SUPERBOWL SNACKDOWN

(Imagine this being read out loud in an announcer voice.)

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR THE VERY POPULAR AND EVER JUBILANT SUPERBOWL SNACKDOWN AT POSE STADIUM. Today we’ll have the entire starting lineup in play, with the exception of Kiwi "the cat".

OOOH HERE COMES MRS. POES WITH HER FAMOUS CHARCUTERIE BOARD. Look at that scrumptious looking spread with the salami, fontina cheese, and bright pomegranate arils.

Henry “the canine” is eyeing that prosciutto, but Mrs. Poes sees him and DEFTLY AVOIDS any potential of a skirmish in an impressive evasive maneuver. Top form tonight!

Entering the field now is Mr. Poes with his one and only champion quesadilla! All eyes turn to the platter, as this is indeed one of the crowd's favorite meals. Balancing the decadent goods heaped high on the plate, he carefully moves from the kitchen to the dining room. It’s amazing footwork.

Henry has swerved and is now right behind him. There is just a little bit of hesitation as Henry wiggles around, but Mr. Poes knows what he's doing. HE SUCCESSFULLY GETS THE PLATE INTO POSITION! Let’s take a look at the replay.

No foul on the play. The original call stands.

And baby Poes has now left the bench, going directly for the quesadilla. Henry has stayed on his feet and is guarding the line. Baby Poes cuts in front and DIVES IN FOR A SLICE. He scoops a quesadilla up onto his plate and grabs a few strawberries from the board. Securing his grip, he moves AWAY AND TOWARDS VICTORY. Ahh folks, this is not Henry’s game.

Just before baby Poes is about to return for seconds, he gets BLOCKED BY THE MIDDLE POES! OOH AND AN INTERCEPTION BY TWIN POES! She uses the block as an opportunity and steals the quesadilla! And with one fell swoop she bites into the scrumptious goodness! Touchdown!

Ooh baby Poes is not happy, but goes to grab another. Look at that there is only one left! The Poes family has devoured this like the champion team they are!

It’s nearing the end of the game, and it looks like other Poes is down. He’s clutching his stomach while laying on the couch. You can see that he can’t get up. And he’s out of the game.

*ding and is that time? No! Saved by the doorbell. IT SEEMS MARIA WILL COME IN FROM THE RESERVES! Looks like Henry’s got a surprise reinforcement just in time. Maria bends down and gives Henry homemade football-shaped dog treats! Looks like everyone's a winner today. What a game!

If you want to see the foods featured in Superbowl Snackdown, you are in luck. The photos and recipes are included. Peruse through them at your leisure. There is a picture of Henry at the end that you won't want to miss!

There is something about a quesadilla that is as comforting as it is delicious. These ones don’t disappoint. The traditional dish is elevated with golden pineapple and tart cranberries, both of which act as a delightful surprise to your taste buds. Perfect for munching on while watching the game!

Don’s Champion Quesadilla

Ingredients:

• 8 large tortillas
• 1 can refried beans
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 serving Spanish-style rice (see recipe below)
• 1 cup shredded chicken (optional)
• 2 cups spinach, sauteed (optional)
• ¼ cup pineapple, diced (optional)
• ¼ cranberries (trust us, it’s a must)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• A bunch of cilantro

Sauces:

• Chipotle aioli
• Pico de gallo
• The Winning Guacamole (See our other recipe Quarantined Edition: Cleveland vs. Guac)

Spanish-style Rice Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup long-grain rice
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder (or fresh garlic, minced)
• ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ cup of corn (optional)

Directions

Spanish-style rice:

Prepare the Spanish-style rice by pouring the vegetable oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Then add the rice to the pan, stirring until it reaches a golden-brown color. Next, add the tomatoes, ground cumin, garlic, Kosher salt, chilli powder, and chicken broth. Turn the heat to a simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff the rice with a fork.

Quesadilla:

Heat the refried beans in a small pot. In a large pan, place a tablespoon of butter on low heat. Once the butter has melted, add the tortilla. Using a spoon or a spatula, smear a thin layer of refried beans onto half of the tortilla. Next, sprinkle mozzarella all over the beans and add some rice. Then add the shredded chicken, sautéed spinach, pineapple, and cilantro as desired. Add a nice helping of cheddar cheese and finally 13 cranberries. Make sure the cranberries are even distributed. Fold the tortilla in half and using a large spatula, carefully flip the quesadilla so it is fried on both sides. Add more butter as needed. The quesadilla is done when both sides have reached a golden hue. Drizzle chipotle aioli sauce on top. Repeat the process for the other seven tortillas. Any extra rice and beans can be used as a side dish. Serve with a side of pico de gallo, salsa picante, and our Winning Guacamole recipe.

Pro Tips:

Alter the ingredient measurements for the number of quesadillas needed.

If you really want to have fun, you can drizzle the sauce to mimic a football’s laces.

This charcuterie board is a go to favorite for any and all entertaining. It looks gorgeous and tastes great, but best of all it is quick to throw together.

Charcuterie Board

• 1 hard cheese - parmesan crystals
• 1 semi soft cheese - fontina
• 1 round cracker
• 1 long cracker
• Strawberries
• Dried figs
• Cashews
• Marcona almonds (sprinkle with salt and cracked pepper)
• Salami (2 types if possible)
• Prosciutto
• Red seedless grapes
• A Spring of greens - Rosemary
• Olives (optional)

Arrange artfully on a board or tray. Serve with wine.

Game day is for everyone, including our canine best friends! These simple treats are a great way to include our doggos in the celebrations! These are the real life Henry’s favorites. He asked us to share them with the world so other dogs can also taste their goodness.

Apple Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons applesauce
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the ingredients in a bowl and roll the dough. Separate into individual treats. Bake for about 20 minutes.

Pro Tip:

Cut into football shapes for the big game!

Here is a photo of the real life Henry! He LOVES peanut butter treats. Here he is asking for more.

Story co-authored by Emily Boes