Seasonal Sundays (Week 7) Superbowl and Valentines

Just ahead, one day after the other, the Superbowl and Valentine's Day ... and wow, from chili to chocolate, do I ever have recipes to turn your occasions into real celebrations. You just might want to settle in ...
Seasonal Sundays ♥ KitchenParade.com, a seasonal collection of recipes and life ideas in and out of the kitchen.

Welcome to Seasonal Sundays ...

Whoever put himself (yes, him, am I right?) in charge of 2022's calendar sure jammed up the Superbowl next Sunday and Valentine's Day the day after. Okay, so be it. And on the plus side, at least Easter's not so early this year, that means it's not quite Mardi Gras season mixed up in it all quite yet.

So this week's recipes focus on these back-to-back occasions with markedly different food traditions. Soooo many good-food ideas, though! I hope you'll find much inspiration, how-ever / if-ever you're marking these days.


Enough. Whoah, so many of you reacted thoughtfully to last week's idea of choosing "Enough" as a guidepost for 2022. Interestingly, all but a few notes arrived later in the week vs right away: as if you were thinking it through, maybe trying the word on for size. I'm a month in, both remain true for me.


About the Photo By Popular Request, a Little Insight into the Top Image: Like a big portion of the country, Missouri got smacked with a big, wet storm this week, a day of rain/sleet/ice followed by about ten inches of snow, followed by brilliant but cold sunshine. It was a snow-day party begging to happen ... with a firepit aka hot chocolate pit stop midway on a long, curvy sled path from the top of the hill down to the creek. The funny thing, though? The biggest fun came just as everyone was leaving when the twin grandsons dug into the snowplow pile on the driveway, digging a tunnel right through its center. Twelve-year old boys ... they are the very very best.




PICK ONE

Pick One is for those of us overwhelmed by life's unending choices. If that resonates, then check out this one recipe and then call it a day. It's one that I think could make the most difference, the one I hope will become a regular in your kitchen, as it is in mine.

My Guacamole, the restaurant-style house recipe ♥ KitchenParade.com. Very Weight Watchers Friendly. Unusually Low Cal. Low Carb. Vegan. Gluten Free. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special.
  • THE RECIPE My Guacamole Restaurant-style guacamole, our house recipe.
  • WHY THIS, WHY NOW Is it even a party without cake guacamole?

Seasonal Showcase: TV-Friendly Snacks

Best Quick Tomato Salsa ♥ KitchenParade.com, 10 minutes start to chip. Budget Friendly. Low Carb. Vegan. Great for Meal Prep.

Roasted Eggplant Hummus ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, eggplant, chickpeas & Greek yogurt in an addictive, ultra smooth and creamy dip and spread. Low Carb. Weight Watchers friendly.

Herbed Goat Cheese, another Concept Recipe ♥ KitchenParade.com, just a creamy goat cheese base plus veggies and fresh herbs, perfect for impromptu entertaining. Great for Meal Prep.

Seasonal Showcase: Vegging Out with Veggies

Buffalo Chicken Dip ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, an easy-easy appetizer with a surprise ingredient, spaghetti squash. WW Friendly. Low Fat. Low Carb. High Protein.

Creamy Brussels Sprouts Gratin ♥ AVeggieVenture.com, first roasted, then braised in cream or half 'n' half, turned dark and luscious. My favorite way to cook Brussels sprouts during cold weather but also a Thanksgiving favorite! Low Carb. Rave reviews!

Hot Corn Dip, a super-fast, super-easy hot appetizer at ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Just five ingredients and ten minutes.

Seasonal Showcase: Football-Friendly Fare

Chocolate Chili ♥ KitchenParade.com, my oldest (and still best!) recipe for homemade chili with lots of spices and yes, cocoa powder. Weight Watchers Friendly. Whole30 Friendly. High Protein. Gluten Free.

At Last Black Bean Soup ♥ KitchenParade.com, Laurie Colwin's recipe, just dump in the ingredients and cook it on the stove, in the oven or in a slow cooker.

Chicken & Wild Rice Soup (Turkey & Wild Rice Soup) ♥ KitchenParade.com, hearty soup with wild rice and butternut squash.

Seasonal Showcase: Is It Even Chili If There's No Cornbread?

