Why This Year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Is Going to Be Extremely Political

The secret to a quick and easy Super Bowl spread? A rotisserie chicken and a bottle of Frank’s RedHot Wing Sauce.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Ingredients:

– 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

– 1/2 cup Frank's RedHot Wing Sauce

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and the wing sauce. Mix.

Super simple, right? Now let's make some Super Bowl appetizers!

We’re taking it back old school (aka 2012) with this one. You’ll be turning out a dozen petite pizza pies in no time, and your friends will thank you.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza Ingredients:

– 14 ounce package store-bought pizza dough, at room temperature

– 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

– 1/2 cup Frank's RedHot Wing Sauce

– 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and spray a muffin pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and the wing sauce. Mix.

2. Using a rolling pin, roll the pizza dough out into a thin layer. Using either a round cookie cutter or a round glass, cut out circles of dough. Press the dough into the muffin cups.

3. Put a handful of grated cheddar in each muffin tin. Top with 1-2 tablespoons of shredded buffalo chicken and more cheddar cheese.

4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and spray a muffin pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and the wing sauce. Mix. Using a rolling pin, roll the pizza dough out into a thin layer.

Using either a round cookie cutter or a round glass, cut out circles of dough. Press the dough into the muffin cups.

Now it’s time to assemble these pizzas! Put a handful of grated cheddar in each muffin tin. Top with 1-2 tablespoons of shredded buffalo chicken and more cheddar cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

Best. Snack. Ever.

Who doesn’t love taquitos? No one. The answer is no one.

Buffalo Chicken Taquito Ingredients:

– 8 flour tortillas, soft taco size

– 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

– 1/2 cup Frank's RedHot Wing Sauce

– 1 cup monterey jack cheese, grated

– olive oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 4oo degrees. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and the wing sauce. Mix.

2. Put 1-2 tablespoons of shredded chicken on each tortilla. Top with a handful of monterey jack cheese. Roll 'em up!

3. Place taquitos seam side down on a baking sheet. Brush each taquito with olive oil.

4. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cut in half. Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 4oo degrees. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and the wing sauce. Mix. Put 1-2 tablespoons of shredded chicken on each tortilla. Top with a handful of monterey jack cheese. Roll 'em up!

Place taquitos seam side down on a baking sheet. Brush each taquito with olive oil.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cut your taquitos in half, and serve them up with some ranch dressing and hot sauce.

Go mini for the big game with sliders! Oh, and pretzel buns? So. Freaking. Good.

Buffalo Chicken Slider Ingredients:

– Mini pretzel buns

– 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken

– 1/2 cup Frank's RedHot Wing Sauce

– 1 cup blue cheese, crumbled

– ranch dressing

– lettuce

– tomatoes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and the wing sauce. Mix.

2. Cut the pretzel buns in half. Place the bottom half of each bun on a baking sheet. Top with shredded chicken and blue cheese.

3. Bake for 5-6 minutes, until cheese melts.

4. Spread ranch dressing on the top half of each bun. Finish off each slider with lettuce, tomato, and the top bun. Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and the wing sauce. Mix. Cut the pretzel buns in half. Place the bottom half of each bun on a baking sheet. Top with shredded chicken and blue cheese.

Bake for 5-6 minutes, until cheese melts. Spread ranch dressing on the top half of each bun. Finish off each slider with lettuce, tomato, and the top bun.

NOM.

Let’s plate up these appetizers!

Serve them alongside some carrots, celery, and ranch dressing. Oh, and a few pints of beer. Don’t forget the beer.

Now THAT’S a party platter. Go team!

Elote

You can't go wrong with this Mexican street food recipe: corn on the cob covered in cotija cheese, garlic, mayo, cilantro, and a big ol' squeeze of lime. (via Brit + Co.)

