WATCH PARTY winners

GET SUPER BOWL AND MARCH MADNESS READY WITH THESE CROWD-PLEASING BITES

BY JENNIFER BAJSEL

SPICY KOREAN CAULIFLOWER BITES

SERVINGS: 6-8 | PREP: 20 MIN. | COOK: 30 MIN. | TOTAL: 50 MIN.

INGREDIENTS: 1 head cauliflower | 1 cup rice flour | 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour | 1 tsp. baking soda | 1⁄2 tsp. salt | 1⁄4 tsp. white pepper | 1 cup club soda Glaze: | 1 cup vegetable oil | 2 cloves garlic, minced | 2 Tbsp. gochujang | 1 Tbsp. brown sugar | 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar | 1 Tbsp. soy sauce | 2 Tbsp. water | Green onion and sesame seeds, optional

DIRECTIONS: CUT cauliflower into bite-size pieces. WHISK together the rice flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt & pepper. ADD club soda and stir to combine. PLACE a deep skillet or Dutch oven on the stove top and fill with vegetable oil. HEAT oil on medium-high heat until it reaches about 325°. TOSS cauliflower in batter and drop into oil, working in batches. FRY until golden brown, about 7-10 minutes for each batch. DRAIN fried cauliflower on a rack over a baking sheet to keep crispy. WHISK glaze ingredients in a separate mixing bowl. Toss fried cauliflower to coat, working in batches. Garnish cauliflower with sliced green onion and sesame seeds.

TIPS & TRICKS: Use very cold club soda for a crispy coating. Let batter sit for 5-10 minutes before using.

PRETZEL BUN HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN SLIDERS

SERVINGS: 8 | PREP: 10 MIN. | COOK: 5 HOURS | TOTAL: 5 HOURS 10 MIN.

INGREDIENTS: 2 lbs. chicken breast | 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard | 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard | 3 Tbsp. honey | 1 cup chicken stock | 1 Tbsp. cornstarch | 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt | 1⁄4 tsp. black pepper | 1 pkg. pretzel buns Carrot Red Onion Slaw: 1 1⁄2 cup shredded carrots | 1⁄2 medium red onion | 1⁄4 cup mayonnaise | 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard | 1⁄2 tsp. celery seeds | 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar | Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: MIX mustard, honey, chicken stock, and cornstarch. POUR mixture into a slow cooker. SEASON chicken with salt and pepper. PLACE chicken in slow cooker. COOK on low for 5 hrs. SHRED chicken and mix with sauce in the slow cooker. KEEP on warm until ready to serve. For the slaw: MIX all ingredients in a separate bowl and refrigerate while chicken cooks. SERVE honey mustard chicken on pretzel buns topped with slaw.

TIPS & TRICKS: To save time, buy a roasted chicken and pull off the bone. Thicken sauce on the stove top and mix chicken and sauce together.

PAN FRIED ITALIAN MEATBALLS WITH MARINARA DIPPING SAUCE

SERVINGS: 10 | PREP: 30 MIN. | COOK: 30 MIN. | TOTAL: 1 HOUR

INGREDIENTS: 1 lb. ground beef | 1 lb. bulk Italian sausage | 1 large egg, lightly beaten | 1⁄2 cup dry Italian breadcrumbs | 1⁄4 cup milk, whole | 1⁄4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese | 1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, minced | 1 tsp. salt | 1⁄2 tsp. pepper | 1⁄2 tsp. garlic powder | 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning | 6 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided Sauce: 28 oz crushed tomato | 1 Tbsp. onion powder | 1⁄2 Tbsp. garlic powder | 1 Tbsp. basil | Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: COMBINE, in a large bowl, ground beef, sausage, egg, breadcrumbs, milk, cheese, fresh parsley, and all seasonings. USE your hands to shape 1-inch balls. PLACE a large skillet on medium-high heat. COAT the pan with 2 Tbsp. of olive oil. PLACE 1/3 of the meatballs in the skillet. BROWN meatballs on all sides. TURN stove-top down to medium-low to continue cooking meatballs, stirring occasionally until cooked through. REPEAT with the remaining meatballs, being careful not to overcrowd the pan each time. SIMMER crushed tomatoes and seasonings in a separate pot on low heat. TO SERVE, place a toothpick in each meatball with sauce on the side.

TIPS & TRICKS: You can use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to make meatballsthe same size. The more you move the meatballs in the pan, the rounder your meatballs will be. You can also use store-bought marinara.

ABOUT OUR CHEF

Jennifer is a private chef in Dallas, TX, with a passion for home-cooked meals with a global influence. In addition to cooking, she hosts an Italian cooking show on national streaming television. To follow her, go to JenniferBajsel.com or find her on Instagram @JENNIFER_BAJSEL