How to Plan a Super Bowl Party

If you don't have Super Bowl tickets, what's the next best thing? A Super Bowl party! Invite your friends and family over to watch the game and make your Super Bowl bash a day to remember. Here's how.

Things You'll Need

• Utensils
• Paper or plastic plates
• Invitations and decorations
• Ice
• Buffet food and beverages
• Napkins

Instructions

1. Send out invitations or make calls to invite your guests. Do it early rather than late so that everyone can plan to attend your party. Keep track of the number who RSVP yes.

2. Decide on a menu-go for easy-to-prepare snacks that don't require spending all day in the kitchen. See the Tips section for ideas.

3. Plan a football theme for decorations. It's easy to make decorations in team colors with construction paper and other inexpensive materials.

4. Make a shopping list and buy everything that won't spoil several days in advance. As well as food and beverages, include things like extra ice for drinks, napkins and disposable serving dishes.

5. Do as much food preparation as possible one or two days before the party. If you're serving buffalo wings and other hot foods, pre-cook the day before then reheat. Try to keep your food preparation on the day to a minimum so you can enjoy the party, too.

6. Clean your house the day before the party.

7. Decorate on the morning of the party. If you don't have a monster-size TV screen, gather all the TV sets you own (consider borrowing a couple if you only own one) and arrange them in the party room. Create two or three clusters of seats so that your guests will all have a good view of the game.

8. Finish up any last-minute food preparation before your guests arrive. If you're serving hot foods, get everything ready so you can pop food in the oven when it's time.

9. Set up your buffet table and drinks bar and pack bottled drinks in plenty of ice--and have more ice on hand.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve buffet-style foods-buffalo wings, pizza, pretzels, chips and a selection of dips, bread and sandwich ingredients, cold cuts, chili, salsa, potato salad, coleslaw and so on. Don't forget dessert-brownies are a great option. If you're feeling ambitious, you could bake a football-shaped cake.

• Provide plenty of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

• Have paper towels, napkins, and an all-purpose cleaner on hand for spills.