This Sunday, get out of the kitchen fast and save your energy for the big game.
It is estimated that Americans consumed 36.39 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electrical energy watching 2024’s big game on television — enough to power nearly 2,000 homes for an entire year.
You can bring that number down by whipping up dishes that require little to no cooking time. It’s all about smart shopping and artful presentation. If you buy quality ingredients and pre-made foods, you can host a dinner party without making anything from scratch.
Ingredients:
- Pepperoncini
- Garbanzo beans
- Fresh mushrooms
- Cherry tomatoes
- Provolone cheese
- Ripe olives
- Sliced pepperoni
- Italian vinaigrette dressing
- Lettuce leaves
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and toss gently. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or beeswax wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. When ready to serve, arrange the antipasto mixture on a lettuce-lined platter. Serve with toothpicks for easy snacking.
Ingredients:
- Refried beans
- Chiles
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Tortilla chips
In a bowl, stir together the refried beans and chiles. Using a butter knife or the back of a spoon, spread the bean mixture onto a 12-inch serving plate. Layer the salsa, guacamole and finally the sour cream over beans, within 1 inch of the edges for each layer. Sprinkle the top of the dip with olives, cheese, tomatoes and green onions. Serve with tortilla chips.
Here are more energy-efficiency tips for your party:
- Break Out the Electric Cooker: An electric appliance like a toaster oven, slow cooker, pressure cooker, air fryer or multi-cooker pots can save energy and reduce costs. Toaster ovens and slow cookers can use 50-70% less energy than a standard stovetop or oven.
- Use the Microwave: Warm up dishes quickly and efficiently with a microwave, which can save 30-80% on energy costs.
- Right Pan, Right Burner: The size of your pan should fit the burner. A burner that is too large could use up to 40% more energy. Using the right burner size could save you up to $36 a year.
- Avoid Vampire Power: Appliances can be the money-draining vampires of your household budget. Use power strips to turn them off when not in use.
- Install LED Lights in Common Rooms: LED lights use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lightbulbs.
- Turn Down the Thermostat: Keep your thermostat consistent at 68 degrees in cool months and 78 degrees in warmer months for optimal energy efficiency. You can save up to 10% annually on energy costs by setting your thermostat 7-10 degrees lower or higher than usual.
For more ways to help reduce your energy usage, visit sce.com/billhelp.
