dogs and sliders use 100% grass fed beef for your burger, uncured hot dogs and uncured bacon. Try to skip hamburger buns unless they are 100% whole grain. Try gluten free or 100% whole grain bread for patty melts.

Pizza
As much as I would like to tell you to go gluten free here, I am just going to tell you to build your own pizza. Buy a pre-made crust (preferably cauliflower or gluten free) or use the Gluten Free Camp Bread recipe from Nutritious Meets Delicious: Texas Farm to Table, a can of tomato sauce with basil, a log of fresh mozzarella and anything else your heart desires EXCEPT:
Pepperoni (unless it’s uncured) sausage, ham (unless it’s uncured), meatballs (unless they are homemade) any pre-seasoned store-bought protein (beef, chicken, pork, sausage) or processed cheese.
Remember: for all of your party food, the spicier the better. Capsaicin from chili peppers is great for your digestive system.

Our Book is available online and at the Healing Center

KaySpears.com
NutritiousMeetsDelicious.com
Balanced Health Healing Center
16350 Blanco Ste 110B
San Antonio, TX 78232
210-764-2121
Copies are selling out quickly!

Finally: Beverages

For cocktails, try to stick with Vodka, Gin and Tequila mixed with fresh citrus juices, club soda and fresh fruit. Avoid sodas and premade mixers.

For Beer:

  • Guinness
  • Corona Premier
  • Pacifico
  • Rolling Rock Green Light
  • Omission
  • Redbridge
  • Michelob Ultra.
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