Down, set, eat! Go tailgating with the help of Food Network chefs
It’s Week 4 of the 2022 NFL regular season – do you know where your portable gas grill, smoker or deep fryer are?
Yes, the NFL season is well underway and fans across the country are once again engaging in what is fast becoming the other national pastime – tailgating. So if you want hit a pro game and join the party in the parking lot, here are a few ideas for some imaginative and delicious eats to serve up before kickoff courtesy of FoodNetwork.com.
On the more esoteric side, there is Guy Fieri, whose stuffed pupusas (www.foodnetwork.com/ shows/guys-big-bite/guidos-tailgate-greats) are guaranteed to satisfy any hungry pre-game diner. This is a Mexican dish consisting of a thick corn tortilla stuffed with any number of fillings including chorizo, a variety of vegetables and cheese, then is baked or fried. Best of all, they can be made ahead of time so no muss, no fuss once at the stadium. Hearty fare for a hardy crowd.
If finger foods aren’t your thing, then perhaps Melissa d’Arabian’s game day chili (www. foodnetwork.com/shows/ten-dollar-dinners-withmelissa-darabian/videos/ten-dollar-tailgate) might be. Here, she makes hers with the usual ingredients including ground beef, onions, black beans, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes and seasonings, and adds bacon and beer for a malty flavor. And then there is a surprise ingredient – cocoa. Don’t judge before you try.
For sides, how about Tyler Florence’s potato salad (www.foodnetwork.com/shows/tylers-ultimate/ videos/ultimate-tailgate)? here, the “Tyler’s Ultimate” chef draws on his Southern heritage to make a mixture from small Yukon Gold potatoes, hard boiled egg, salt, minced red onion, dill, parsley, scallions, dill pickles and brine plus mayo, dijon mustard, olive oil and lemon to give it a creamy flavor. And don’t forget the capers. Of course, this is made ahead of time as well but it’ll be worth the extra work.
And no football game is complete without wings. Florence is all over that as well (www.foodnetwork. com/shows/tylers-ultimate/videos/ultimate-tailgate), roasting them ahead of time in the oven and tossing them with a mixture of honey, soy sauce, Thai red curry paste, lime zest and butter. If you like spicy wings, this imaginative take on a well-worn dish is for you.
And for dessert, there is Sandra Lee’s New York cheesecake cookies (www.foodnetwork.com/shows/ sandras-money-saving-meals/videos/city-tailgatefavorites). For this, you’ll need a whole sleeve of Graham crackers, flour, butter, egg white and brown sugar for the base and cream cheese, egg yolk, lemon zest and vanilla for the filling. Certainly anything to do with cheesecake isn’t dietary and this is no exception. Then again, we don’t go tailgating to lose weight, do we?