Those of you who know me, know I love me some football and
tailgating. And with one of the biggest games of our season just days away, can
we please chat about all things tailgating?
This Saturday, Florida State will play Clemson. I LOVE this
match-up. Two good schools, both in the
ACC, and both with tons of school spirit. And truth be told, I actually like
Clemson fans. Last year, we drove up to South Carolina for the game and,
despite the loss, we had THE BEST time. Such a neat town with friendly fans! We
even tailgated with Clemson fans after the game. They were gems.
Here’s a couple pictures from our trip last year.
No matter who you are cheering for this weekend, we can all agree on what
makes a good tailgate. Hosting a tailgate is so much fun if you are willingly
to put forth some effort. Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way.
A tent is a must. In the south, it is seriously hot as you
know what for at least half the season. You and your guests want some shade and
so does that mayo-based pasta salad you made.
A generator is a definite plus. Then you can set up a t.v.
to watch the other big games of the day, and set up a fan if it’s going to be a
scorcher. I’m really not able to give any more advice in the generator
category. In my book, this is the boy’s job for the tailgate. I have no clue what they do to get cable out
there on the t.v., but it sure is nice.
Back to food. Anything that needs to be refrigerated should
not sit out for more than an hour. And during the ultra hot months, put those
foods on ice while they are out. You don’t want to be responsible for food
poisoning now do you?
When deciding on the menu, I try to choose one main dish.
It’s normally some type of sandwich.
Ham stuffed biscuits with mustard butter always seem to be a hit, and they are easy
peasy. Something like this is good when people have had a few drinks and need
something substantial to eat. They also can sit out all day and be perfectly
fine, no matter the temperature outside. Then I like to include a couple other
food choices: fruit, sausage balls, crackers and pimento cheese, boiled
peanuts, etc. You know, all the healthy
foods for a balanced diet. Hey, I listed fruit, okay? Pretty much everything I make
can be made the night before the game, so on game day I just have to heat the grub and pack everything up! We use an XL plastic storage bin to carry all
the food, which means less bags and easier travel.
Table linens are often overlooked, but really shouldn’t be.
They can make or break your spread. A lot of the college logo tablecloths can
cost you a pretty penny. I like picking out some fabulous fabrics in garnet and
gold and making my own tablecloth. I like to choose a couple different patterns
and use one for a tablecloth and one for a runner. If you don’t own a sewing
machine, don’t fear. Fabric tape works wonders. Flowers and garnet and gold
picture frames filled with past tailgating experiences add the perfect
finishing touches to your table.
Lastly, here are some tailgating supplies that can easily be
forgotten but really need to be included when you are heading out for the day.
- Batteries for your iPod doc
- A couple gallons of water (good for drinking AND rinsing off the
serving platters before packing up)
- Lysol wipes
- Paper towels
- Garbage bags
- Ice
- Chairs
- Plates and utensils
- Koozies
Whoever you are cheering for this weekend, I hope you have a
fabulous time with close friends during only THE BEST season of the year –
college football season.
Oh and GO NOLES!