Jalapeño Poppers

Who can resist jalapeños stuffed with bacon, cheddar, *and* cream cheese on game day? (via Salt & Lavender)

Everything Ranch Cheese Pretzel Snack Mix

Upgrade your Chex mix big time with this easy snack recipe made with pretzels, Cheez-Its (or Goldfish... or both), everything bagel mix, and ranch seasoning. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Chicken + Waffle Skewers

Chicken and waffles can be enjoyed in a stadium parking lot by skewering the two on a stick. Make each bite spicy by using this Korean fried chicken recipe! (via The Hopeless Housewife)

Turkey + Pepper Jack Roll-Ups

Prep these guys before the game. Use crescent roll dough to wrap turkey and spicy pepper jack cheese into a no-fuss bite. (via Amanda's Cookin')

Potato Tacos

Here's a recipe for more of a morning tailgate. When the game is early, whip up some breakfast potatoes on the grill, then taco them up in a tortilla and fresh avocado. (via Serenity in the Storm)

Grilled Cornbread with Jalapeño Honey Butter

This cornbread makes for an excellent side dish to tailgate chili or dip! (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Sweet Potato Chips + Blue Cheese Dip

What could get better than this? Sweet potatoes, smokey, crispy bacon and tangy blue cheese combine together to master tailgate perfection! (via Cooking for Keeps)

Mini Buffalo Chicken Pies

If there's one food that's a staple of football season, it's buffalo chicken. Stuff it inside sweet pancake batter and bake in a muffin-sized tin for a perfectly balanced bite. (via Betty Crocker)

Mini Twice-Baked Potatoes

Potato skins turn bite-sized with this yummy tailgate food recipe that uses baby potatoes, sour cream, cheddar, bacon, and scallions. (via Culinary Hill)

Mini Chili Cheese Dogs

The tailgate smorgasbord is robust, so you don't want to get full on just one dish. Cut this chili dog recipe into bite-size pieces so you can eat your dog and keep going with the rest of the fare, too. (via She Knows)

Cheese Cajun Chicken + Sausage Dip

Your tailgate pals won't be able to get enough of this cheesy, spicy, Cajun-inspired dip. Pair with some beer, and you're golden. (via Pink Owl Kitchen)

Southern Cheese Fries

These fries are *so* good, you'll want to sneak them into the stadium with you. Crinkle-cut fries (the best type of fries) are topped with the south's finest lineup — pulled pork, BBQ sauce, and a homemade pimento cheese sauce. (via Spicy Southern Kitchen)

Buffalo Chicken Cheddar Broccoli Bites

Told ya buffalo chicken was a tailgate staple! It's even found its way into these healthy broccoli and cheddar white rice puffs. Be sure to serve them with the delicious avocado dipping sauce! (via Running to the Kitchen)

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

This one is an instant crowd-pleaser. Just make a pie or two of the spicy and cheesy combo, and be prepped to feed the whole tailgate team! (via Well Plated)

Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs

Classic deviled eggs get a little something *extra* when pimento cheese is added to the filling. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Cookie Dough Dip

Even the sweet stuff can get in on the tailgate food fun, especially when you transform this cookie dough dip into a sprinkle-coated football shape. Spread it on apple slices or pretzels to satisfy your sweet tooth before the game! (via Erica's Sweet Tooth)

Football-Themed Pastry Sliders

Give your standard burgers a finger food spin by putting them between football-shaped puff pastry buns. Use cookie cutters to form your burger, cheese, and other toppings to match. (via Pizzazzerie)

Buffalo Chicken Dip Bites

Since you're tailgating in a parking lot, you won't have room for bowls of dip. Solve the problem by spooning hot buffalo dip into pastry cups, with a dollop of sour cream and chives on top. (via A Classic Twist)

Potato Chip Cups

Make these potato chip cups by using a muffin tin to shape strips of thinly sliced fresh potato. After they've baked and cooled, fill them with guac, salsa, or whatever your heart desires! (via Yummily Yours)

Loaded BBQ Chicken Nachos

These topped nachos are hearty enough to feed a tailgate crowd – bring on the cheese! (via Averie Cooks)

Pull-Apart Pretzel + Beer Cheese Dip

What's better than homemade soft pretzels? Pretzels that you can make in a skillet while simultaneously making the beer cheese dip to go with them. (via Host the Toast)

Brown Butter Turtle Brownies

Brown butter and homemade caramel make these blondies extra rich and delicious. (via Barley & Sage)

