At-Home Tailgating

Football season is in full swing - but I like to think of it as an excuse to make appetizers and have friends over! Oh, and watch the game, of course.


 
Tailgating in the parking lots can start hours before the game, so make sure to invite friends to arrive well before the game starts for some pre-game fun and drinks.



To throw an authentic tailgate at home, here are some tips to get started:

1. Team colors and disposable serving dishes– encourage your friends to wear team gear to the party and use the colors for decorating the space. If the weather is nice, definitely start the party outside, knowing you can always migrate inside when the game starts. Folding tables and chairs are perfectly acceptable.  Plastic utensils and paper plates make it feel authentic – no one uses real china in the stadium parking lot!

2. Yard games – no tailgate is complete without a bean bag toss, bocce ball, or ladder ball. It gets everyone in the competitive spirit and ready for the big game.

3. And of course the food --Just like if you were at tailgating at the stadium, no one wants to serve anything that takes hours to prepare. Simple is best. Here are some of our favorites: -:

Nutty Touchdown Cheese Ball - a Reuben sandwich inspired cheese ball shaped like a football, need we say more?
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs - spicy Buffalo chicken wings in meatball form - blue cheese included!
Asian BBQ Hot Dogs - Fusion street food at its best – Asian BBQ tops an all-American hot dog
Chipotle, Salsa and Green Chile Mini Burgers – a trio of sliders each with just a little heat
Salsa con Queso with Tortilla Chips – a game day classic -  you can never go wrong with cheese dip.
Sparkling Butter Toffee Cookies – Chewy, butter cookies with crunchy toffee chips throughout – what’s not to love?
 
What creative ideas do you have?  Share images of your at-home tailgating parties with us by tagging us @landolakesktchn on Instagram or Twitter!