Buffalo Wing Popcorn with a Side of Superbowl Fun!

Let’s have some Superbowl fun! So your team didn’t make it to the Superbowl, or maybe you just find football sleep inducing (and you would rather be watching the Puppy Bowl or the Ghost Hunter’s Marathon) but you’re going to a Superbowl Party anyway. Or maybe your favorite team IS playing and you want to be involved, especially if the game gets a bit, ahem, ~~boring~~ lopsided as it sometimes does. Here is a fun way to keep the game interesting and lively, compliments of Bon Appetit (February, 2015), while you’re munching on all that great party food. Get out a piece of paper and place bets on the following (winner take all):

Superbowl Game

Difficulty: easy
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Length of National Anthem: Over/Under 2 min 30 secs
Will the first player to score have an odd or even jersey number? Even/Odd
Number of commercials where animals act like humans: Over/Under 6
Number of commercials where humans act like animals: Over/Under 2
Number of beer commercials: Over/Under 8
Number of soda commercials: Over/Under 6
Number of commercials starring a Manning: Over/Under 3
Number of tourchdown celebrations in which a player pretends to take a selfie: Over/Under 0.5
Will Katy Perry wear a wig? Yes/No
Will Al Michaels? Yes/No

Bon Appetit also introduced the glorious concept of Buffalo Wing Popcorn! This sounds like the perfect pre-game snack for someone like me who loves buffalo wings but no longer eats wings. I’ve always thought it’s really all about the sauce anyway. This version is spicy and caramely and incorporates Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce, which made it an instant winner in my book. Well it did not disappoint. When I tried my first couple of pieces I thought it was tasty but maybe not quite spicy enough, but after another handful I had beads of sweat on my forehead so I guess I underestimated the heat. If you like your food nuclear, add more cayenne. Otherwise, this is addicting.

For other Buffalo “Wing” recipes click on Buffalo Wings Two Ways (pictured below)with a traditional finger licking wing recipe using chicken (from when I used to eat chicken) and a yummy vegetarian version with cauliflower ‘wings’, paired with a homemade creamy bleu cheese dip.

Other than the great food, creative commercials, mostly involving beer or puppies (or both) who are you going to root for? My family and childhood friends are all fans of the Seahawks, sworn enemy of my team, the SF 49ers, and The Patriots are the chosen team for our friends at our home away from home in Maine. Wow! I think I’ll have to play the Bon Appetit Superbowl game…

TIPS: Pre-measure everything as caramel can be unforgiving if you find yourself not as organized as you would like. Otherwise this is really easy.

BUFFALO WING POPCORN

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
8 cups popped plain popcorn (from ½ cup kernels)
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup Frank’s Red Hot Original sauce
3 Tbsn unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 tsp salt
½tsp baking soda
¼ tsp cayenne pepper