Have a Smashing Super Bowl Dinner Party

(FeatureSource) - A Super Bowl party doesn't have to be a chips and beer-fest. Karen Brown offers the following ideas for a smashing Super Bowl dinner party from her book, "The Dinner Party Cookbook."

• Ask guests to dress in the colors of their favorite team.

• Decorate with pennants, pom-poms, and toy footballs.

• Serve food and beverages as a buffet, or assemble box lunches that guests can balance on their laps during the game.

• For a centerpiece, use a real football surrounded by mums, ribbons, and miniature football figures.

• Get things started by organizing a pool with low-dollar bets.

• Try a menu of warm crab dip on pita chips, green beans and potato casserole, beef tenderloin on rolls, caramel brownies, and Bloody Marys.