Skillet Cornbread ♥ KitchenParade.com, an adaptable, forgiving recipe. Rises Tall. Stays Moist. Not Too Sweet. Budget Friendly. Weeknight Easy, Weekend Special.
  • THE RECIPE Skillet Cornbread My first and still-favorite cornbread, stays moist for days.
  • ANOTHER TAKE Southern Corn Bread Plus six tips for perfect cornbread, your recipe, my recipe, any recipe.

Southern Corn Bread ♥ KitchenParade.com, my favorite simple southern-style savory cornbread. Plus six tips for perfect cornbread every time.

Sweet Potato Cornbread ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Gorgeous golden color from a pile of sweet potatoes. Naturally wheat-free, gluten-free, no unusual ingredients.

Seasonal Showcase: Game-Day Salads

Big Cajun Chopped Salad, another fresh, flexible & healthy salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Great with gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp creole, crawfish boils and more.

Pinto Bean Salad, another Fresh & Flexible Salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com. Quick to Make. Low Fat. Low Carb. Weight Watchers Friendly. Vegan. Gluten Free.

Best-Ever Macaroni Salad, the summer classic, just better ♥ KitchenParade.com. Great crunch, thanks to six different vegetables in a light and bright savory dressing. Budget Friendly. Potluck and Party Friendly. Weight Watchers Friendly.

Seasonal Showcase: Cookin' Up a Little Romance

Fast Roast Chicken ♥ KitchenParade.com, such a simple way to roast a chicken, fast, yielding a crispy salty skin and perfectly roasted meat.

Perfect Lamb Chops ♥ KitchenParade.com, how to cook lamb chops perfectly each and every time.
  • THE RECIPE Perfect Lamb Chops How to cook lamb chops perfectly each and every time.
  • ANOTHER TAKE Frozen Steaks Perfectly cooked steaks, starting with frozen meat!

Beef Bourguignon (French Beef Stew) ♥ KitchenParade.com. Three days of preparation, one magnificant feast.

Seasonal Showcase: Surprising Sides & Salads

Julia Child's Soubise (Onion & Rice Casserole) ♥ KitchenParade.com. Dreamy. Heavenly. Ethereal. Addictive. Yes, it's that good.

Roasted Pear Salad ♥ KitchenParade.com, pears roasted then steeped in a wine and butter sauce and served on salad greens with toasted goat cheese. An elegant salad worthy of a special occasion.

Winter Greens Salad with Oranges, Avocado, Olives, Feta & Orange-Cumin Vinaigrette, another simple seasonal salad ♥ AVeggieVenture.com

Seasonal Showcase: Raspberries!

Raspberry & Red Wine Granita ♥ KitchenParade.com, an icy-cold raspberry slushee for grown-ups. Just three ingredients, no ice cream maker, just a freezer and a fork.

Lemon Pudding Cake ♥ KitchenParade.com, the old-fashioned lemon dessert, lemon cake on top and lemon pudding on the bottom, now with raspberries or blueberries.

Red Wine Coulis ♥ KitchenParade.com, a sweet-but-tart raspberry sauce and a perfect added-touch for desserts, especially chocolate desserts. Just three ingredients!

Seasonal Showcase: Chocolate!

Chocolate Decadence Cake ♥ KitchenParade.com, the ultimate chocolate experience, a dense, moist and ultra-rich almost-flourless chocolate cake. Serve in small slivers!

Gourmet Chocolate Mocha Cookies ♥ KitchenParade.com, decadently chocolate-y, laced with espresso, almost like a brownie cookie or a fudge cookie. Wonderful with a glass of cold milk.

Easy-Easy Chocolate Coconut Pudding ♥ KitchenParade.com. Just five ingredients and ten minutes.

Don't Be a Stranger ...

I'd love to hear from you. Comment, send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com, dot-dash in Morse code, build a fire for smoke signals, launch a message in a bottle, send a Christmas letter, get the dog to yip, toss me a note wrapped in a rubberband, write a message in the sky, scratch a note in the sand, listen to a seashell, tuck a question into a plastic Easter egg, whatever.


Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

© Copyright Kitchen Parade
2022

Alanna Kellogg
Alanna Kellogg

A Veggie Venture is home of "veggie evangelist" Alanna Kellogg and the famous asparagus-to-zucchini Alphabet of Vegetables.

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