Super Bowl Sunday: What Are You Cooking?

Whether you're coming together to enjoy the big game, inventive commercials or adorable puppies, Super Bowl Sunday holds something for just about everyone.

I'll admit I'm a little bummed the  won't be competing this year—go figure—but that won't stop me from getting together with some friends to enjoy what should be a great contest between the Giants and Patriots.

But let's not forget one of the most important aspects of any Super Bowl party: the snacks. If guests aren't up to their necks in mouthwatering dips, hors d'oeuvres, slow cooker creations or other tasty treats, something clearly has gone awry.

In honor of that, we're putting together a collection of your favorite party recipes to post on Mercer Island Patch. Take a few minutes to share your recipes in the comments section below, allowing all our readers to try them out. And if you've taken a picture of your dish that you also would like to post, you get a gold star.

I'm not exactly a culinary expert, but here are a couple go-to party recipes:

Hot Wing Dip

• 2 cups of shredded/cubed cooked chicken
• 1 8-oz. package of cream cheese, softened and cubed
• 1 8 oz. package of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of your favorite ranch salad dressing
• 1/2 cup Frank's Original Red Hot Sauce
• Minced fresh parsley (optional)
• Various dip vessels (I'd suggest tortilla chips, celery sticks or carrots)

Combine the first five ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 1-2 hours, or until cheese is fully melted. Garnish with parsley if desired and serve with chips, celery or other vegetables.

[Courtesy Coleen Corner, Taste of Home magazine]

Pepperoni Dip

• 1 10-3/4 oz. can cream of celery soup
• 1 6-oz. package of pepperoni, chopped (a little more is definitely OK)
• 1 8-oz. package of cream cheese, softened and cubed
• Crackers (I like Triscuits for this, personally)

Combine the first three ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for about two hours, then set the cooker on the "warm" setting and people can munch on crackers and dip throughout the party. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

[Courtesy Crystal Branson, Super-Fast Slow Cooking recipe book]