The 2010 Winter Olympics are about to get underway in Vancouver, British Columbia. Can you hear the trumpets? Dah DAH da da da DAH, da da dum da da DUM… Get used to it, you’ll likely be hearing that Olympic anthem a lot during the next couple weeks. (And hopefully, our national anthem.)
Are you ready for the speed and grace of downhill skiing, the thrill of the ski jump, and the excitement of ice hockey? There’s the beauty of figure skating and ice dancing, and of course, everyone’s favorite sport with brooms, curling. All in living color and most of it LIVE in prime time on NBC.
It’s another excuse to party!
Perhaps you’re planning to have friends over for one of the big viewing nights, so naturally your thoughts turn to…food. What to serve at a Winter Games watch party?
Well, that’s what we’re here for, so we’ve put together a suggested menu of hearty fare suitable for a cold night’s viewing of hot action from north of the border.
For our Gold Medal main attraction we suggest Panini sandwiches stacked high meats, cheeses and veggies. Put the Panini press in the TV room, if possible, and let the partygoers grill the premade sandwiches themselves, selecting from condiments and toppings of their own choosing.
(If you don’t have a panini press, a George Foreman grill works great, too. Or, you can use a cast iron skillet and another heavy pan or skillet to place on top of the sandwich.)
We have recipe suggestions for three different panini’s: an Italian with prosciutto, salami, roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese; a “Honey Ham & Cheddar panini”:http://foodchannel.com/recipes/2267-honey-ham-and-cheddar-panini; and a Bistro Parmesan Peppercorn Roast Beef Panini.
Soup for the Olympic soul
A robust, nourishing soup is always a crowd pleaser, and this Potato & Celery Chowder will be gone faster than you can chant U-S-A, U-S-A! It’s thick and rich and loaded with hearty chunks of potato.
And for dessert…
The snowy mountain scenery of the Alpine Ski Events can take your breath away, and our Alpine Apple Snow topping will remind you of a snowy downhill run. It makes a wonderful topping for our suggested dessert, Oatmeal Apple Squares. Full of good things like oatmeal, apples and cinnamon, it’s a sweet and fitting dish to enjoy while admiring the athletic skills of the amazing Olympians.
So, pass the panini press, bring on Bob Costas, and let the games begin!
