Football Night!

This is a Family Night we actually have not done before, but plan on doing so in the near future.  My cousin gave me the idea when she asked me for some ideas to make football more fun.  We are huge Seahawks fans, so we sort of have a mini family night each week when they are on TV.  First of all we all have to wear our Seahawks shirts (wear whatever team you like or just their colors if you don't have a shirt with a logo on it).  We also like to decorate when we have Super Bowl parties or watch Seahawks games.  You can go all out with streamers and balloons; plates, cups and napkins if you like.  Our daughter, Emma, likes to make Seahawks signs to display when they play.  Give your kids poster board and markers or paints of your favorite team and have them come up with their own signs.

When we watch football we like to have taco bowls (a recipe by Rachel Ray).  The recipe is posted at the end.  You can come up with ideas that go along with football, for example: nachos, pizza, wings etc.  For dessert: football shaped cake! Buy cake mix of your favorite variety and bake in a rectangular pan.  Cut in the shape of a football and frost with chocolate frosting.  Pipe laces with white frosting.

If you don't want to watch a game or there isn't one on, you can play touch football.  My family likes to do this Thanksgiving morning, but why not do this another time. If the weather is too bad to play in (unless you are hard core), play tabletop football. 

The following are some ideas we have done for Super Bowl parties that would work for a Football Family Night:  bingo-the bingo that we downloaded for our Super Bowl party would not work for just any game, but I found a couple websites (and linked one of them here) that offer free bingo cards.  You have to register to get a certain amount for free.

Another game we have played is match the football team to their city, you can find that here.  

Taco Bowls, from Rachael Ray
  4 servings

1 sack tortilla chips
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
2 pounds ground beef
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
2 firm avocados
4 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
A handful of fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
4 cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high hear.  Add 2 tablespoons of the EVOO.  Add the beef to the skillet and brown and crumble it for 5 minutes.  To the browned meat add half the chopped jalapeno, three fourths of the chopped onions, and all of the garlic.  Season the meat with the cumin, chili powder, and salt and pepper.  Cook them together for 5 minutes more, then add about a cup of water and reduce the heat to low.

Halve and separate the avocados. Remove the pit with a spoon.  Use a small knife to dice the avocado while still in the skin.  Scoop out the diced flesh and place it in a bowl.  Combine the tomatoes, remaining onions, remaining jalapeno, and the cilantro gently with the avocado and dress the salad with the lemon juice, the remaining tablespoon of EVOO, and salt to taste.

Layer a handful or two of the chips (slightly crushed) into soup or chili bowls and top them with a handful of cheese.  Fill the bowls with taco meat and top with more cheese, then mound some salad on top and serve.

What have you done with your family to make watching football together fun?  What kind of football related traditions does your family have?