Can’t afford Barry Sanders? Then try this to spice up your Super Bowl party

Image via Wikipedia

With Super Bowl XLIV just a few days away I’ve been trying to think of things to do to spice up my game experience. This will be the first time in years that my fraternity brothers and I didn’t all get together for the big game, nor will I be making my famous Super Bowl braised short ribs.

As I was racking my brain with ideas of what to do I saw that Barry Sanders was auctioning himself off to join you at your Super Bowl party, plus he’d bring the food and drinks!

At the time of this post the pleasure of Barry’s company was going to run me a little more than fourteen large. With a baby on the way and a toddler that needs a big boy bed, the discretionary income just isn’t there for something like that.

Instead, I’ll be spicing up my game time snacks with a little help from the California Raisins.

The other day I received a gift box filled with everything I needed to make the California Raisins Five-Spice Popcorn Mix, which was being offered as a healthy alternative to standard party fare. Yesterday my wife was off from work, so while our little man napped we took the opportunity to catch up on our very full DVR and test out the recipe.

Not only was it very easy to make, but it was a nice departure from plain old popcorn. The different spices were nice and the raisins provided a good balance of sweet against the more savory ingredients.

The thing I liked the most about it is that it would have been easy for me to replicate because even though I was sent everything I needed to make the popcorn mix, I already had all buttwo ingredients on hand in then pantry – clearly my Penzeys addiction became more apparent.

It certainly wasn’t a combination I would have come up with on my own, but now that I’ve tried it I will certainly be testing out a few different variations. If you are looking for something different, and better for you, at your Super Bowl party, then give this a try.

California Raisins Five-Spice Popcorn Snack Mix

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 3 to 5 minutes
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1 bag (97% fat-free) microwave popcorn, popped
1/4 cup sesame sticks
1/2 teaspoons each: garlic and onion powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried cilantro leaves
1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder
1/2 cup crispy chow mein noodles
Olive oil cooking spray
1 cup California raisins

Directions

Stir together all ingredients except raisins in a large bowl. Spray mixture liberally with cooking spray and toss with your hands, repeating until popcorn is well coated with spices; stir in raisins.

Nutritional information (per serving)

Calories: 190, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 200mg, Potassium: 237mg, Carbohydrates: 37g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 19g, Protein: 2g, Vitamin A: 2%, Vitamin C: 2%, Calcium: 4%, Iron: 8%, 23.6% calories from fat

Why California Raisins are a wise choice for game day snacking:

• Just 1/4 cup of raisins equals a service of fruit for adults
• California Raisins are fat and cholesterol free
• Raisins deliver important health components, such as fiber, potassium and antioxidants