Colorado 365 SuperBowl Snacks

As February 1 approaches, it's time to figure out your plan of attack for the big game. Head to a sports bar? Order a party tray? Both are excellent choices, indeed.

Pizza delivery is another time-tested option. But before you hand over your hard-earned dough to the pizza guy, you might just want to consider making your own. We've got all the information you need to be a master pizza chef, along with an equally easy recipe for nachos. (Try getting those delivered...)

Easy SuperBowl Pizza

12-inch prebaked pizza crusts (such as Boboli or Mama Mary's)
shredded mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese
toppings of your choice

Sauce:
29-ounce can tomato puree (look for a brand with no added salt)
6-ounce can tomato paste
4 teaspoons sugar
3 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper
4 teaspoons basil
4 teaspoons oregano

Preheat oven to 500°. If using a pizza stone, place it in the cold oven so that it will preheat as well.
Mix tomato puree and tomato paste together until the mixture is smooth. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Microwave the sauce for one minute on full power. Stir, then microwave for one more minute.
Spread 2 tablespoons of the sauce evenly over the prepared crust. Sprinkle cheese over the crust and add toppings. (Note: Any raw meat must be fully cooked before adding it to the pizza.) Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and starting to brown.

Notes:
This recipe will make plenty of sauce. Freeze the unused sauce in small portions and you'll be ready to make pizza any time.

For the best crust, a pizza stone is recommended. If you don't have a pizza stone, an inverted 12-inch cast-iron skillet works just as well. If you don't have a stone or a skillet, use a pizza pan or rimmed cookie sheet.

Don't substitute cayenne for the chipotle chile; the sauce will be too hot.

veg head pizza

VegHead Pizza

3 Roma tomatoes
8-ounce package baby spinach, shredded
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 jar of sliced mushrooms packed in water (6 or 8 ounces), drained
1 red onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
4-ounce package Feta cheese
12-inch prebaked pizza crust (such as Boboli or Mama Mary's)

Preheat oven to 500°. If using a pizza stone, place it in the cold oven so that it will preheat as well.
Cut the Roma tomatoes into 1/8-inch rounds. Place the tomatoes on the prepared crust in a single layer, and sprinkle with the kosher salt. (Note: This pizza does not use any sauce.)
Add the shredded spinach on top of the tomatoes, and then add the bell pepper, mushrooms and red onion.
Sprinkle with Feta cheese. (Note: Feta cheese does not melt.)
Place the pizza in the preheated oven and bake for 7 to 9 minutes. Pizza is done when the Feta cheese starts to brown.

nachos

Not-Your-Cheese Nachos

1 pound 80/20 ground beef
1/2 medium onion (white or yellow), diced
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 to 3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper
15-ounce jar salsa con queso
1 bag tortilla chips
4-ounce jar sliced jalapenos
1 tomato, diced
1 small red onion, diced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the chili powder, cumin, kosher salt and garlic powder in a small bowl and set it aside. Brown the meat, along with the white or yellow onion, and drain off the excess grease.

Add the spice mixture and 2 tablespoons of water to the browned meat and mix thoroughly. (The water will help distribute the spices.) Return the mixture to the heat and simmer until the water evaporates.

Spread the tortilla chips evenly in a single layer on a rimmed cookie sheet or shallow roasting pan. Pour cheese sauce over the chips and then add the meat. Sprinkle with the jalapenos, diced tomato, and red onion.

Bake for 15 minutes or until nachos are heated through.

Notes:
Use the amount of chipotle chile pepper that suits your heat preference. Do not substitute cayenne pepper, as cayenne is less forgiving.

Also, any extra meat makes a great pizza topping.

tortilla

Tortilla Pizzas

Here's a great, low-cost idea: Using tortillas as a base for pizza. They're inexpensive, and they give you a nice, thin crust. Plus, each person can make their own exactly the way they like it.

Follow the directions for the Easy Superbowl Pizza by substituting a tortilla for the prepared pizza crust. At 500 degrees, a tortilla pizza will bake in approximately 5 minutes.

A few caveats: If you use a lot of toppings, you will definitely need a pizza peel to help with getting the pizza in and out of the oven, and a pair of tongs might be helpful as well. And once you become known for your pizzas, your kitchen's bound to get a lot more crowded with friends and relatives clamoring for more.

SuperBowl XLIII

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