Tailgate Lot News Digest #5

Believe it or not, no alcohol can ruin a tailgate.  Just ask the Nebraska fans that suffered that fate below.

Nebraska tailgating spot quiet after arrests

A popular Nebraska football tailgating spot was unusually quiet for the weekend game that took place one week after a burst of violence that led to 13 arrests.

This week, Indian Center officials ran a fence along the perimeter and posted signs that said, "No walk-ins, alcohol or drugs." Police officers were also on hand. 

Tailgating comes to Shreveport's Red River District

Hundreds have gathered in the Red River District to watch the game. It's SPAR's first ever tailgate experience. The event features a giant screen of the game, bars were open, food vendors are there and of course there's fun for the kids, too. Organizers are happy with the crowd and see fun, family events like this to be the Red River District's future.

SPAR says the next tailgate will be held on October 25 for the LSU game and will have more vendors and kids activities.

Don't Get Sacked on Game Day: Execute Healthy Tailgating Plays

Football season is here, and we are ready to gear up for some fun and delicious tailgating. Whether your pregame party is at home or at the game, healthy planning is essential in order to keep your weight from stepping out of bounds.

You don't have to pass on tailgating in fear of sabotaging your waistline. Contrary to what most people think, healthy tailgating can be done. Let's be honest, who wants to deprive themselves of pizza or buffalo chicken wing dip? It's okay to enjoy some of your favorite foods, but try to be mindful not to overindulge.

Game Time Stadium Nacho Cheese

Mmmmmm, nachos.  We've all had nachos at some point at a stadium, and while overpriced, DAMN they taste good.  Never enough cheese, never enough peppers, but they are delicious.

Enter Brad McCormick.  As he tells it:

Growing up I always loved getting nachos at the stadium, the cheese was different than any kind sold in stores, if you have had it, you know what I'm talking about.  A few years ago I had a Superbowl party and wanted the same stuff served in the stadium and couldn't find it anywhere except from a restaurant depot in a massive quantity. So I ordered a huge 10-can, served it up and everyone loved it, but I had a few months supply left over. I finally found it in smaller packaging through Gehl's, this is one of the companies that services the stadium concession industry. Last year I got married and served it up at my wedding in the trays you get at the stadium topped off with jalapenos. I thought why not make the whole experience available to anyone anywhere, so the Game Time Stadium Nacho Cheese Party Pack was born. 

  

After receiving these, I immediately tore into them.  Preperation is as simple as you'd imagine: Heat the cheese, eat the cheese!  I chose to heat the cheese in a pan on the stove, but you could microwave it, etc.

You can buy the cheese in a single pack, a three pack, a six pack, or the best deal: a season pack (12).  You can get the Party Pack-Gift Kit.  This would make a great gift for any man-cave, as it comes with a pack of nacho cheese, two bags of tortilla rounds, a can of sliced jalepenos, and 4 serving trays.

 

I happened to have a batch of homemade pretzels cooking when I got my Game Time Party Pack.  I served up the nachos to rave reviews, and we even used the cheese with the pretzels.  Top shelf!

You can check Game Time Stadium Nacho Cheese at their site: http://stadiumnachocheese.com/

You can also follow them on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GameTimeStadiumNachoCheese
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GTnachocheese

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Awesome Looking Food Trucks

Check out these awesome food trucks!  I'd love to see these in the tailgate lot!

And the original:

Corndog Bites, Artichoke Dip, Chili & Puppy Chow

This post is from our friend Aimee D with Gridiron Girl (www.GridironGirl.org, @gridirongirlorg).  She has been kind enough to share some of her families go to recipes for the tailgating season.

CORN DOG BITES

•  2 boxes Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 milk
• 2 tbsp honey
• 18 little smokies (or 18 slices of hot dog, about 3/4?)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray three mini muffin pans generously with cooking spray or line with mini cupcake liners.  Prepare muffin mix according to directions and stir in honey.  Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full.  Cut little smokies in half and put in the center of the muffin batter.  Bake for 8 minutes.  Allow to cool in the pan for a couple of minutes then serve with ketchup and mustard.  If you are making these the night before like I did, you can reheat them in the oven of wrap them in foil and heat in a pan over medium heat on your grill.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND ARTICHOKE DIP

This dip is adapted from a beautiful layered dip my friend Alicia makes.  I’m just too lazy to layer it.

• 1 1/2 packages (12 oz) neufchatel or cream cheese
• 1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers
• 1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts (if you don’t have marinated ones, just use plain and add a couple tablespoons of italian dressing)
• 1/2 packet of ranch dip mix

Add all ingredients to a food processor and mix until the dip is a slightly lumpy texture.  Serve with crackers or bread.

WENDY’S CROWD PLEASING CHILI

My mother-in-law raised four kids and they were social, so she was often cooking for a crowd.  I can always count on her to make large portions and this chili is no exception. This recipe makes a lot of chili, but don’t worry, you will eat it because it is delicious. I’ll post a picture of my bowl loaded with chili, cheese, Fritos and green onions later.

• 1 very large (1 gallon) can chili con carne
• 1 equally large can tomato sauce
• 3 cans kidney beans
• 3 cans pinto or chili beans (or 2 pkgs dry beans, soaked overnight)
• 3 cans diced tomatoes with onions and green peppers
• 2 cans diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro
• 3 cans Ro-Tel (or tomatoes with green chiles)
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 lbs cooked ground beef or turkey
• 3 tsp chili powder
• salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in an 18 qt. roasting oven.  Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes (about 350 degrees).  Turn the oven to low (200-250 degrees) and cook for another 1 1/2 hours, stirring regularly to avoid burning on the bottom.  Serve chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream and crunched up Fritos or tortilla chips.

