Chit-Chat: What's Your Favorite Game Day Food?

Plus, my three go-to party recipes

What are your favorite game day foods?

Few things excite me more than the prospect of a lazy football Sunday spent hanging out with friends and family. I love cooking for a crowd, rolling out different finger foods, hearty soups and snacks throughout the day.

Here are three of my go-tos: The Perfect Bloody Mary, Italian Wedding Soup (I love a meal in a bowl) & my Chamoy Chicken Wings. Recipes below.

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The Perfect Bloody Mary Recipe

This balanced bloody Mary sticks to the classic ingredients: tomato, horseradish, Tabasco, Worcestershire, celery, cumin and citrus. The lemon and lime really brighten it up, while the pepper, horseradish and hot sauce give it a fiery kick. Try making it with Clamato juice for an extra flavor boost. As with most bloody Mary’s, serve with appropriate accoutrements—olives, pickled veggies, cheese, extra hot sauce—so your fellow drinking partners can jazz up their cocktail (or mocktail) as they please. I drink virgin Mary’s, but if you’re mixing with vodka, use about 2 ounces per glass.

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Ingredients

• 32 ounces tomato juice (or try using Clamato juice, my favorite)

• Juice of 1/2 lemon

• Juice of 1/2 lime

• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon tabasco

• 1 tablespoon horseradish

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 teaspoon ground caraway seed

• 1/2 tablespoon dry oregano

• 1/2 tablespoon ground celery seed

• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• Ice

• 8 ounces vodka (optional)

Instructions

Servings: Makes about 4 drinks

In a large pitcher, whisk all ingredients except the ice and vodka (if using) together to combine. Make the mix a few hours before serving, and chill, allowing the flavors to meld.

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Italian Wedding Soup

This Italian-American-ish soup is pure comfort in a bowl. While there are endless variations to this recipe, I prefer to make my meatballs with ground dark meat chicken, Italian sausage and my Badia Italian Seasoning for an extra flavor boost. I think escarole adds a nice bitterness and holds up better than spinach in the soup over time.

Ingredients

The Meatballs

• 6 ounces bulk Italian sausage

• 8 ounces boneless chicken thigh, diced and pulsed in food processor