Well, another season and the Chicago Bears let me down — they just needed to win one of their last two games. No playoffs this year. Frustrating.
On the bright side, my husband’s team is headed to the Super Bowl. The Seattle Seahawks have had a strong season, playing tough, physical football — the kind I love to watch.
We’ll be rooting for the Hawks in our house. It’s their turn, and they deserve it. I’m a fan of the underdog and of fair play. I hope the game is called rightly and that the focus stays on the team effort and the fans who make the sport meaningful. GO HAWKS!
More than anything, the Super Bowl should celebrate the sport, the players, and the fans. The camaraderie, trash talk, and shared tradition of rooting for your team are what make game day special.
I don’t mean to offend anyone for cheering for the other side — all teams, players, and fans deserve respect. I want the Super Bowl to be fun, fair, and safe for everyone. Now… play ball!
This Super Bowl will fire up some serious appetites. High-energy cheering, nail-biting moments, and even dancing during the commercials burn calories — so you’ll want crowd-pleasing food that holds up through the excitement.
My husband will be famished, and so will most fans, so plan for bold, satisfying dishes. These garlic-toasted buffalo wing hoagies are meaty, cheesy, and indulgent — perfect for game day. They’re also easier and less messy than traditional wings, and you can scale them into sliders or even a giant sub if you’re feeding a crowd.
Make a long submarine to slice into 2–3 inch portions for big gatherings. And if you prefer smaller bites, assemble them on slider rolls. Either way, these sandwiches will satisfy even the rowdiest appetites and leave everyone cheering.
Enjoy the game, the commercials, and the halftime show — but don’t forget the food. Have a great Super Bowl party!
GARLIC-TOASTED BUFFALO WING HOAGIES
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 (20 oz.) bag Southwestern-seasoned chicken breast strips, or 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts seasoned (salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder), grilled and sliced; or shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1 Tbsp Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce
- 2 tsp sriracha hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 4 hoagie rolls, split lengthwise
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
- 2 Tbsp minced fresh garlic (jarred garlic can be used)
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 8 slices muenster cheese (or havarti, provolone, co-jack, pepper-jack, fontina, white cheddar, or mozzarella)
- 4 cups finely shredded lettuce
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped celery
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 12 thin slices roma tomatoes
- 8 Tbsp thick, chunky blue cheese dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 4 tsp crumbled blue cheese, optional
Directions
1. Prepare the chicken: In a frying pan combine the chicken strips, 1/2 cup hot sauce, 4 Tbsp butter, barbecue sauce, sriracha, and chili powder. Warm over low heat until the mixture is hot and simmering, stirring occasionally.
2. Toast the rolls: Split the hoagie rolls. In a small bowl mix the softened butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley. Spread this garlic butter on the cut sides of the rolls. Place the open-faced rolls on a baking sheet and broil until lightly toasted, or bake at 400°F for about 4 minutes.
3. Assemble and melt cheese: Pile the hot chicken mixture onto the bottom halves of the toasted rolls. Top each portion with two slices of muenster cheese. Return the assembled bottoms to the oven for 2 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
4. Finish and serve: Toss the shredded lettuce with the chopped celery, a pinch of salt, and cracked black pepper. Top each cheesy chicken portion with the lettuce mixture, add three tomato slices, and drizzle 2 Tbsp blue cheese dressing on each sandwich. Sprinkle crumbled blue cheese if desired. Cap with the top halves of the toasted rolls and cut on the bias. Makes four hoagies.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken works well — just shred or cut the meat into pieces. Leftover roasted or grilled chicken is also fine.
- To make sliders, use dinner rolls or Hawaiian slider rolls.
- If you prefer, substitute ranch dressing for blue cheese.