Super Bowl Sunday Cocktails & Party Planning

This Sunday millions of Americans will be crowded in living rooms to watch the biggest football game of the year and those over-priced, well-produced ads that go with it. In preparation, here are some suggestions for planning your Super Bowl party.

Photo Credit: Shannon Graham

• Giants vs. Patriots Cocktail Menus - The way that this year's Super Bowl played out gave us fantastic cocktail options for both of the opposing teams. The menus include the New York Cocktail and the Boston Cocktail, two fun classics.
• Pour a Punch - Punches are ideal for game day because guests can come and go as they please. Some themed options include The Big Brew and this extremely potent Touchdown Tea, which should come with a warning label (think of a giant bowl of Long Island Iced Tea with Gatorade). For a warm option, the Hot Gold Apple Cider cannot be beat. Also, you can turn almost any of your favorite single-serve drinks into a punch, here's how.
• Non-alcoholic Options - Any good host will give their guest the option of drinks without the alcohol. It's a kind and responsible gesture that should not be overlooked.
• Get Bloody - I lamented on the beauty of pairing a Bloody Mary with football a couple of weeks ago and I continue to recommend it for this evening game. If you're looking to make a pitcher of Bloody Mary mix, check out this recipe from Organic Nation.
• Then, There's Beer - The Super Bowl without beer? I'm probably biased, so if you're looking for recommendations, check out what Bryce Eddings, About.com's Beer Guide, has to say about it.
• The Food - You will find endless suggestions for game day foods including those after the jump from my colleagues here on About.com. Other snacks I recommend include Lance Mayhew's Bourbon Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce, Chipotle Glazed Chicken Skewers, and Royal Hot Wings.
• For the Ride Home - Number one rule in hosting a party where people are drinking is ensuring that you do your best to ensure everyone has a safe ride home. Don't forget this important step and designate a driver to shuttle your guests or have the taxi service on speed dial.
• If That's Not Enough - You've browsed all of the above and still haven't found what you're looking for? Check these links out: Throw a Successful Super Bowl Party, A Super Bowl 2012 Party from Donna Pilato, About.com Entertaining Guide, and About.com Food Channel hub.

To go along with your drink menu, a few of the About.com Food Guides have chosen game day dishes in their cuisine's specialty for feeding the fans that come to watch the game:

From Baking - Carroll Pellegrinelli: Make it easier on yourself (or the hostess) by making desserts, and other sweet treats, that don't need a fork to eat them. These Chocolate Nut Bars are just one of the many treats found on this page of Fork-Free Desserts.

Appley Kielbasa

From Busy Cooks - Linda Larsen: Whether or not you're interested in football, you can throw a party on Super Bowl Sunday. My Super Bowl Snacks and Anti-Super Bowl Party Foods are all delicious, quick to make, and fun to eat. Hope your team wins!

From Eastern European Food - Barbara Rolek: American football and the Super Bowl or European soccer and the World Cup bring out the same 'need to feed' among rabid sports fans. One-pot dishes that can bubble away in a slow cooker unattended, or what I like to call casserolia, are perfect for noshing during the big game. Polish Hunter's Stew (bigos) -- a meat-eater's dream come true -- and Smoked Sausage and Sauerkraut can be prepared in advance and then slowly reheated when ready to serve. If you've got a crowd coming, the recipes can be easily doubled or tripled. Score!

From Kevin Weeks, Guide to Cooking for Two: This fall I've been working on recipes for traditional Superbowl foods like Buffalo Wings, Crab Dip, and Barbequed Ribs. You can find these and many more here:Superbowl 46 - Game Time Eats.

From Lisa and Tony Sierra - Guides to Spanish Food: The Spanish aren't counting the days to the Super Bowl, but it is a big day for appetizers in the US. So, it's the party atmosphere, and desire to graze is perfect for a tapas buffet. We have a list of easy-to-make Spanish tapas for a Super Bowl buffet - our Spanish pizza with chorizo sausage and Serrano ham toppings, easy bravas potatoes, pancetta-stuffed mushrooms, or pinchos morunos (spicy pork kabobs).

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