This weekend is the Superbowl. I don’t watch much football. I tend to watch true crime or history documentaries. Sure, the Super Bowl is consistently the most-watched event on TV every year. But in a country with 331 million citizens, more than twice as many people DO NOT watch the Super Bowl than do. So, if you’re in the majority of people—that is, those who will NOT watch Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers—this article is for you.
What I will watch is the Puppy Bowl XXI(21). Will Team Ruff or Team Fluff win the Lombarky trophy? You can watch this feel-good sports competition on Sunday, February 9th at 2P ET on Animal Planet. For this year’s Puppy Bowl XXI, there are more adoptable puppy players than ever, with a record 142 puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states and two countries, according to a release from Animal Planet, which will host the event on Feb. 9. A full gallery of all the cute competitors is available on puppybowl.com. The Puppy Bowl uses about 15 pounds of dry dog food during filming. About 80 ounces of peanut butter is smeared around camera lenses to encourage the puppies to lick them. The Puppy Bowl uses about 500 dog treats during filming. The Puppy Bowl uses a variety of toys, often switching them out every 20 minutes. Toys that make loud noises or are sausage-shaped tend to get the most attention.
Betsy wants to watch the Kitty Halftime show. This year’s halftime show has a Las Vegas themed casino floor, kitten stunt show, and a special musical Purr-formance from Purr-sher.
Just because you are not watching the football game doesn’t mean you don’t need snacks. Any binge watcher knows you need fuel to keep your attention on the show. I like dips and foods I don’t have to cook or heat up before eating. Keeping something warm in the crockpot is ideal for a long binge-watching session or a football game. I like this hotdog fondue recipe. You can use little smokies but I prefer hot dogs cut into bite size pieces. My sister-in-law gave me this recipe and it uses apple jelly which is hard to find sometimes, but apricot works in a pinch. The other recipe is for a hearty 7-layer taco dip that is addictive. Betsy and I hope you enjoy your weekend and that you eat well!
Hot Dog Fondue
Ingredients
2 pounds hot dogs cut into 1-inch pieces
2 (18 ounce) jar apple jelly
1 (8 ounce) jar prepared yellow mustard
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
Directions
Place the wieners in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, combine the grape jelly, mustard, and brown sugar and cider vinegar. Mix well and pour over the wieners. Cook on low setting for at least 1 hour before serving. The longer they cook the better they are. The also reheat well.
7 Layer Taco Dip
Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) jar salsa
1 large tomato, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch chopped green onions
1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
Directions
Gather all ingredients. Blend refried beans and taco seasoning in a medium bowl; spread mixture onto a large serving platter. Mix sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl; spread over refried beans. Top with salsa. Layer tomato, bell pepper, green onions, and lettuce over top. Sprinkle over Cheddar cheese and garnish with black olives. Serve with corn chips and tortilla scoops.