Happy Halloween Tailgaters!

Happy Halloween Tailgaters! It is a bright and early morning for myself. I have no special plans as for tailgating this morning, afternoon, or night. It is really hard to make it to a game when the costs alone are so high any more. I hope to make it to at least one game this season. The last time that I got to do any kind of tailgating was when I attended a concert on back to back days at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin. It is actually a pretty great venue for the Midwest that holds a substantial amount of people, and allows them to pre-game in the lots prior to the show. The best part is that it is kind of secluded from anything part of the general population. The lots are so vast because they are basically open fields where they allow people to park.

Are time spent there tailgating was not exactly the longest either. We basically rolled up a couple of hours before the show, and sat there long enough to chug a few beers. Other people were grilling and playing some games when showed up, but we got there a little later than we wanted and had to wait in the line to get in the venue.

Again I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Halloween and hope that their tailgating adventures turn out to be a little more exciting than my last experiences. The best way to solve that problem is plan ahead, and do not assume anything.

Mystery Post

Keeping with the Halloween theme, I wanted to keep the topic of choice hidden until you read just this one sentence. The suspense is killing you, I know. Do you keep within the spirit of Halloween and dress up for the games this weekend? Halloween is tomorrow, which is Saturday for those of who do not know, and there is a slate of college games schedule for the entire day. Then on Sunday, the morning following the festivities, there is another day full of football with the NFL schedule. How many of you will actually participate in dressing up in costume for the day? It may be uncomfortable to be Fat Elvis or a Giant Brick, but going the extra mile might be worth it.

You might be the only person to show up dressed in a costume, but at least you will stand out. You definitely will get a lot of comments…good or bad. I personally would think it would be more fun to show up for the day in a costume. Not to many times do you get to dress like a fool in public, and not really worry about what people will say. Really if you plan it right nobody will even know that you were there. Get a costume that totally conceals your identity you have a mini-pass to be an idiot for awhile.

The biggest question is what do dress up like? You do not want to show up as a football player…not very original. Leave your best costume ideas for the big tailgating weekend. This just gives you a better reason to get outside and enjoy a hot apple cider and spiced rum drink.

Squeezing The Tailgate Society

It has just been a little over two months since I created this blog for users that were looking for additional information regarding tailgating activities, tips, recipes and more. My initial objective was to just create topics where people could interact with them by leaving comments about their advice and stories.

One of my earlier posts debated between what type of grill will cook your meats to perfection. At your tailgate party, you want to have the best possible food available, and personal preference of taste will determine which category of grills you would cook from. You can find more of this debate at its original source, “Grilling Challenge: Gas vs. Grill.”

I also wanted to provide users with the top products, different tips and techniques offered by experienced tailgaters. This could include any personal information that I might have, any research that I conduct, or other personal stories/ideas about what makes their tailgate party the best. My post, “Top Activities to do while Tailgating,” supplied tailgaters with different suggestions that they could while they are hanging out in the lots. Depending on how crazy you feel at the moment you could either tackle all 10 activities or only one or two. In addition, “Essentials of Tailgating,” is another topic where you find ideas related to most key, quality items that you could want and need for your tailgate party.

Finally, I sought to supply resources outside my own personal knowledge, since mine is limited about tailgating. This was probably the best way for my readers to find the pertinent information they wanted because it would them alternative options with more seasoned, experienced tailgaters. My first attempt was to send readers to another blog post called, “The Ultimate Tailgater,” but I think this was futile since it does not seem like they updating continuously. For a better perspective for finding more information I would look under both of these posts, “The Drunken Tailgate,” and, ”Tailgating Lots from Tailgating America”. I believe both of these are currently still posting, and you probably have a better chance of what you are looking for.

Iconic Television Show Even Makes Reference to Tailgating

I was watching television the other day, and it just happen to be the Simpson's whom made reference to tailgating. I could not believe how tailgating has become integrated into American entertainment culture. That it is now even being recognized as a national pastime in a cartoon as another symbol of American pop culture is truly amazing. Two great, but completely different topics could come together to make the ultimate tailgating reference.

The funniest aspect of the entire episode was this short blip of praising tailgating as so finely described by the one and only Homer Jay Simpson,

“We’re not here for the game. The game is nothing. The game is crap. The game makes me sick. The real reason we Americans put up with sports is for this: Behold, the tailgate party. The pinnacle of human achievement. Since the dawn of parking lots, man has sought to fill his gut with food and alcohol in anticipation of watching others exercise.”

