Tailgating Party Playbook: Recipes and More

By Mindy Kobrin

Sure it's football season, but what really matters is tailgating season. It’s time to huddle up with my party ‘pass’port playbook and score a recipe touchdown with your fellow fans! The point of great tailgates is to catch the action, snack on great food and cheer your team on while having a good time with your friends.

Whether you’re heading to the stadium or cheering from the comfort of your home, my pre-game plan will make sure you have the necessary equipment to make the most of the day.

Pre-Game Plan: The Pack Up

Pack your vehicle with everything that will make you comfortable. Glam it up with luxury folding lounge chairs like those found at Brookstone’s. Add panache to your corner of the parking lot with tables, linens, candles and flowers all in your team’s colors.

No rulebooks say you have to grill at a tailgate, but it's certainly what separates the casual grazer from the true have-charcoal-will-travel gourmet. Friends just raved about a grill they saw at a recent Notre Dame game. Check out Vulcan’s combination cooler and gas grill at Eat Gourmet.

Be bold. Decorate with banners, face paints, team tumblers, color-theme napkins, plastic football helmets (great for chips-n-dip or ice bucket), plastic sandwich baskets, milk-chocolate mini footballs and iced football shaped cookies that shout "We came to win!" I ordered my football cookies from Cookies By Design.

If tailgating from your living room, you can show your support with fun party lights. At Plum Party fans will delight in a string of party football lights.

Drinks

Even if you don’t know the difference between a Pooch Kick, a Power Sweep or a Punt, you can show your support and your love of the game with a variety of drinks.

The safest bet is to pack beverages that appeal to everyone’s tastes. Beer is an obvious choice but by no means the only one. Decent wine is available in single-serve bottles. Soda, juice or hot cider are good choices too, and it's essential to bring water — for cooking and to keep your guests well-hydrated, especially once the cheer starts flowing.

Food

Prepare a dish that will make the competition take notice. Choose two MVP entrees like Wings and Burgers or whatever your guests will love. To keep from going off-sides, offer some tasty super sides like dips and mixed olives. Check out my recipes below!

Don't Forget the Sauce

Prepare as much of your food in advance and treat your afternoon in E Lot as you would a camping trip: The more you plan beforehand, the more fun you can have in the wild.

Remember disposable plates and silverware, napkins, condiments, salt and pepper, bottle and can openers, plenty of ice, paper towels, blankets, trash bags and protection from the sun, rain, or snow. One last thing: don't forget your tickets!

Keep everything quick, easy and social. Find foods that can be cooked in less than 15 minutes or prepared ahead of time, if necessary.
See a few of my playbook favorites below.

Now that you have your playbook party checklist of supplies, food and drinks, you can toss a great party!

TOMATILLO SALSA AND CORN CHIPS

10 large or 12 medium sized tart tomatillos
3 serrano chiles
½ cup white onion, minced for blender
¼ cup white onion, minced for topping
½ clove garlic, minced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
Dash of salt

Husk and wash the fresh green tomatillos. Pat dry, stem and chop them. Chop the Serrano chiles. In a blender, puree the tomatillos, chiles, ½ cup minced white onion, garlic and fresh cilantro until well-blended and smooth. In a large serving bowl, pour mixture and stir in the remaining minced onion. Season to taste with salt. Refrigerate overnight or serve immediately with fresh corn chips. Score!

TASTY TOUCHDOWN OLIVES

1 cup assorted olives with pitts, from your local grocer’s food bar
2 tsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, peeled and quartered
1 fresh chili pepper
3 thyme sprigs
2 strips orange zest

Rinse assorted olives with cool water in a strainer. Set aside to drain.
In a small pan warmed over medium-high heat, add olives and remaining ingredients.
Cook and stir gently for 5 minutes or until olives are warmed through and through. Turn off heat and allow olives to rest inside the pan. Yields 1 cup.

FIRST-DOWN CHICKEN WINGS WITH SPICED DIPPING SAUCE

4 lbs chicken wings approximately 24 – 30
Marinade
1 cup apple cider
2 tbs white wine vinegar
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs Worcestershire
2 tbs hot chili powder
1½ tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp Tabasco
½ tsp salt
Ground pepper to taste

Hellman’s ® Spiced Dipping Sauce
3/4 cup Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise*
1 tsp. lime juice
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Combine marinade ingredients together and mix very well in a large bowl. In an extra large Ziploc baggy, place chicken wings and add marinade over top.

Be sure to coat all chicken wings and marinate in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight before grilling.
In a small bowl, mix Hellmann's mayonnaise with other dipping sauce ingredients and keep refrigerated until wings are grilled and ready to serve.

NEVER-BENCHED BURGER

2 lbs of ground beef
4 egg yolks, well beaten
4 tsp yellow onion, grated
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp butter
Salt and fresh pepper to taste
**2 tbs grated Swiss or sharp cheddar cheese

In a large bowl, combine beef, egg yolks, onion, salt and fresh pepper. Mix well. Form into four or six round patties making a small center indentation.
Place a touch of butter inside and cover with meat. **You can substitute Swiss, Blue or Cheddar cheese for butter. Grill patties.
Enjoy with Touchdown Thai Mayonnaise, lettuce and sliced beefsteak tomato on a toasted sesame bun. Serves 4-6.