Tailgating parties are the easiest kind. The schedule is set and well-defined. The only entertainment you need to provide is a good working television, the bigger the better, and plenty of food ready on trays, so it is easy for the crowd to eat whenever they want. In fact, if you are not a football fan, you can prepare all this ahead of time, make it easily accessible, provide paper towels, coasters, and a big trash can within ‘field goal’ range, and have some time to yourself, whether it is curling up with a good book, shopping or whatever you would like to do. By making this party fun, easy and “self service” you will have given yourself a Tailgating party of your own kind!
Get a large ice chest, and have plenty of soda, water, and/or beer, and the gang can help themselves to drinks. Plenty of coffee table foods like pretzels, chips, dips, and individually wrapped, hearty sandwiches, make it easy to access, and there is little chance for big spills or mishaps. Hand held desserts, like hello dollies, lemon bars, or sliced pound cake and fruit, are good choices to satisfy sweet tooth’s, but you are probably not going to get many complaints even if the desserts you serve are bowls full of candy bars.
Other options are crock pot chili with crackers, corn chips, and cheese beside it, for creating Frito pies, always goes over well. Sandwiches of thick-sliced ham and sharp, tangy cheese, on thick slices of whole wheat bread, are sure super bowl menu treats. Smoked turkey breast slices on potato bread with creamy Swiss cheese are good super bowl sandwich choices too.
Crock Pot Layer Dip: one pound of Velveeta cheese, 2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chilies, made into the classic cheese dip recipe, and set aside. 6 boneless chicken breasts, boiled in salted water until done, drained, and shredded, then put into a pan with 2 cups of water and 2 packets of taco seasoning mix simmered until the water is cooked out, and the chicken is dry.
1 can refried beans on top of the chicken
1 large can of tamales, cut into half inch chunks and topped with prepared cheese dip
Options:
This dip can include a layer of black olives, topped with sour cream, or topped with guacamole dip.
Guacamole dip:
6 soft, ripe, avacados, peeled and seeded (if the are very soft, you can use a potato masher, if not a blender or food processor can be used)
1 Cup real mayonnaise
½ chopped sweet onion
1-2 finely chopped roma tomato
dash of tabasco
teaspoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 Tablespoon Fruit Fresh (to prevent browning)
salt and pepper to taste.
Blend avacado, mayo, lemon, spices, and garlic. Fold in tomato and onion, serve as a topping on the layer dip, with tortilla chips. So whether you are into football or not, have the best Tailgating party possible this year with these above ideas.
# posted by Mrs. Party @ 10:44 AM