This response came in essence of s response to his kids asking why they were going to the football game so early. Clearly he nailed that answer.

Upon further research I found that the Homer quote came from the Simpson’s season 19 episode #18 called “Any Given Sundance,” if any readers were curious to where they could access this clip. It is at the beginning of the episode, so you do not have to wait long to find the clip.

I was unable to find a viable clip online, so let me know if anyone out there has this short segment from the episode I mentioned. No explanation can do the creative imagery and writing of the Simpson's justice.

Recipe of the Week

Wazzu Tailgate Chili -

This looks complicated and time consuming with a lot of ingredients, but since you can make it the night before it is actually a quick fix at your tailgate party…just reheat and eat. I found this recipe at Allrecipes.com where you can find other great recipes for tailgating or just dinner on a Monday night.

Ingredients:
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground pork
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped, divided
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 habanero peppers, seeded and minced
• 2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onion
• 3 (15 ounce) cans chili beans
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle lager-style beer
• 2 tablespoons cornmeal
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Cook ground beef and pork in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.

2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in 3/4 of the onion and all of the green pepper, habanero pepper, jalapeno pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the drained meat into the onion mixture along with the green onion, chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, beer, and water. Sprinkle with the cornmeal, then season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.

3. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate overnight.

4. Reheat the chili over medium heat until it begins to simmer again. Top individual servings of chili with cheese and remaining chopped onion.

Bon Appétit!

How to Drink for Free

Short on funds and still want to catch a buzz for the big game. Here a few simple tips to help you solve your predicament.

#1 – Have a large group of friends with deep pockets.

• The more friends that are at the game, the more possibilities that someone else is going to buy you a drink. Ten friends could mean ten drinks, and the deeper the pockets mean multiple drinks from one person. What a steal! Just make sure you are the last round, or you might get cut off early. Also try not to abuse your friends either. They may not ask you to come back. Predict the right moments when you know you have the best opportunities to sneak in a quick drink.

#2 – Make Sure those Friends are Generous

• The previous strategy does not work unless your friends are fairly giving with their booze drinking money, but some of them may be in the same state you currently find yourself. Do not be noisy about your friend’s finances, but if you can make them feel sorry enough for you I bet they will at least buy you one drink. I actually guarantee that they will. I mean what is a measly $6 or $7 when it comes to friendship and having a good time.

#3 – Fill Up Before You Leave Home

• Have any extra beers or liquor laying around the house…well pack it in a bag and take it to go. The best alternative for having to carry booze for the ride while keeping it concealed it buying a flask. An excellent tool for any tailgater to invest in. It’s cheap and practical. One time cost of purchasing the flask, and you got a permanent carry-all for your booze. Not to mention that liquor in a flask will be cheaper and last longer than investing a lot of beer.

Try out these few tips and see how far you make it for the day. What kind of buzz can you achieve without having any money in your pockets?

Best NFL Stadium for Tailgating!

Soldier Field Stadium, Chicago, IL - Home of Chicago Bears Football

This is completely my own opinion and has no factual information regarding the best places to tailgate at. I choose Soldier Field for several reasons as my favorite place to tailgate:

1. Limited opportunities to tailgate in other parts of the country

• Having no money and limited access to earning any in the near future has put a strain on my capabilities to travel and spend my days drinking and relaxing in the utopia that is tailgating. Besides a few local college tailgate parties within the State of Illinois (U of I and ISU), a couple of White Sox games, and a few concerts I have not been any where that has matched the intensity of the atmosphere at Soldier Field. The fans are passionate about their team, and you can definitely sense that.

2. Location

• Right off a major interstate there are several parking lots within the area to locate yourself for the day. These lots are easily within walking distance to the stadium, which makes it quick to get so you can continue to party just up to the start of the game. The last important issue is with exiting the area. Since the parking lots a far enough from the stadium (but I remind you close enough to walk), if you beat the pedestrian traffic you can avoid the long car lines too.

3. The Fans

• The several games that I have been tailgating at the fans were always hospital. Handing out free food samples, asking if you need a drink, or offering just about anything they had to make your time more enjoyable. Everyone seemed willing to share their love of tailgating and football.

Leave a comment and share your favorite venues to tailgate at and why.

Bud Light - Grooler: Tailgate Approved!

