Serves 12
Hands-on: 20 minutes  |  Total: 30 minutes

Kick off the game with a fun appetizer that gets everyone in the spirit. These little bites are loaded with cheese, and the best part—you can customize them to reflect your favorite SEC team. See the recipe below for a Kentucky-specific variation.

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, grated
1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
12 green jalapeño chiles or mini sweet peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

Preheat the grill to medium-high (about 450°F). Stir together the cream cheese, Cheddar, scallions, Worcestershire, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture into each jalapeño half. Place the jalapeño halves, cut sides up, on lightly greased grill grates. Grill, covered, until the jalapeños are charred and the cheese is melted, about 8 minutes.

Wildcat Blues [Variation]
Substitute 2 oz. crumbled blue cheese and 2 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese for Cheddar. Prepare recipe as directed. Top poppers evenly with 1/2 cup glazed walnuts.