PUPPY CHOW

My friend Jessica and her mom made this treat all of the time when we were growing up.  We regularly request Jess makes it these days when we go on trips together. It is an addictive snack and I could eat an entire batch!

• 9 cups rice cereal (Chex, Crispix, etc)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2-3 cups powdered sugar

Pour cereal into a large bowl.  Melt butter, chocolate chips and peanut butter in a sauce pan over low heat until smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour mixture over cereal and stir well.  Dump cereal into an extra large zipper bag or plastic container with a lid.  Add powdered sugar and close container or bag.  Shake and turn until cereal is coated with powdered sugar.  You can then spread the mixture on wax paper to cool if needed but I usually just pour it from the bag into a large bowl and it is cool enough.

Grill Grates Are Simply Amazing

If you are like us at TailgateLot, sometimes they gear you bring to the tailgate isn't as nice as you'd use at your house.  We have an old grill that we've make to look like a football helmet and mounted on the front of our rig.  The problems with cheaper grills is that they can start to show their flaws when cooking a lot of traditional fatty tailgating foods.

Enter the Grill Grate.  This is an addition to practically any grill out there, as they sit on top of the existing grates.  They will help to reduce and eliminate flare up and provide more even cooking.  Knowing our grill, and the devestation it takes, I was very interested in this product.  

The Grill Grates are made from aluminum, and the panels come in many different sizes.  They interlock forming a solid surface to grill upon.  Once installed, the Grill Grate will give you new dimensions in cooking, as they will provide infrared heating to your food, along with conduction and convection.  

I used hamburgers as my first test of the Grill Grate.  After a few minutes on one side, I gave them a quarter turn, and let them cook a few minutes longer before flipping.  The marks that the Grill Grate leaves on the food is gorgeous.  The cooking was extremely even, and best of all, NO FLARE UP AT ALL!

My next test was a steak.  The Grill Grate shines with steaks.  In the 2013 World Championship Steak Cook-Off, the top 3 finishers all used GrillGrate!  In fact, 1st place the past three years has been grilled with Grill Grate.  I'm not a world champion steak griller, but even my steaks came off looking world class.

Grill Grate is a must have for any grill setup out there.  Gas, charcoal, you name it.  The end product tastes great, and looks even better.

Check them out at: http://www.grillgrate.com
You can also follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/grillgrate

Thermoworks Thermapen: Digital Instant Thermometer

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When cooking, the only true way to know when something is done to perfection is to know the temperature.  Sure you can press a steak with a finger, but that really doesn't let you know what is going on inside.

The Themapen by Thermoworks is about the best digital thermometer that you can buy.  Sure there are others, but they are either slow, inacurate, or too bulky.

The accuracy of the Thermapen boasts a 3 second reading with +- .7 degree accuracy and .1 degree resolution.  It is good from -58 to 572 degrees.  The probe itself tapers down to a very thin point, so that you don't leave a giant hole in whatever you are checking.

click for larger

They come in 14 colors now, and are splash-proof as well, so you don't have to worry about the occasional contact with liquid.

The price on the Thermopen is more than your casual thermometer.  But your casual thermometer is slow and inaccurate!  I've been using Thermapens in my cooking for 5+ years.  I like it so much I even bought one for my dad for father's day!

You can read more about the Thermapen at: http://www.thermoworks.com/products/thermapen/

You can also follow them on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/Thermapen

Gourmet grub makes her the CWS tailgate hostess with the mostest

Here's a nice article about Kelli Francis from Omaha, who runs a highend tailgate at the College World Series. This year she has professional chef Trey Nelson from LeadBelly (in Lincoln, NE).  Mobile kitchen, misters for the crowds, a week of great eats.

 Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20130620/GO/706209893

Barbecue Pairing Infographic

Great barbeque pairing infographic

Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate hosted by Mario Batali

Purchase your tickets to Jets + Chefs: The Ultimate Tailgate hosted by Mario Batali and receive access to the Priceless New York Fast Pass lane for expedited entry into the venue. Be sure to select the MasterCard Priceless New York Fast Pass at check-out.

Chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and New York Jets fan Mario Batali teams up with his favorite football franchise for this walk-around sampling of the best tailgating foods you’ll find outside of MetLife Stadium's parking lots. NYCWFF’s kid-friendly event will feature fun activities for the youngsters including a special games area and appearances by some of your favorite Jets personalities, demonstrations of grilling techniques by culinary and gridiron greats and the chance to devour some super fare usually reserved for game days. This rookie event taking place on Pier 92, NYCWFF’s “Culinary Campus,” is sure to score a touchdown among football and food fans alike! Don't forget to visit the Absolut Bloody Mary Bar for an extra special drinkable treat. Put your green and white on and get ready to chant: J-E-T-S…EAT! EAT! EAT!

Read More: https://www.priceless.com/newyork/offer/?productNumber=8890&preview=&cid=133780

Iowa Bacon Bowl and Tailgate

There was a fog machine under an inflatable Iowa Barnstormers helmet helping to cover up the hazy circumstances of Monday’s press conference at Wells Fargo Arena. 

From the promise of an “historic announcement” for the Arena Football League franchise, the unmistakable scent of fried pork emerged.

In a show similar to swine on skateboards, the Barnstormers announced the first annual Iowa Bacon Bowl in cooperation with the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, to be played on July 20 against the Utah Blaze. 

The Iowa Bacon Bowl tailgate will take place in the north parking lot outside of the Community Choice Convention Center at 3:00pm before the Barnstormers take on the Utah Blaze in Wells Fargo Arena and costs $25.

 Read More: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130603/SPORTS/130603023/Iowa-Barnstormers-big-announcement-Bacon-Bowl