Although burgers and hot dogs are great, sometimes you need to spice up your tailgating menu. Here are some easy, fresh ideas for tailgating food as we get close to the end of football season.
Shish kebabs
1.Shish kebabs are a great finger food and can be made with a variety of food combinations. One option is a fruit style kebab with sliced fresh fruit. From strawberries to apples to bananas, it’s up to you what to add. If you’re going for something a little heartier, try cubed turkey and cheddar cheese with cherry tomatoes.
Biscuit sandwiches
2.Biscuit sandwiches are a perfect size to snack on. If you’re ambitious, you can make biscuits from scratch, but the easy option is to pop a couple cans of flaky biscuits in the oven and slice them in half after they’ve cooled. A dab of mustard, mayo and tiny slice of ham go in the middle and you’re done.
Roasted corncheese dip
3.Chips and dip are a classic tailgate favorite, but instead of plain salsa or standard sour cream and onion dip, try something original. Roasted corn cheese dip needs only four ingredients: 3 cups of corn kernels, 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, 8 ounces cream cheese and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Cook the corn in an oiled 10-inch skillet for five to seven minutes and then add the cheeses. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes and sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Recipe from eatingwell.com.
Pigs in a blanket
4.Pigs in a blanket can use more than hot dogs – use sausage or chicken sausage to change things up. With fully cooked meat, wrap each small piece in a piece of crescent roll dough or puff pastry and follow the baking directions on the packaging. Serve next to a dish of dipping sauce such as ketchup or mustard.
Chocolate-coveredpretzels
5.Mix salty and sweet for a perfect chocolate covered pretzel. An easy and not-so-messy way to achieve this is with square pretzels, Hershey’s Kisses and M&Ms. Place a Kiss on each pretzel and bake at 350 degrees for one to two minutes. Remove from the oven and place an M&M in the center of each melted chocolate. Let cool, and then store in the refrigerator until game time.
