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| Photo courtesy of Christopher Morgan Photography |
With September and
October around the bend, it’s time to start planning your NFL football season!
Just let the scent of honey maple BBQ and fresh corn on the cob, roasting in
its husk beckon you down the street (or out to your own backyard!) for the next
great tailgate or block party. A sports fan or not, the beginning of fall is all
the motivation you need to plan a party or wax nostalgic.
Who doesn’t remember
their high school football games, circling the track and watching the field,
cup of hot chocolate in one hand and hotdog in the other? Now you’re ready for something more
sophisticated than those concession stand snacks you grew up with. Relax, I’ve
got you covered.
When a fan and editor
at Woman’s World got in touch with me
last week, it was to ask for advice on tailgate food. I gave her a mouthful, and
took to my blog to share the love. Whether it’s in a parking lot or someone’s
backyard, outdoor parties are the perfect excuse to get to know your neighbors better,
swap cobbler and nacho recipes, or simply give the kids an excuse to throw
water balloons at each other.
Personally, I like to
use tailgates as a method of sharing everything I’ve learned in my decades of
being a Dolphins fan. When the current
draft picks were toddlers, I was already making a science out of cooler
contents. This is a cheat sheet to get you started:
·
Sophisticated,
Filling, Ooey Gooey Sandwiches that Pack Up Neat!
Braised short ribs covered in melting munster cheese turn out awesome on a
Panini grill. While the sandwich is still warm, wrap in Reynolds combo parchment/aluminum
foil
with the foil on the outside. Stack the sammies on top of each other and place
into a thermal container. Serve when the tailgaters get their hungry on. Hero
sized subs are a great idea, too! My favorites incorporate cobb or grilled
chicken caesar salad, with anchovy laced caesar dressing.
Alternatively, I like to utilize leftovers, like my barbecued salmon hoagie
with apple cider slaw. Whatever the filling, take the insides out of a long
baguette. Stuff the bread and place the top back on. Wrap tightly in parchment
paper. When it's tailgating time, slice the sub into sections (right through
the paper) and hand out to your fans.
·
Done
with stale boring nuts? Me too! Toast your favorite
nuts on a baking sheet. Make it your own by adding your favorite spice,
like chili powder. Place the nuts into a bowl and add raisins or dried
cranberries. Toss in brown paper lunch sacks; roll over the tops and seal with
chip clips. For the party, remove the clips and roll back the tops so that the
bags make their own nut bowls.
·
You
can't go wrong with friend chicken. Think outside the KFC
bucket and prepare your own buttermilk fried chicken before you trek to the
game. Place the pieces into a napkin lined basket and make it the star on your
tailgating table.
·
Burgers,
burgers, burgers. Earn the blue ribbon by stuffing your
burgers before you put them on the grill. Stuffers include sautéed veggies like
peppers and onions, and melting cheeses like provolone and mozzarella. Don't
forget to butter the buns for toasting as you grill the burgers.
·
Sides
That’ll Get You Tailgated: My favorite salad sides are purple
potato salad, toasted corn and poblano slaw and pasta primavera salad.
·
Bring
a Pinwheel Platter: If you are bringing the dish to the
tailgating party make a huge platter of bite size picnic pinwheels. Wrap
10-inch tortilla around your favorite fillings. My favorites are smoked salmon
with cream cheese and capers; provolone, roasted turkey and avocado with
cornichons, and my Ruben inspiration which is filled with sauerkraut, corn
beef, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing – Yumm!
·
Stuffed
Cupcakes: Make your
favorite cake batter and bake the cupcakes. When they are cooled uses a squeeze
bottle to stuff the insides with your favorite filling, like peanut butter and
jelly, chocolate ganache, marshmallow fluff or my favorite – Nutella! Don't
have a squeeze bottle – don't worry. Cut the tops from the cupcakes, use a
melon baller or spoon to remove some of the insides, and scoop your filling
into the cupcake. Top and frost!
It’ll all be so good you won't remember the score ;
). Let’s swap recipes before the season’s done!
1 comment:
This is fantastic!
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