How to score with a gluten-free Super Bowl menu

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl.  I don't really care who is playing since the Packers aren't in it but I will put on my game face and cheer for the Patriots instead.  Or maybe I'll cheer for the Giants.  Or maybe I'll cheer for the cute little dogs in the puppy bowl.  I'm not really sure but I do know that tomorrow will revolve around food.

Super Bowl food typically falls under the heading of "dude food".  You've got your typical game day categories of:

Beer (not gluten free)
Sandwiches (not gluten free)
Salty stuff (could be gluten free)
Stuff to dip (veggies, wings, chips - this is a workable category)
Sweets (thankfully chocolate is GF!)

This will be my first Super Bowl where I won't pop open a cold bottle of beer, grab a piece of pizza or slab of a hoagie and quietly fall into a carb coma on the couch.   This is the first year that I'm trying to be wheat-free (which essentially means gluten free).  I'm a little worried but, heck, I made it through the trifecta of Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year so I think with a little advance planning this is workable.

Here is my menu for tomorrow and it had to not only satisfy my needs but allow the others in the room to feel like they had their Super Bowl "dude food".

No Beer - Although my friend Bud Miller is not invited, I have my buddies Jose and Jack planning to attend, so I think the beverages are covered.

No Bread - There is actually a lot I can do without bread that has wheat but instead of sandwiches or pizza, this year we're going South of the Border thanks to Roma suggesting it.

Nacho bar ingredients: 

• Fritos Scoops corn chips (for nachos) or Corn tortillas (for tacos)/can also be made into quesadillas
• Shredded chicken with GF mole sauce
• Black Beans 
• Guacamole
• Pace Picante sauce
• Shredded cheese
• Chopped lettuce, cilantro, green onions, and tomato
• Plain Greek Yogurt (instead of sour cream) 

Salty stuff:

• To keep my family happy standard wheat thins will make an appearance
• Glutino pretzel rings 
• Nut Thins
• Popcorn
• Potato chips
• Corn chips (Scoops) 
• Olives - green and kalamata

Healthy stuff (I'm a mom....I am contractually obligated to have something healthy available)

• Carrots 
• Apple slices 

Stuff to dip: 

For me it's just not a football game without Buffalo Wings.  This year I'm making my own boneless chicken tenders with corn meal and crushed GF corn Chex cereal so that I can avoid the wheat belly problem.  I'll let you know how this little experiment turns out later in the week.  

And finally, no TV watching event is "official" in our house without a cheese plate.  I'm not even sure how this tradition started but it's now one that we never miss.   

To cap if off we have chocolate.  Lots and lots of chocolate.  

So there you have it...my plan to avoid succumbing to the typical wheat-heavy Super Bowl food that is traditional.  As long as the Anthem singer doesn't forget the words and the Half Time Show doesn't suck, I'll be very happy tomorrow.  

Go Packers!  (maybe next year)