The Super Bowl extravaganza is a time to relax with friends and family and enjoy rooting for your favorite team. Interestingly, 77 percent of Americans think the best seat is not at the stadium but at home in front of an HDTV, according to a recent survey by McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand products. Like tailgating, “homegating” is not only about the football game. It’s about the food.

No matter what’s happening on the field, the spread on the table can be the real game-changer. In fact, the survey found the following:

• 78 percent of American adults think good food can make up for a bad game.
• Americans spend, on average, 42 percent of the game eating or drinking.
• More than half of Americans (57 percent) voted the grill as the most important appliance when hosting a homegate.

For a homegate touchdown, banish the boring and serve this beer-infused chili. Or, if you don’t want to include an alcoholic beverage, you can substitute a can of flavorful, non-alcoholic beer.

— FamilyFeatures.com