If you are a regular football watcher on Sundays you have probably noticed Bud Light’s Tailgate Approved infomercials. Here is another strange and wacky product they have come up with. They combine two important elements of tailgating necessities, a cooler and a grill. Each has their own obvious benefit, but I will not go into that because if you did not know what a grill and a cooler is used for, you may want to look into help. This is what one writer had to say about the Grooler:

“For $125 you get two coolers with a grill in the middle. Awesome, right? I mean, sure, you can toss a grill and two coolers in the back of your car for cheaper and with less lugging, but this is still a fun gimmick.”

I totally agree because that is such a high price to pay for an item that is probably less functional than the two products separated as individual units. That being said, why not buy something so off the wall? You can actually try and see how well this product holds up against the rest of its competition. Not to mention you get to say you actually own the Bud Light Grooler, which as we know is Tailgate Tested, Tailgate Approved!

Once you think about it too, $125 is not that bad for two coolers and a grill because one grill can cost that match depending on the size and brand. In the long, if this product is as useful as it sounds it may save you some additional funds by reducing the overhead costs associated with purchasing additional coolers or grills. I have been interested to see how these products work in live action out in the parking lots, but have yet to try themselves (short of cash flow) or read any product reviews related to any of Bud Light’s tailgate items.

So, try the Grooler out! Give it a test run and post your results.


Click Here for more information on Bud Light's Grooler

The Tailgating Cookbook: Recipes for the Big Game

This tailgating recipe book, "The Tailgating Cookbook: Recipes for the Big Game," was written by Robert Sloan. Here was short description of his credentials and interests:

“Bob Sloan is the celebrated author of Great Burgers. Based in New York, Bob is a busy guy who teaches and writes mysteries and other books on a variety of topics. He is an equal opportunity tailgater, firing up his grill at soccer, baseball, and flag football games, and even at cricket and rugby matches.”

It sounds like Sloan is a well-established author in all areas of his writing, and knowing that he regularly attends sporting events to tailgate only proves that he has found some delicious recipes. His enthusiasm for tailgating provides an extra sense of trust in his abilities because it shows he is a fan of the pastime. He would want to provide other fans with the same tastiest recipes and useful tailgating techniques. At over 270 pages long there has to be a couple of excellent recipes to try out. Here is the brief product review that was provided:

“Hungry spectators need look no further than The Tailgating Cookbook for sizzling recipes guaranteed to please. Packed with burgers and brats, chili and stew, tasty kabobs, ideal side dishes, desserts, and drinks to go with them, anyone can turn their simple hot-dog-and-beer party into a gastronomical glutton-fest of tasty delights. With expert tips on equipment, prep-ahead, timing, food storage, tailgating etiquette and scoring the perfect spot to hunker down, this part cookbook/part handbook will get the party started.”

So not only do you get great recipes, you are also provided with other helpful tips related to tailgating. I recommend checking this book out if you are short on ideas for an upcoming tailgate party you are looking to host. The cost of purchasing this book is far less than the headaches you would have otherwise not knowing what to do for your tailgate party.


Click Here to purchase "The Tailgating Cookbook"

Recipe of the Week

This recipe sounded too good to pass on without sharing the information with others. I mean it has at least three of my favorite things in a meal: burgers, bacon, and hot dogs. Keep the ingredients simple and flavorful, I say.

Burger Bacon Dogs

This recipe was provided by Bruce in Keystone Heights, Florida, and the original source can be found at Tailgating.com.

Ingredients:
1 pound of hamburger
1 pound of thin sliced bacon
8 hot dogs (the real deal, no cheap ones!)
4 slices of cheese (split the slices of cheese in half)
1 egg
16 toothpicks
Tin Foil Wrap

Preparations and Cooking:
Combined hamburger, egg and your spices/seasonings to taste and form 8 hamburger patties.
Spread out your bacon with every two slices being about 2 " apart.

Slice each hot dog from end to end, NOT completely through, maybe half through the thickness of the dog and insert one half slice of the cheese into each dog.

Place the dog on one end of the hamburger patty and carefully roll the dog while wrapping it with the patty.

Place this carefully at the ends of your bacon, which should be spaced 2 " apart (2 slices of bacon per burger-dog), carefully roll and wrap the bacon. Secure bacon to each burger-dog with two toothpicks. NOTE: Leave each toothpick exposed on one side or the other in order to remove them after cooking.

Wrap your burger-dogs with tin foil and place on grill over medium heat, but do not place directly over flame. Cook for half-hour and then CAREFULLY remove foil from burger-dogs (HOT JUICE-Be Careful!)

Place burger dogs back onto grill for browning.

Serve with any condiments by itself or on a large Hoagie Roll - Awesome!