Super Bowl Party By Christy Rost   Whether the occasion is a gathering of friends to watch the Super Bowl or a family gathered around the table for an everyday meal, hearty Tex-Mex fare adds an element of fun. And when it's as easy as this week's featured Tex-Mex recipe, you have a real winner! Southwestern Casserole starts with ground beef and onions; then gets a nice "kick" with a generous dose of picante sauce and beans. From start to finish, the entire dish may be assembled in under 20 minutes. Pop it in the oven until hot and bubbly, and this is the perfect meal to enjoy in front of the "big game", at a neighborhood gathering or on a busy week night. To serve, spoon Southwestern Casserole into warm flour tortillas, add a dollop of sour cream and fold over the tortilla. Alternately, serve this spicy South-of-the-border entree as a hearty dip for tortilla chips. The best Super Bowl parties just seem to "happen". All eyes are on the game, so keep your preparations very casual and uncomplicated. A buffet approach is best when food is served, whether you utilize your dining room table or just serve from the stove and kitchen counter. Select you favorite team; then decorate using the team's colors. Neutral football fans may prefer to display both teams' colors. Either way, the color theme can be inexpensively carried out through paper plates and napkins, balloons and football pom poms. For a quick table centerpiece, arrange chrysanthemums in a vase and tie the vase with ribbon in your team's colors; then insert two football pom poms or mini-team banners. Whether your team wins or loses, your Super Bowl party will be a grand success the minute your guests bite into a tortilla filled with Southwestern Casserole. So, get out the decorations, chill the drinks and be a guest at your own party! Southwestern Casserole 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/ 4 cups medium or hot picante sauce 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce 3/ 4 cup shredded Longhorn cheddar cheese 1 15-ounce can kidney or black beans, drained and rinsed 1/ 2 cup coarsely crushed tortilla chips 1/ 2 cup shredded Monterrey Jack or Longhorn cheddar cheese 1-2 packages flour tortillas, warmed 1 1/ 2 cups shredded lettuce 1 cup chopped tomatoes (optional) 1-2 cups sour cream Saute ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat until meat is brown and onions are soft. Drain off fat, reduce heat to low and add minced garlic; saute for 1additional minute. Pour in picante sauce and tomato sauce; stir. Stir in 3/ 4 cup shredded cheese and beans, stirring until cheese melts. Add tortilla chips and stir gently until thoroughly mixed. Transfer mixture to a large casserole dish. Top with shredded Monterrey Jack cheese. Cover tightly and heat in a 375 degree oven 30-40 minutes until cheese has melted and casserole is bubbly. To serve, spoon 2-3 tablespoons of casserole into warm flour tortillas, top with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and sour cream. Fold over tortilla and pick up to eat. Place a large bowl of tortilla chips near casserole for a hearty "Southwestern Casserole" dip. Recipe makes 1 large casserole. Read more of Christy Rost's articles in her archives. Click here. Do you have any questions, comments or suggestions? Email: jwdineline@aol.com