March Madness – The Snack Bracket
or many Americans, the next few days are among the most entertaining of the year. They will be filled with dozens of college basketball games, featuring major surprises and thrilling finishes. When a team loses, its season is over.
The 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament is one of the most exciting events in college basketball. Millions of people tune in to watch the best teams in the country compete for the title of NCAA National Champions. The main portion of March Madness started yesterday, and the women’s portion will begin today. Both will continue for nearly three weeks. They are among the few sporting events that capture the attention of non-fans, thanks to college loyalties and the ubiquity of brackets.
or many Americans, the next few days are among the most entertaining of the year. They will be filled with dozens of college basketball games, featuring major surprises and thrilling finishes. When a team loses, its season is over.
The 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament is one of the most exciting events in college basketball. Millions of people tune in to watch the best teams in the country compete for the title of NCAA National Champions. The main portion of March Madness started yesterday, and the women’s portion will begin today. Both will continue for nearly three weeks. They are among the few sporting events that capture the attention of non-fans, thanks to college loyalties and the ubiquity of brackets.
The single-elimination tournament is made up of 68 men’s teams and 64 women’s teams that compete in seven rounds for the national championship. The tournament is divided into four regions: East, West, South, and Midwest, with teams seeded from 1 to 16 in each region. The tournament has been held annually since 1939, with the exception of 2020, when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the most important aspects of any March Madness party is the food. In fact, it has its own event. Let us introduce you to Munch Madness. Serving the ultimate game-day food will score you major points with family and friends. Finger foods and dips are always a great choice, as they are easy to eat while watching the games. Some classic party foods include chicken wings, corn dip, ham and cheese sliders, and nachos. Worried you may be serving foods that will earn you a foul? Don’t stress. We have two slam dunk recipes that are sure to be crowd pleasers!
Make the most of March Madness by cheering your team on at a watch party, dunking food and drink deals, competing in bracket pools, and more. Overall, the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament is sure to be a thrilling event, and with the right food and drinks, your party is sure to be a hit.
Here is the schedule for this year’s men’s tournament.
- First round: March 16-17
- Second round: March 18-19
- Sweet 16: March 23-24
- Elite Eight: March 25-26
- Final Four: April 1
- NCAA championship game: April 3
NCAA website: https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/mml-official-bracket/2023-03-15/latest-bracket-schedule-and-scores-2023-ncaa-mens-tournament
Ham and Cheese Sliders~
These hot Ham and Cheese Sliders come together in a snap and are easy to make for the big game! Serve them up alongside your favorite game day snacks for a buffet that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1- 12-count package Hawaiian sweet rolls, sliced in half
- ¾ pound deli ham, thinly sliced
- ¾ pound Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- Using a large serrated knife, slice the rolls in half so you have a ‘slab’ of tops and a ‘slab’ of bottoms; don’t pull the rolls apart and slice individually because you want to keep them connected.
- Place the bottom ‘slab’ of rolls in the prepared pan.
- Evenly layer about half of the ham over the rolls, then the cheese and the remaining ham. Add the top ‘slab’ of rolls; set aside.
- To a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the butter and heat on high power to melt, about 1 minute.
- Add the mustard, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and whisk to combine.
- Evenly and slowly pour the butter mixture over the rolls. Use a brush to spread the mixture over the tops. Some of the mixture will pool at the base of the rolls.
- Cover with aluminum foil and allow rolls to stand at room temp for about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Bake covered for about 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Uncover and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until as done as desired.
- Slice into individual sliders and serve immediately.
Sliders are best warm and fresh.
Hot Corn Dip ~
Make this Creamy Corn Dip to enjoy with your favorite corn chips! A creamy, flavorful and super delicious appetizer! Prep Time: 15 minutes Resting Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Yield: 4-5
Ingredients
- 10 ounces Heartland Organic corn, thawed and drained
- 1- 22 ounce can Mexicorn, drained
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 jalapeno, deseeded and chopped
- 1 bundle green onion, chopped, to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Corn or tortilla chips, for dipping
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together corn, “Mexicorn”, sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions, and cheese. Reserve a few tablespoons of chopped green onion to garnish the top of the dip.
- Serve dip immediately with corn or tortilla chips for dipping.
You may choose to serve this hot as well.
- For heating up the dip: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake dip anywhere from 10-20 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
