Go-To Recipes as St. Michael Gets Ready for Big Game

Whether you're coming together to enjoy the big game, inventive commercials or adorable puppies, Super Sunday holds something for just about everyone.

I'll admit I'm a little bummed the Broncos won't be competing this year—I'm a lifelong John Elway fan—but that won't stop me from getting together with some friends to enjoy what should be a great contest between the Giants and Patriots.

But let's not forget one of the most important aspects of any Super Bowl party: the snacks. If guests aren't up to their necks in mouthwatering dips, hors d'oeuvres, slow cooker creations or other tasty treats, something clearly has gone awry.

In honor of that, we're putting together a collection of your favorite party recipes to post on Patch. Take a few minutes to share your recipes in the comments section below, allowing all our readers to try them out. And if you've taken a picture of your dish that you also would like to post, you get a gold star.

I'm not exactly a culinary expert, but here are a couple go-to party recipes:

Taco Soup

• 1lb of lean (85 percent or better) ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 can (15 oz.) corn
• 1 can (15 oz.) chilibeans
• 1 large can (32 to 40 oz.) tomato juice
• 1 package of taco seasoning

Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion, drain. Combine the remaining  ingredients in a stock pot or slow cooker. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for 20 minutes. Add water to reach desired consistency. It's as good as chilli if you add chips and cheese to your bowl.

Pepperoni Dip

• 1 10-3/4 oz. can cream of celery soup
• 1 6-oz. package of pepperoni, chopped (a little more is definitely OK)
• 1 8-oz. package of cream cheese, softened and cubed
• Crackers (I like Triscuits for this, personally)

Combine the first three ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for about two hours, then set the cooker on the "warm" setting and people can munch on crackers and dip throughout the party. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

[Courtesy Crystal Branson, Super-Fast Slow Cooking recipe book]