The Tailgating Cookbook: Recipes for the Big Game

Tailgating has gone from a simple pre-game meal of hamburgers and dogs to a full-blown ritual, lasting hours, involving dozens, and featuring elaborate full course meals. In fact, it's well known that many people who go to Michigan Football games don't have tickets and go just to tailgate and watch the game on TV! It's truly incredible to see these people with the RV's and a spread that would make any caterer jealous. The Tailgating Cookbook is part BBQ cookbook and part event planner. The brief introduction covers Tailgating basics such as equipment, preparation, food storage, etc, before getting into the meat of the book, no pun intended on appetizers. Now I love a good appetizer and hot wings can be a meal to me. The book provides a great buffalo wing recipe where the wings can be grilled. There are also recipes for tailgate party staples such as Salsas, Guacamole dip, deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail, and more. After the appetizers comes the main courses and the book is divided into sections on Beef, pork, chicken, fish, vegetables, Burgers and Brats, Chili, side dishes, desserts, and drinks. There's also specific menus for special events like Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July. The author takes into account that this is a tailgate and some recipes have to be prepped in advanced either in the morning or the night before, or the recipes are things that can be made quickly and with a minimum number of ingredients. The Potato salad with Bacon is a great make ahead dish and the bacon really gives it some flair over everyday potato salad. The Lambeau field or more accurately Wisconsin-style Brats are always a great favorite for game day. And can be grilled or boiled. The Hawaiian style chicken kabobs are also great and very easy to make. An excellent food that can even be made on a small hibachi if that's all you have and you're not feeding many. Everyone has their own favorites for tailgating but Bob Sloan has some mighty good recipes here as well as some practical tips on making a good tailgate party.