LARA SOLT/DMN

Joe and Herdercine Nash have been inviting friends to their home in Dallas to watch the Super Bowl for many years.

When Deborah Spencer starts planning a Super Bowl party, she doesn't need to send out invitations. The 10 people on the guest list already know the details.

For eight years, Mrs. Spencer and her friends have gathered to "just eat and have a good time" while watching the Super Bowl together. "We have a little group, and we're very compatible," she said.

This group of friends, who get together for other holidays and special occasions, also worship together at Hamilton Park United Methodist Church. Herdercine Nash, who hosts the party at her home with her husband, Joe, described all but one couple as "senior citizens," mostly in their 70s and 80s.

The Nashes' home is optimal for viewing Sunday's Patriots-Giants game. They have a 55-inch television and plenty of seating in their spacious living room.

Mrs. Spencer said she has loved football since her time teaching at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania. Because her favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, didn't make to the Super Bowl, she will be rooting for the New York Giants over the New England Patriots.

Mrs. Nash was less committed – she says she didn't even know who was playing until recently. Her husband will be cheering for the Patriots.

"When we watch the game, we get so excited," Mrs. Spencer said. "I just jump and dance around if my team scores a touchdown."

Mrs. Spencer said she plans the menu and makes the assignments for the potluck dinner. "I am responsible for baby back ribs, potato salad and spoon bread," she said.

Mrs. Spencer said she started cook the ribs on Friday morning.

"When you cook them that long, very slowly, the meat just falls off the bone," she said.

Mrs. Spencer said the spoon bread is similar to cornbread, but lighter and fluffier.

Mrs. Nash said she will be making "dump" cake, a recipe her blind father used to make by dumping apple pie filling, crushed pineapple, yellow cake mix and two sticks of butter in a dish, then baking the mixture in the oven.

"Everyone knows me for my dump cake; everyone knows I got it from my daddy," she said.

Mrs. Nash said she also will be trying a new recipe for macaroni and eight cheeses that she saw on "The View." Her husband said he would have been satisfied with a more modest version: "It takes a while to find all the cheese."

Mrs. Nash said another guest, Lucy N. Allen, will bring pigs' feet, chitterlings and mustard greens.

"That's the only time we eat that kind of food," Mrs. Nash said. "We care about our blood pressure and heart."

Mrs. Allen said she loves to cook for her friends.

"I prepare food for them and I love for them to come and enjoy themselves," she said. "Any time we can find some time to get together, then we do."

Mrs. Nash said people will start arriving at her house around 4 p.m. Sunday.

"We can have the food set up, and then we nibble all the way through the game," she said. "Most of us don't care too much who's playing. We just enjoy and eat."

Mr. Nash said the get-together is a good chance to socialize with friends.

"The men like to talk a lot. The women will get in the corner and talk a lot," he said. "We'll drink a little beer and eat good food."