SUPERBOWL PARTY MENU ON A BUDGET

I am actually using up things I have stocked in the freezer either left over from the holidays or that I got almost free double couponing.  It makes an awesome party menu - lesson learned here - any party menu or holiday meal - check your pantry and freezer first to see what party items can be made from items you already own!

Items I had languishing in my freezer and pantry -

a roll of hot and spicy breakfast sausage (purchased for 50 cents from coupon/sale)

a pack of Lil Smokie cocktail sausages (free from double coupon/sale before the holidays)

a frozen pack of chicken breast (I bought extra when the grocery store put them on sale for $5 for a nice sized bag)

a half pack of frozen meatballs I have yet to use up

a box of Bisquick I got for free

an extra jar of Welch's grape jelly I got for .50 cents while double couponing

an extra jar of Heinz chili sauce I had from before the holidays

an extra bag of chocolate chips I got before the holidays on sale

an extra jar of pickles I got while couponing

The party menu I came up with - 

BUDGET FOOTBALL PARTY MENU

CROCKPOT COCKTAIL SAUSAGES & MEATBALLS 

BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS

SAUSAGE CHEESE BALLS WITH  DIP

DILL PICKLE DIP WITH VEGGIES/CHIPS

CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

RECIPES -

COCKTAIL SAUSAGES/MEATBALLS

(12 ounce) bottle chili sauce

1 cup grape jelly

Little Smokies sausage and/or frozen meatballs

Mix all ingredients.  Cook in crockpot for one hour or on stove top for 30 minutes.

BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS

4 (4 ounce) chicken breast halves

1/4 cup hot sauce

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 tablespoon stick margarine, melted

1 teaspoon celery seed

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing

package of Kings Hawaiian rolls

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray skillet with cooking spray. Add chicken and cook 4 minutes each side until browned.  Place chicken in an 11 x 7 baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Combine hot sauce and next 4 ingredients. Pour over chicken and bake uncovered for 25 minutes.  Cut into slider portion sections and serve on rolls with ranch or blue cheese dressing.

SAUSAGE CHEESE BALLS

1 pound spicy pork sausage

10 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated

3 cups bisquick

salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the sausage, cheese and baking mix and beat on low speed until blended. Add pepper to taste. Shape the mixture into 1-inch balls and place them 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookies sheet. Bake until browned, about 20 minutes.  Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with salt and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.  Serve with bbq sauce or additional sauce from meatball recipe above.

DILL PICKLE DIP

8 ounces light cream cheese

2 dill pickles, finely chopped

2 tablespoons onions, finely chopped

2 tablespoons pickle juice (or more)

1 dash salt

1 teaspoon dried dill weed

Mix all ingredients well,and chill for one hour to allow all flavors to blend.  Serving suggestions - ruffled potato chips, celery and carrot sticks,

BISQUICK CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

2 1/2 cups Bisquick baking mix

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients except chips.  Spread in a 13 x 9-inch pan, greased and floured.  Sprinkle chocolate chips over top.  Bake 25-30 minutes at 350° (will look bubbly and light in the center).