Spice Up Your Super Bowl Menu and Your Charitable Giving

Super Bowl Sunday means two things: lots of food and loads to drink.

The food can usually be counted on to include a variety of meats, with nary a vegetable in sight. From mini hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls, to chili and baby back ribs, it's a carnivore's delight. One that Bobby Flay—Food Network Throwdown with Bobby Flay host and restaurateur (Bar Americain and Mesa Grill in New York City are just two of the six he owns) — wouldn't miss.

His take on Southwestern fare is segueing into some spicy Cuban cooking in honor of Miami's Latin-inspired cuisine when the New Orleans Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

One of our favorites is Flay's Adobo-Seasoned Baked Chicken Wings which have enough of a bite to make you scream "touchdown!" but are tempered with an equal amount of subtle sweetness, courtesy of mango and honey.

Another super-eat for Superbowl XLIV, that Flay shared with Parade magazine, is his bite-sized, open-faced Cuban Sandwich Crostini, an elegant take on the classic Cubano.

But what would really make your Superbowl soiree extra-super is to turn it into a fundraising event for a local charity. That doesn't mean you have to put your guests on the spot for cash. Instead, ask them ahead of time to bring in that sweater that you know your stylish friend has worn once, and will only wear once, to donate. Or, along with the six-packs, see if they can't slip in a can or two of food that you can then drop off at a neighborhood City Harvest (or local church or soup kitchen). It doesn't take that much extra effort to make a Superbowl party a cause for celebrating a bit more than just football.

For the recipes mentioned above, click here.

Photo courtesy TheDeliciousLife@Flickr