My, how Grey Cup feasting has changed. Looking back through Spectator pages from the golden days of the Tiger-Cats in the 1960s - when the team's annual appearance in the national football championship was pretty much de rigueur - you find stories about prominent Hamilton women (and it was always women) slaving over hot stoves preparing elaborate feasts for the party they (or rather their husbands) were hosting. None of the ladies had first names; it was always written as "Mrs. John Smith" or whatever, and they did their stirring and simmering dressed to the nines in their best skirts and high heels.

On Sunday, I suspect, most Hamilton fans will he placing their dinner orders with their favourite pizza, wings or Chinese delivery restaurants. Others will have a slow cooker full of chili a-bubbling.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with pub grub, whether you buy it or make it. But if you do catch gourmet football fever and want to roll up your sleeves, here are some out-of-the-ordinary dishes that will elevate your Grey Cup get-together. I've searched my memories and notes for dishes that everybody seems to like, can feed a crowd, are readily multiplied to accommodate more people, and that above all are simple to prepare using readily available ingredients.

Even if you're not into pigskin play, these dishes are great for other parties. And the season for holiday entertaining is just about ready to kick off come Monday.