The Steelers may not be in the Super Bowl, but, the game goes on. That can mean only one thing: Football food. Here are a few recipes that you can put together for the fans in your house.

The good thing about these recipes is, if you run out, they are easy to throw together to make more.

Consider adding these to your sumptuous snack buffet, because, we all know that Pittsburgh loves a part. So go all out and have fun!

• 2 chillies, chopped
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 large onions, peeled and sliced into rings
• 2 cups plain flour
• 2 tablespoons chilli sauce or chutney
• oil for frying

In a processor, blend the buttermilk and chopped chillies for about 30 seconds. Pour this mixture into a medium bowl and add the onion rings.

Toss and coat with the buttermilk.

Sift the flour into a bowl and transfer the coated onion rings to the flour. Use a slotted spoon and gently shake off the excess.

Dredge the onions in the flour.

Heat the oil in a deep skillet or saucepan and fry the onions until they are golden brown.

Keep them warm in a 300-degree oven and serve with chilli sauce or chutney.

You'll want to balance out that spicy, hot dish with something tasty on the milder side. Try these mussels that you can bake or put under the broiler. Remember to buy more so you can make extra.

What you don't use for the game, you can keep cold in the refrigerator and have with pasta and pasta sauce the next day for dinner.

Au Gratin Mussels
(serves 4)

• 24 mussels, cleaned
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 oz. butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped finely
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

Combine the mussels and about 1 cup or a little more of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook the mussels until the shells open. This should take about 3 minutes.

Remove the mussels from the water, and open the shells, discarding the top shell. Loosen the mussel meat in the shell, but leave the meat in the shell.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and top each mussel with a tablespoon of the bread crumb mixture. Place the mussels on a cookie sheet and grill under the broiler until the toppings are golden. The mussels are already cooked, so don't overdo them, they will get tough and shrivel. Easy does it!

If you bake them, keep an eye on them in a 400 degree oven for only a few minutes, again, just until the cheese topping is golden. Serve warm.

Here's a surprise sandwich that the kids will like, and the adults will be sneaking them, too. Use a good crunchy bread, like a whole grain with nuts for this recipe.

Grilled Banana Sandwiches
(serves 4)

• 8 slices of whole grain bread
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 8 slices Gruyere cheese (or your favorite mild cheese like grated mozzarella, Swiss, provolone)

Place the bread under a preheated broiler and grill for 2 to 3 minutes until toasted on one side.

On a cookie sheet, place the untoasted side up and layer the sliced bananas, then avocado, and then top with the cheese. Place under the broiler and grill until the cheese melts and is slightly golden. Top with the other slice or serve open faced while the cheese is warm and

melty. You can experiment with these, depending on the tastebuds of those you

are serving. Kids will like them as is; adults may enjoy them with cooked bacon bits, raisins, chopped peanuts, you decide.

That's the fun of cooking, and if you hit on something you really like, send the suggestion to me in care of the paper, and it might get passed along to the readers.

As always, enjoy the food and the game!