*This post is sponsored by Hormel. I received free product to facilitate my post. All opinions are my own.
With Superbowl Sunday right around the corner, now is the time to start prepping for game day! Leigh Anne Tuohy, (the real-life mom and inspiration behind The Blind Side) has some great tips and recipes to make your next party or get-together special.
My number one party-throwing tip is to keep it simple! Good friends aren’t looking for something elaborate, and no one will be wearing their white gloves. Be warm and friendly, have a home that people feel comfortable in (it’s a home, not a museum!), and make feel-good food.
Leigh Anne knows a thing or two about getting together for football! she tailgates at nearly every Ole Miss home game, attends almost all Baltimore Ravens home games (to support her son, offensive tackle Michael Oher), and she hosts parties to watch the Big Game with friends and family most years (when they’re not attending the game in person!). She’s developed some great entertaining tips to help make your next pigskin party a success.
Here are Leigh Anne’s top five party-hosting tips!
1. Always smile.
Don’t let you guests know you are stressed – bring a smile and remember it’s not what you do for someone, it’s what they think you do for them!
2. Delegate!
People are always asking how they can help, so give everyone something to do. Even if it is something as simple as pouring the wine or putting napkins on the table, it’s one less thing for you to worry about.
3. Tailgating means potluck in the south.
Let everyone brings something – but have some guidelines. (Maybe have a theme to your party.) It gives people the opportunity to be creative and it lightens the load on you!
4. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
My mother always taught me if you have friends, great lighting, and good music then you have a party. Use old Christmas tree lights for lighting, plug in your IPhone for instant music, and use cut flowers from your backyard for decoration. You will be amazed how pretty it looks and how simple it can be.
5. Plan ahead.
Do what you can the night before. Have everything in containers and ready to go – you may not always have much time to prepare before a game, and you want to enjoy as much time as you can with friends and family!
Any party wouldn’t be complete without some great food!
This tasty sandwich features HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Cooked Deli Ham and a dijon-poppy seed spread. I love that they are served on dinner rolls – making them the perfect party-sized snack.
Melted cheese, CHI-CHI’S® salsa, and HORMEL® chili mixed with Little Sizzlers® Sausage and cream cheese make this the ultimate guilty-pleasure dip. (Forget chips….give me a spoon!)
French bread stuffed with HORMEL® CURE 81® Diced Ham, cheese, sour cream, green onions and CHI-CHI’S® Diced Green Chilies? Yes please! (And can it be “game day” every day?)
Find more great game day recipes at Hormel Foods Recipes.
