BBQ Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

In honor of simplicity and upcoming Super Bowl parties, I've decided to forgo the weekly tip and share a three-ingredient recipe with you instead. These small, bite-sized appetizers are virtually impossible to mess up. Even if you somehow manage to do so (a feat that would leave me baffled), you will still be left with barbecue sauce, bacon, and water chestnuts.

You can never go wrong with barbecue sauce and bacon. Remember that.

They say that bacon is the way to a person's heart. I, however, am part of the rare breed who doesn't love bacon (popcorn, oddly enough, is the way to my heart). I avoid bacon during Sunday brunch and ignore the bacon enhanced pasta dishes on the Italian restaurant menu's offerings. So when my mother reminisced over her favorite Super Bowl appetizers, I was hesitant to give this one a try. Bacon and water chestnuts? Would that really taste good?

As it so happens with me, when I grow skeptical over a particular dish or dessert, I suddenly have to give it a try. Usually, I'm happy with the result. With these toothpick appetizers, I was blown away. The crispy water chestnuts provide a great texture contrast against the chewy bacon slices. With the barbecue sauce baked into every crevice, you might find yourself eating more than your fair share.

If you are looking for more Super Bowl party dishes, check these out:

• Sweet & Spicy Peanut Chili Chicken Wings
• Black Bean Salsa
• BBQ Mini Sausages
• Cornmeal Parmesan & Poppy Seed Crackers (perfect with a cheese plate!)

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts are unique appetizers for Super Bowl get-togethers, dinner parties, and Tuesday evenings (just because). Water chestnuts are wrapped in bacon slices and secured with toothpicks before roasting the in oven. The bacon wrapped water chestnuts are then coated heavily with barbecue sauce before heading back into the oven to bake in the barbecue flavor. These are best served hot (and will disappear quickly).

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BBQ Mini Sausages

My family has never never been one to watch sports. We may spot a game on Thanksgiving or when we're visiting the cousins, but that really the extent of it. Despite this, every year my family makes it a point to get together to the watch the biggest game of the year—the Super Bowl. We might flip a coin to determine which team to root for (a mortal sin for you football fans) or get more excited about the commercial breaks than the actual game, but we make sure there is proper football celebration.

But, honestly, I think the reason we all sit around and watch the game is for the food.

My mother always makes a huge pot of chili and stews it in the crock pot all afternoon. She also makes sure to cook up a batch of these BBQ sausages. Though they slow cook all afternoon, I tend to steal a mini sausage or two whenever I find myself in the kitchen much to the dismay of my mother ("Save them for dinner!"). The smell is absolutely phenomenal. I don't think I can be blamed for my actions.

When it comes time for dinner (and the game), there is bread and chips and m&m's up to our ears. We cheer when anyone makes a touchdown. We take our bathroom breaks while the players are on the field. But we enjoy ourselves and each other.

I think that's what really counts.

These BBQ Mini Sausages are great for snacking. The barbecue sauce is made with a combination of grape jelly and chili sauce and, while slightly unusual, is absolutely delicious. The grape jelly brings a sweet quality to the sauce and, depending on the chili sauce you use, you can spice it up as much as you please. The sauce has a deep depth of flavor, with hints of molasses and the acidity of lemon. Because these mini sausages can slowly simmer in the crock pot all day, you can steal the perfect bite-size snack at any time (and as many times as you please).

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