Alright, listen up y’all, let’s talk about some grub for that there… uh… tailgate party thing. You know, the one where you eat outta the back of your truck ‘fore the big game. I got some ideas, so pay attention.
First off, you gotta have somethin’ easy to hold. No fancy forks and knives. We ain’t got time for that! Think sandwiches, but not them little tea party ones. I’m talkin’ Ham-And-Cheese Sliders. Yeah, them little burgers, but with ham and cheese. Get the kind of rolls that are already sliced, makes it quicker. Slap some ham, slap some cheese, maybe some mustard if you’re feelin’ fancy. Boom. Done. You can make a whole bunch of ’em fast, and folks can grab ’em and go. That’s the kinda food you need.
- Mini Burgers are good too! Get that ground beef, mix in some salt and pepper, maybe a little onion if you got it. Make ’em small, like real small. Cook ’em up on the grill or in a pan, whatever you got. Throw ’em on them little slider rolls. People love them little burgers.
- Hot dogs and Brats. Can’t go wrong with a good ol’ hot dog or a brat. Get the ones that are already cooked, saves you time. Boil ’em, grill ’em, whatever. Just make sure you got plenty of buns and mustard, and maybe some relish for them that like it.
- Pulled Pork. Now this takes a bit more work, but it’s worth it. Get yourself a pork shoulder, rub it down with some spices – salt, pepper, paprika, whatever you got. Cook it low and slow till it falls apart. Then you shred it up with a fork. Put it on buns, put it on chips, eat it with your fingers, I don’t care. It’s good eatin’. If you ain’t got time for all that, those ready made ones from the store will do just fine too, ain’t no shame in that.
Okay, now you need somethin’ on the side. Can’t just eat meat all day. Well, maybe you can, but I like a little somethin’ else.
Beans! A big pot of beans is always good. Pinto beans, baked beans, whatever kind you like. Just open a can, heat ’em up, maybe add a little bacon if you’re feelin’ fancy. Beans is good for ya, and they fill you up. You can even make them in a slow cooker if you got one of them fancy things.
Pasta Salad. Now, this is where you can get a little crazy. Cook up some pasta – them little elbow noodles work good – and then throw in whatever veggies you got. Peppers, onions, tomatoes, olives, whatever. And then you need a good dressin’. I just use some oil and vinegar, maybe a little sugar. But you can use whatever you like. Just make sure it tastes good.
Chips and Dip. Can’t forget the chips and dip. Get a big bag of tortilla chips, and then you need some dip. French onion dip is always a good choice. Or you can make your own. Just mix some sour cream with some seasoning, and you’re good to go. Easy peasy.
Now, let’s talk ’bout keepin’ things cold. Nobody wants warm potato salad or hot beer. Get yourself a cooler, a big one, and fill it with ice. Put your drinks in there, your potato salad, your dips, whatever needs to stay cold. And keep it outta the sun. You don’t want all that ice melting too fast.
And for keeping things warm, a big thermos is the way to go. Put them hot dogs or brats in there and they’ll stay nice and warm for a while. The same goes for that pulled pork or them beans.
And don’t forget the drinks! Beer, soda, water, whatever you folks like to drink. Just make sure you got enough for everybody. And if it’s cold out, some coffee or hot chocolate is always appreciated.
And last but not least, you gotta have somethin’ to do besides eatin’. You can’t just stand around all day. Bring some games. Cornhole is always fun. Or frisbee. Or whatever else you got. And if you got a TV, you can watch the game. But mostly, folks like to talk and laugh and have a good time. That’s what a tailgate party is all about.
So there you have it. Some ideas for your tailgate party food. It ain’t rocket science. Just get some grub, get some drinks, get some friends, and have a good time. And don’t forget to clean up after yourselves! Nobody likes a messy tailgater.
One more thing, If you don’t feel like cooking all this stuff yourself, there ain’t no shame in getting some help. The store sells all kinds of ready-made food. Just buy it and heat it up. Nobody will know the difference. The important thing is to have fun and enjoy the game.