Sure, football is exciting and the commercials are certainly entertaining, but to me, the Super Bowl is all about the food. I'm a sucker for dishes that are unabashedly game-day fare. They're not overly dressed up, they're comforting, they're delicious, and they get washed down with beer. What's not to love? Will I have to subsist on a diet of salads for the next week to make up for all the carbs and fat? Yeah, but I can live with that.

Here are 10 do-it-yourself ideas to spice up your Super Bowl fare. Get inspired and have fun!

1. Make-your-own sub: Why spend the money buying subs when you can easily create your own? Make it special and grab some loafs of French bread at least a couple feet in length. Slice them in half lengthwise and fill them with whatever floats your boat. Go ahead and make up your own sandwich combination and name it after yourself or make two different kinds in honor of the two teams playing. You can keep it simple with cold cuts, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, or you can play it up with teriyaki chicken, caramelized onions and the like. You can even cut each piece to order for your guests.

2. BBQ sauce dip: This dip is so simple you won't believe it. Combine softened whipped cream cheese with your favorite BBQ sauce and, voila, you have dip. The amounts vary depending on your taste. I suggest going with a spicier BBQ sauce over a sweet and tangy one, as the flavors will mix with the cream cheese well. It sounds a little odd, but I swear, with the right BBQ sauce, it's delicious and very easy. It's the perfect mix of flavors for a Super Bowl party.

3. Homemade pita chips: Need something to dunk into that dip? Pita chips are easy to make, delicious and can be as healthy (or not) as you prefer. Brush them with olive oil and season however you like. Old Bay is a favorite of mine for pita chips, as are focaccia herb mixes. Or keep it simple and just shake out some garlic and onion powder. Once oiled and seasoned, cut the pita into eight or so pieces with kitchen scissors and bake at 400 degrees for about seven minutes. Just keep an eye on them, as they can burn easily. Feel free to substitute whole wheat pitas for a healthier chip or other flavors for added flare.

4. Savory jams on cheese: I'm really into savory jams right now, especially with cheese. Roasted red pepper jams, jalapeno raspberry, and garlic and onion are all flavors particularly suited to this use. (I'm currently infatuated with a line of jams I just brought into Kitchen a la Mode called Emily G's Jams of Love that has the above flavors and more, including a cabernet sauvignon jam that I'm obsessed with.) A wedge of brie with a thin layer of jam on top works well, as does a mound of goat cheese with a depressed center. This is an incredibly easy way to dress up unglamorous cheese that will have folks raving, I swear to you.

5. Make-your-own pizza: Why order out when you can make it in? Check out my past article and video on making pizza like the pros. Make your life super simple by picking up the dough at your favorite local pizza parlor. Most of them will sell it to you and usually only for two dollars or so.

6. Pigs in a blanket: I'm a sucker for these but don't love the frozen ones from Costco (plus, who feels like schlepping if you don't have to?). That said, as much as I love to cook, you're not going to catch me making my own pastry dough from scratch for something like pigs in a blanket. So, do it Ben Salmon cheating style. Get yourself some Pillsbury crescent rolls, cut them up and wrap each piece around a mini hot dog. Bake them, and that's it's, you're done! Super easy and they're always the first appetizer to go. Truth be told, they're kind of the bane of my existence since they're the easiest appetizer I make and more popular than the ones I actually spend time on.

7. Potato Skins: These are one of those things that you don't really think to make at home, but they're not hard to do. Just bake the potatoes, cut, scoop, season, add fillings, bake again and garnish. The beautiful part? Feel free to do all the work up to the "bake again" part the night before and pop them into the oven when you're ready to serve them. Get creative and have fun with the toppings.

8. Nachos: I love me some homemade nachos. The truth is, you can make them at home better than most restaurants can. Plus, they don't travel well, so don't bother getting them delivered. The trick is in the layering. Get yourself a big platter and put down a single layer of chips. Put on all the toppings you want (I like to put cheese on before all the toppings and again on top of them), then another layer of chips and toppings, and then again (if you can tower that high). And please, in the name of all things holy, do not microwave your nachos. Bake those babies in the oven on the platter you want to serve them on. Take them out when it's warmed through and the cheese is melted. Broiling them for just a moment after baking will give you a nice browned, bubbling nacho top that will make mouths water.

9. Corn bread: Oh baby, need I say more? Check out my recipe for bacon cheddar corn bread from this summer. Serving it right from the cast-iron pan feels appropriate for game day. My bacon cheddar cornbread isn't exactly diet friendly, but it's moist and succulent. Besides, a little bit won't kill you. Regardless, there will likely only be a little bit left over once everyone else has attacked it. This is an oft-requested dish of mine that I can never seem to make enough of.

10. Growler of beer: Want to bring beer that's a little more interesting than a six-pack of Bud Light? Stop by a brew pub like the Gaslight in South Orange and pick up a growler of their locally-made beer. It's totally unique beer, not to mention a novelty to sip a signature brew at a party that you can usually only get at a bar. Just be sure to bring the jug back home with you, as you have to buy it if you're not refilling one.

Just because you're not making "gourmet food" doesn't mean you can't enjoy it and have fun with it. Your friends will be so enamored with your Super Bowl fare, they won't even notice any halftime show wardrobe malfunctions.

Ben Salmon is a former literary agent and the owner of Kitchen a la Mode: Accessories for Cooking & Entertaining in the heart of downtown South Orange. His local food column at Patch explores the food and drink scene in the area.

Have an idea for something you'd like me to explore? E-mail me. I'd love to hear from you.