A Superbowl Soiree - Pittsburgh Steelers Style

When you think Superbowl party, you usually picture a bunch of guys lounging on the couch in front of a big flat-screen TV, with beer, pizza and hot wings a plenty. For the party-planning lover like me, there is no fun in that. But I do enjoy a good sports viewing party nonetheless. So here's a way to celebrate the Superbowl in style.

The Food:

Football-shaped Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup shortening, melted and cooled slightly
1 cup molasses
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Sift together the flour, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon; set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix together the shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients, until they are completely absorbed. Divide dough into 3 pieces, pat down to 1 1/2 inch thickness, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. When the cookies are done, they will look dry, but still be soft to the touch. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on wire racks. When cool, the cookies can be frosted with vanilla icing.

* The cookies will turn out to be light brown in colour but if you'd like them to look more like an actual football, add a drop of red food dye to the batter.

Pigskins In A Blanket

Ingredients (Makes about 4 1/2 dozen):

2 pounds (about 60) mini hot dogs
Cheddar cheese, cut into small pieces, optional
1 large egg
All-purpose flour, for work surface
1 box (17 1/2 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
Poppy, sesame, or mustard seeds, optional
Mustard, for serving
Ketchup, for serving

Directions:

Cut hot dogs lengthwise 3/4 of the way through. Insert a piece of cheese or 1/2 teaspoon caramelized onions into each hot dog, if using; set aside. If not using cheese or onions, poke hot dogs several times with the tip of a knife.
On a lightly floured work surface, working with one sheet of puff pastry at a time, roll into a 14-by-11-inch rectangle. Cut lengthwise into seven 1 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 4 rectangles, each about 3 1/2 inches long.
In a small bowl, beat together egg and 1 tablespoon water; set aside. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat; set aside. Place a hot dog on the narrow end of one piece of pastry. Roll to enclose, brushing with some of toeuvreshe beaten egg to adhere; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining hot dogs and pastry. Brush the tops of puff pastry with egg and sprinkle with seeds, if using. Transfer to refrigerator and let chill for 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Transfer baking sheets to oven and bake until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving with mustard and ketchup.

* Top each hor d'oeuvre with a toothpick with a mini Steelers paper flag

The Drinks:

Steel Helmet Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 oz vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur
milk or cream to fill
Galliano liqueur

Directions:

Build the vodka, coffee liqueur and milk or cream in an old-fashioned glass.
Stir well. Float Galliano on top by slowly pouring it over the back of a bar spoon.

* This creamy cocktail goes great with the gingerbread cookies!

A Day On The Lake

Sure, it's only February but once the holidays are over, thoughts of winter melt to give way to thoughts of spring...and the NBA finals of course! Almost a sure thing to see in those coming months: bright colours, pretty dresses and an appearance in the playoffs by the dominating Los Angeles Lakers.

Wear the purple and yellow with pride in a tiered floral sundress. A polka-dotted yellow topper incorporates this year's biggest trend: mixing prints. Give the outfit some shape with a leather belt and offset the femininity of the look with a menswear-inspired bag and you've got yourself a Lakers-worthy look: all cheer and lots of dominance.

Kobe's tracksuit ain't got nothin' on this outfit!

The Running Of The Bulls

Walk into the boardroom and all eyes will be on you...in a good way. Just like all eyes are on Michael Jordan whenever he steps into any room. Well, maybe not exactly like that, but close.

It's the ultimate non-conventional power suit. A feminine maroon blouse tucked into a modern printed pencil skirt and reigned in up top by a structured blazer, perfectly pressed and snowy white.

Menswear details like Oxford peep-toe booties and cuff links (these ones have a menacing bull stamped on them, how perfect!) show you mean business. Just don't try running the business on the basketball court...you won't get very far in this outfit.

Go Bulls Go!

These two sure knew how to command the attention of thousands!

Celtic Woman

It's tough to pull off a green outfit without looking like a leprechaun...or worse, a barely-legal youngster heading out for her first St. Patrick's Day pubcrawl.

But wearing vibrant greens in the summer is always tempting, especially when those Boston Celtics consistently show up in the NBA Finals around June. A slightly darker, muted green stands out in a flowy blouse with a satin sheen. To offset the top's volume, wear khaki short-shorts (not too short!) and nude wedges.

A pair of finely twisted gold shamrock earrings scream Celtic pride without being over the top, and a bracelet in coral and onyx add a pop of contrast to the mostly neutral ensemble.
Warning: this colour combo looks dangerously good with a tan and will make you glow brighter than the gold on a championship ring.

Go Celtics Go!

Green and gold look so lovely together, don't they?

A Canadian In Paris

Black and white and red and stripes...there's something about that combination that is so Parisian. But of course, black and white and red are also the colours of Hockey Canada. So when IIHF World Juniors time comes around, I live in those colours.

A sailor-stripe sweater and cuffed boyfriend jeans scream leisure but are pulled together smartly by a tailored blazer and some killer red heels. And nothing says classy better than a quilted bag (Chanel label optional) and some big Jackie O sunglasses.

How can you not feel good in an outfit like this? Well...I guess you could not feel good after watching the Team Canada juniors blow a 3-0 lead to lose to Team Russia in the 2011 gold medal game...

Go Canada Go!

There are other ways to wear the maple leaf on your sweater without actually wearing the maple leaf on your sweater

Party In The USA

There's a Penguins game on the night of a cocktail party I've been invited to. And as much as I would like to throw on my Crosby jersey it's probably not the best idea in the world. So a classier outfit in coordinating colours will have to do.

The dress itself is extremely minimalist. Form-fitting and sleeveless, it's sexy but not obnoxious. The accessories can do the talking for this look, with an art deco cuff on one wrist, an Hermes clic-clac bracelet on the other, paired with a sleek watch, all in black and gold. Spice up the outfit with leopard heels and you're ready to party like you won a Stanley Cup.

Go Pens Go!

Old School, Prep School

Some fans aren't too keen on the retro Calgary Flames jerseys, with their bright whites and vivid oranges and yellows. Personally, I love them. They take me back to the Lanny MacDonald era. The Stanley Cup-winning area. So I have no qualms about sporting the retro colours on game days when the Flames are doing the same.

This outfit is easygoing but definately not sloppy. You can wear it on a summertime date, a casual work outing, to school, or even just out to run errands (though you might want to switch out the heels for some pretty flats for that one).

When wearing such loud colours you need to keep the accessories understated. This simple gold necklace packs a punch with a charm in the shape of a flame, along with a delicate cross.

Go Flames Go!




Nothing says retro like bright, clashing colours!