To be candid, I had to ask my husband which teams are playing in the Super Bowl (it’s the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers, in case you were also in the dark), so it’s not exactly like I am a football aficionado. I don’t actually think football fans use the word aficionado very much.

Had the Patriots been in the Super Bowl (my husband is from Worcester, MA: “Wooo-ster”), there would have been a lot of pressure riding on this day . . . even though my New York born and bred children are fans of other random teams. (Charlie is somewhat of a Giants fan; Jack for some reason likes the Ravens. I know this only because Jack has a Ravens blanket that his grandmother gave him).

Yet due to the Patriots’ heartbreaking loss (or so I’ve been told) a couple of weeks ago, now it’s pretty much just about the beer and the food.

But as Mike in A Chorus Line sings, “Well, I can do that!” I wonder if there is any other Super Bowl newsletter with the words aficionado, and A Chorus Line in it. If you find one, please email me immediately, as I will have found my writing soul mate. Meanwhile, this is the game plan for Sunday: Hut, hut, hike!

Warm Jalapeño Popper Dip: It’s like a hundred jalapeño poppers got together and made themselves into a dip. Serve with celery sticks (HA! Gotcha! Oh, you should have seen your face).

Barbacoa Beef Chili: There is always some kind of chili at our house on Super Bowl Sunday, which everyone is always happy to see (except the one time my friend—who knows who he is—ordered a burger to be delivered during the game because he wasn’t a huge fan of chili. He won’t be doing that again).

Easy Cornbread: Try the version with jalapeños, scallions and cheddar for something a little decadent and spicy.

Light Green Crunchy Salad: I’m not saying that this will be the most popular dish on your Super Bowl menu. I’m just saying, here’s a great green salad.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies: Make more of these than you think you will need. This can be like your very own halftime show.