Mac n' Cheese-Stuffed Zucchini

It's cheesy and it's veggie loaded. Mac n' cheese is sandwiched between two slices of zucchini, then breaded and baked to tailgate food perfection. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Focaccia Pizza

These pizza triangles, made on herby and thick focaccia bread, can be easily made in the oven or grill depending on where you tailgate. (via Just a Taste)

Crispy Chickpeas

A little sweet, a little spicy, these crispy chickpeas can be eaten by the handful. (via Most Hungry)

Bacon Hot Dog Snack for Tailgating

As football season wears on, you'll grow tired of your standard hot dog. Call an audible and switch things up with this bacon and onion-topped dog. (via Creole Contessa)

Chipotle Cheddar + Corn Fritter Burgers

Here's your burger game plan: make a chipotle-spiced patty, smother it in fresh cheddar cheese, and top it with sweet corn fritters and guacamole for game time success. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Garlic Parmesan Ranch Pretzels

You'll need all the energy you can get cheering on your team this season. Carb-load with these flavor-bursting pretzel bites! (via Life's Ambrosia)

Football Whoopie Pies

Save room for dessert! You won't want to miss out on these football-shaped chocolate-filled whoopie pies. (via Jenny Steffens)

Mozzarella Cheese Balls

Mozzarella sticks morph into one-bite dippers that'll have you going back for seconds and thirds and fourths and… you get the gist. (via The Apple Crate)

Popcorn Shrimp Tailgate Recipe

We won't blame you if you miss the first quarter to finish off a basket of these lightly fried and super crispy shrimp. (via The Galley Gourmet)

Ham + Cheese Sliders

Who said all sliders had to have a burger patty between the bun? Use this soft poppy seed bun to sandwich melted cheese, tomato and ham instead. (via Damn Delicious)

Spicy Macadamia Pretzels

Use store-bought pretzels, macadamia oil, and a homemade spice blend to make this crunchy, nutty, and spicy snack. (via Delicious by Dre)

Tailgate Fries

Made in a foil pouch, you can heat up these pockets filled with French fries, pulled pork, and coleslaw on your tailgate's grill. (via Life's Ambrosia)

Pizza Puffs Tailgate Appetizers

Make these pizza puffs with any toppings you desire — peppers, onions, mushrooms, or pepperoni. Any ingredient goes great in these mini-muffin sized bites! (via Life Currents)

Bacon-Wrapped Potato Bites

You won't want to pass the plate once you've dug into these bacon-wrapped spuds. (via The Right Recipe)

Mexican Potato Skins

Unlike standard potato skins, these guys aren't packed with bacon and cheese. Instead, they're loaded with Mexican flavors, like black beans, green chiles and enchilada sauce. (via Life Currents)

Beer Caramelized Onion Dip

This onion dip puts all other dips to shame. It's made with sweet caramelized onions, hoppy beer, cream cheese, sour cream and smokey bacon for full flavor impact. (via The Brewer & The Baker)

Candied Sriracha Bacon-Wrapped Onion Rings

This one is a three-for-one when it comes to bar food favorites. Crispy onion rings, smokey bacon and a spicy Sriracha glaze combine for one mouthwatering bite. (via The Kitchen Whisperer)

Touchdown Brownies

These brownies are everything you could want in a tailgate dessert — gooey chocolate bars loaded with sweet caramel, chocolate chips, salty pretzels and toasted pecans. (via The Baker Mama)

Mexican Tortilla Roll-Ups

A quick and easy recipe that serves a crowd, these roll-ups mix green chiles, black olives, and cheddar with sour cream and cream cheese along with plenty of spices. (via Culinary Hill)

Walking Taco Burger Sliders

Tacos meet burgers in these easily transportable sliders. You can chow down on the salsa and tortilla topped patties while you make friends with the tailgate next door. (via Brown Sugar)

Spicy Grilled Wings

No worries on how to get crispy and juicy wings in a parking lot. This recipe calls for making the smothered and spicy wings right on the grill. (via Or Whatever You Do)

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

• Gifts for Him
• Gifts for Her
• Gifts for Foodies
• DIY + Handmade Gifts
• White Elephant Gifts
• Gift Sets

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!