If we’re going to be friends, then you need to know that acts of service, particularly the literal serving of food, is my love language. Blame my Midwestern farm upbringing or the early onset of mothering tendencies — but I’m happiest when in the time around a good meal with friends and families.
So, welcome to our tailgate! Come along on our culinary adventure. I promise I’ll always be serving packable, tasty and probably not-good-for-you dishes all season long.
Game 1: South Dakota State University — bus arrival 10 a.m., kickoff 7 p.m.
With a dual-meal event, I planned premade, chilled lunch items and an easy grilled dinner.
Thai Peanut Chicken Wraps by Chef de Home
I skipped step one and used cooked rotisserie chicken to make this dish a little easier. The next step, the homemade peanut sauce, is perfectly sweet-and-spicy and what really makes the dish. YUM! The veggie mix is very versatile, so I made a few swaps. I’m not a huge fan of bell peppers (I think the taste overpowers most other ingredients) so I left them out. I also took a shortcut and purchased shredded carrots. Saved prep time and dishes is totally worth it here.
Italian Pinwheels by Tornadough Alli
You obviously don’t need a strict recipe to make wraps, and this is no exception. This one shines because of the roasted red pepper and cream cheese layer. Then go crazy with your favorite Italian deli meats and cheeses. I was a little nervous the lettuce wouldn’t hold up in travel, but it was still crisp and vibrant even though I made them the day before.
Classic Chex Mix by Chex
It’s not a party until someone arrives with the Chex Mix. I follow the classic recipe on the back of the box for the sauce, but double it thanks to a tip from my friend Anne. (Hi, love!) I also use pretzel chips instead of sticks and swap out a few cups of cereal for Cheese Its.
Kathy’s Punch
My favorite party punch is a recipe from a former catering/restaurant boss. You’ll have to buy her cookbook for the details, but the slushiness is what sets it apart. It’s a crowd-pleaser, even before you add a little rum or vodka. The kids loved to serve themselves water or punch from these awesome Coleman coolers I thrifted from a few local stores. It was a hot day, so we went through ALL the beverages we brought. You know it’s bad when the college kids are asking for water.
Classic Burgers and Dogs
I made a simple homemade burger and froze the patties the night before. I kept them on ice all day and they were ready to grill at 5 p.m. My classic seasoning includes kosher salt, fresh-cracked pepper, Lawry’s, dried onion flakes, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. The kids got hot dogs, per request.
We rounded out the meals with a big container of mixed fruit and cookies and bars that fellow tailgaters brought along. We also did adult and kid Jello-O shots, but more on that another day!
