Farmers Market Report: Super Bowl Edition

From Stephanie Willis. Email her at [email protected], follow her on Twitter @shaw_girl.

See Lebodome’s Super Bowl XLVI Primer (and the Giants Will Win) on tips for how to enjoy Sunday’s Super Bowl game. Hint: Location, location, location (and food and dudes).

I can try to pretend I love football and have a big party planned for Sunday. But truthfully, my co-worker just told me the Super Bowl XLVI is Sunday and I have no idea who is playing. Or where.

Yet somehow I know Madonna is the halftime performer and Matthew Broderick is reprising his Ferris Bueller role in an ad. Clearly I have different priorities than sports fans. Even though I won’t be watching on Sunday, I want all of you to be Super Prepared for the festivities (see what I did there?).

So I found some great party friendly foods that use produce, meat and other divine things you can pick up at the farmers market on Sunday. Right before the big game starts… at noon, right?

•  Collard greens get a bit of a party make-over in these grits-stuffed collard rolls.  If you’re expecting a large crowd on Sunday, this recipe is easily doubled or tripled for your party trays.
• One of Keswick Creamery’s extra sharp cheeses would be perfect for these cheese straws. I often substitute cayenne pepper for the crushed red pepper flakes for an added kick. Make a big batch and pile them in bowls around your house for guests. Or, if you’re like me, eat most of them before the first guest even arrives.
• Believe it or not, you can also pick up the blue cheese dressing for this buffalo chicken dip at Keswick Creamery this Sunday. And for a change of pace, pair the dip with kale chips.
• Get fresh mushrooms at the Mushroom Stand and bacon at Red Apron Butchery for this mushroom and bacon dip. Sure you can serve store bought chips with it, but why not use fresh carrots from the market? Or even better, these beet chips!
• Swap out frozen spinach for fresh in this spinach and artichoke dip. Simply saute the spinach for a minute or two to wilt it and let it cool. You can also pick up fresh garlic for this dip at the market. I’ve been tempted to substitute Keswick’s quark cheese for the cream cheese, but have yet to try it. If you do, tell us how it works.
• If you want to serve up something besides Lay’s, these sweet potato chips are (in my opinion, at least) better than their regular potato cousin. I especially love the rosemary salt you sprinkle over the hot chips.
• Grab some fresh pork from Smith Meadows for this slow cooker pulled pork dish. It’s mind numbingly easy to make and absolutely delicious. Plus it makes a LOT of pulled pork, which I assume one needs to cheer on their favorite team.
• Finally, no Super Bowl party would be complete without buffalo wings! Fresh garlic from the market will help make these wings a little more local. I have yet to find chicken wings at the farmers market, but it doesn’t hurt to ask around on Sunday. And you can skip the recipe for blue cheese sauce and just serve the wings with Keswick Creamery’s blue cheese dressing!

Hope everyone has a Super weekend (too much?) and go [insert name of your favorite team here]!