If you’re admittedly clueless about football or consider the biggest day on the gridiron the “Stupor Bowl,” this guide is for you.

So whether you’re planning an escape away from the premises or simply to another room, here are some tips to help you get through Sunday. (Do you even know who’s playing? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. It’ll be our little secret!)

  1. Slip your feet in, lean back and say, “Ahhh!” (Natural Home Remedies)

    Slip your feet in, lean back and say, “Ahhh!”

    Organize a girlfriends’ getaway at a spa, the movies or someone else’s home. You can bring one of the Super Fast & Easy Treats, below.

  2. Plan a different game night in a different room. If the sports fans are in the basement, seal off the upstairs and declare a football-free zone. Play cards, board games or whatever your heart desires.
  3. Treat yourself to dinner at a restaurant with no TVs.
  4. Start spring-cleaning extra early. Aren’t there closets or neglected boxes calling your name? Some clothes or shoes that need to go?
  5. Get with the program. As a last resort, you could go shopping until stores close in your area. But if you love to socialize, actually like some of the people who will be gathering around your TV or feel a little guilty about opting out, check out the cheat sheet and recipes below. Take the high road, and pretend to be engaged.

 

Try healthier munchies for Super Bowl Sunday. (Photo: Tanya Constantine/Getty Images)

If you love to socialize, actually like some of the people who will be gathering around your TV or feel a little guilty about opting out of the Super Bowl, check out our cheat sheet and recipes for Fast & Easy Treats. (Photo: Tanya Constantine/Getty Images)

 

A Super Cheat Sheet

So, who’s playing again?

Really? OK, we promised to have your back. It’s the Charlotte Panthers vs. the Denver Broncos.

What time do I need to get in gear — or disappear?

The Super Bowl starts at 6:30 p.m. Sunday EST at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. You can watch on CBS or CBSsports.com.

Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers (Photo: NFL/Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers (Photo: NFL/Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

What’s all the fuss about?

First, remember the names: Cam Newton of the Charlotte Panthers and Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos. It’s the first faceoff between two quarterbacks who were No. 1 NFL draft picks: Manning in 1998 and Newton in 2011.

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Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos quarterback (NFL photo)

This is basically a battle between someone old and someone new, both great quarterbacks with one sealing his legacy and the other still building it.

Newton is also the fifth black quarterback to play in the Super Bowl — nothing new at this point, but in the news more than he’d like. He even told a reporter: “It’s not an issue. It’s an issue for you.”

Super Bowl 50Isn’t this a special year?

It’s the golden anniversary of the Super Bowl, which dates back to 1967. This year’s winner takes home the Vince Lombardi Trophy, plus an 18-karat, gold-plated 50 trophy.

OK, what I really want to know is, who’s performing at half time?

Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Cold Play.

Who’s singing the national anthem this year?

Lady Gaga is following a history of tough acts that include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross. (Just so you know, Marvin Gaye’s soulful rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” was actually at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game.)

What about the commercials?

For some people, the commercials are the best part of the Super Bowl. They won’t move a muscle during the commercials, planning snack and other breaks during slow moments in the game. But if you miss a commercial, you can catch up online.

Now what about some football basics?

Whoa! That will take more time than any of us have. Here’s some basic info on scores.

The Point System: How to Score in Football

  • 6 points: Touchdown! Nuff said.
  • 2-point conversion: Running or passing the ball into the end zone after a touch down
  • 1-point conversion: Kicking the ball through the goal post after scoring a touch down
  • 3 points: Attempting a field goal by kicking the ball through the goal post during the fourth down
  • 2 points: Scoring a safety by tackling an opponent carrying the ball in his own end zone

Holly Robinson Peete football bookWant more? Grab a patient person who’s nearby or download the classic football primer Get Your Own Damn Beer, I’m Watching the Game! A Woman’s Guide to Loving Pro Football by Holly Robinson Peete, actress and wife of NFL quarterback Rodney Peete. The Peetes also run the HollyRod Foundation, which focuses on autism and Parkinson’s disease.

 

 

Super Fast & Easy Treats

Super Fruit Bowl

This is a dish that tastes as good as it looks. You’ll literally use a split pineapple as bowls and fill it with your favorite fruit. Here are suggestions below.

Pineapple fruit bowl

Pineapple fruit bowl

Whole pineapple

Cantaloupe

Mango

Strawberries

Seedless Grapes

Blueberries

Raspberries

Blackberries

Cut pineapple in half length-wise, keeping leaves intact but slicing through them as shown. Scoop out pineapple from both sides by cutting into one-inch chunks, and set aside in a large bowl. Reserve the pineapple halves to use as containers.

Cut and rinse the other fruit, as appropriate, and mix with pineapple chunks in the bowl. Spoon the fruit mix into the pineapple shells, and arrange on a platter. Garnish with mint leaves, and drizzle with Grand Marnier, if desired.

Serves 8 or more with refills.

 

Chunky Guacamole Dip (Photo: Tom Woodward/Creative Commons)

Chunky Guacamole Dip in a molcajete made from volcanic rock. (Photo: Tom Woodward/Creative Commons)

Chunky Guacamole Dip

3 tablespoons tomatoes, diced

3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

2 tablespoons onion, finely diced

1-2 teaspoons jalapeno, finely diced

3-4 ripe avocados

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Pepper, optional or to taste

½ teaspoon lemon or lime juice

Mix tomatoes, cilantro, onion and jalapeno in a serving bowl or molcajete. Cut avocados into halves, twisting to remove seeds. Slice in both directions down to the skin, and scoop out chunks into bowl. Mix gently to preserve chunkiness, sprinkle with salt, pepper if desired, and lemon or lime juice. Mix again. Serve with thin and crispy tortilla chips (try chia and quinoa) or veggies, such as carrot and celery strips.

Serves 8-10.

 

Baby Kale Salad (CSPI Photo)

Baby Kale Salad (CSPI Photo)

Baby Kale Salad

If you grew up with hot collard, kale and mustard greens, here’s a quicker twist that doesn’t require a stove.

“This is one of the few salads you can make hours ahead of time,” says Kate Sherwood, “Healthy Cook” columnist and a nutritionist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

“It gets better as the flavors meld and the kale softens in the dressing. And don’t be stingy with the black pepper. You’ll be amazed at the extra flavor pop it delivers.”

½ pound baby or Tuscan kale

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons minced shallot

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Remove and discard any large, center stems from the kale. Stack 8 leaves at a time, and cut them crosswise into thin strips. Set the kale aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, shallot, salt and oil. Toss the kale in the dressing with the Parmesan cheese and season with plenty of black pepper.

Serves 4.

About Fierce Fridays — Tips for Weekend Well-Being

We each cherish those precious days off at the end of the week, but increasingly those of us who are charter members of the sisterhood of the stressed and overworked are losing our Saturday and Sunday leisure time to weekend work and domestic duties.

To make sure that you do something every weekend that’s just for you, we’ll be sharing a little advice to make those 48 hours a great time to recharge your batteries, bring a little good news and fun into your life, or discover a quick and easy way to improve your health.