Football Food Hearty Snacks Satisfy Armchair Quarterbacks’ Big Appetites

You don’t have to be on the field, playing the game, to work up a big appetite during football season. Armchair quarterbacks need lots of hearty snacks.

The following recipes from the American Dairy Association for big bites and queso fundido can be prepared in advance of the kickoff. Big bites are made with potato salad rolled up in a slice of ham or turkey. Queso fundido, with cheese, sausage, onion and tomato, can be served as a hot dip or spooned into warm soft flour tortillas.

Big Bites

12 ounces red potatoes, peeled, cooked and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese

1/3 cup chopped red pepper

1/3 cup chopped green pepper

1 cup mayonnaise or light mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

24 slices baked ham or turkey

Finely chopped parsley

Combine potatoes, cheese and peppers in medium bowl; stir in mayonnaise, salt and cayennne pepper.

Spoon 2 generous tablespoons of potato salad onto each ham or turkey slice. Roll into a funnel shape; sprinkle exposed salad with parsley.

Refrigerate if not serving immediately. The flavor of the cheese in the potato salad is best when eaten at room temperature, so remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes in advance of serving time.

Yield: 2 dozen.

Queso Fundido

2 green onions with tops, sliced

4 large cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter

1 pound pepper-jack cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 to 4 tablespoons milk, as needed

8 ounces chorizo (spicy Mexican sausage), casing removed, cooked until browned, drained and crumbled (see note)

2 tablespoons chopped tomato

2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

16 flour tortillas, warm (for wraps)

Chopped or sliced fresh vegetables and tortilla chips (for dipping)

Saute onions and garlic in butter in medium saucepan until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add cheese; cook, covered, over medium to medium-low heat until cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in milk if mixture is too thick.

Spoon cheese mixture into bowl or small chafing dish; sprinkle with sausage, tomato and cilantro. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the mixture on each tortilla and roll up for wraps.

This can also be served as a dip with tortilla chips or cut vegetables. It may be necessary to add more milk to the mixture to thin it for dipping.

Yield: 8 servings.

Note: Browned ground beef, seasoned to taste with taco seasoning, can be substituted for the sausage.