The kids are back in school. The leaves are starting to change colors. Men are rushing out of Sunday morning worship services. That can only mean one thing, it's September!
September is a great month for sports lovers. We welcome back the NFL (I'm sure your boyfriend was so happy on July 25 and it wasn't because of that new two piece swimsuit you bought), pull out our college football gear, wave good bye to the WNBA and get ready for the World Series. Yes, September is the month of new beginnings for all of us who's religion happens to be sports.
A great way to spend a little extra time with the man friend or to meet potential man friends is to host a tailgate. Now that we're older and are in grownup relationships or are looking to be in grownup relationships, we need to tailgate as such. No more drinking games beginning at 5:30 am and mixing Bud Light with Corn Flakes. It's time for real food and real fun and no more bailing friends out of the drunk tank (I know this happens in places other than East Lansing). Here you will find simple ideas to make your tailgating shindig the talk of the parking lot.
While NFL and College Football tailgating experiences vary, such as you do one in a parking lot (pro football) and you do the other on campus (college football), the one thing they have in common is the food. No tailgate party can be considered a success without good food. No one wants to pay $12.95 for a hotdog once they're inside the gates, so its your job to make sure everyone is happy and full before the game.
Traditionally tailgaters eat hotdogs and hamburgers. But guess what, you aren't traditional, you read my blog, and my blog is anything but traditional. Follow my tailgating advice and I guarantee that your boyfriend will be trying to put a ring on it just to make sure he gets an invite to your tailgate next week.
Materials:
Pick-up truck or SUV-
Put your Beetle in the garage for the weekend. It belongs no where near football not matter what JLo keeps telling us during MNF. Oh wait, that was a Fiat commercial, wasn't it? Eh, same thing.
You can find one for your team , one to ride or one to drive. Just make sure it can hold enough food and drink for all the people you've invited.
Make sure you're game day playlist is ready and plug it into your car and blast that funky music. You're playlist should be so good that the folks tailgating around you turn down their music and ask you to pump up yours. If you need good ideas for playlist, ask my friend @BoomerProducion. No one produces a better play list than this hot Republican.
Grill and Deep Fryer-
If you can't cook it on one of these, its to complicated to eat at a tailgate. And it's not one or the other. Both are required.
Menu:
Ray's Fire Fried Turkey Wraps-
3 gallons vegetable/corn oil
6- to 8- pound thawed turkey breast
6 large flour tortillas
6 spinach tortillas
3 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups diced tomatoes
4 avocados sliced into fourths
Sliced jalapenos
- Pour oil up to fill line of your deep fryer. Heat oil to 375 to 400 degrees, then maintain at 350 degrees throughout frying process to avoid greasy turkey.
- Place the turkey in the fryer basket, breast side up, and lower into oil. Cook 8 minutes per pound.
- Insert a meat thermometer into the turkey. The safest temperature for the meat: 170 degrees F. Move the basket to a preparation area and remove the breast from the basket. Place on platter and let sit for 10 minutes.
Remoulade Sauce- (to be made night before)
2 cups mayonnaise
1 tablespoon horseradish
2 tablespoons creole mustard
2 tablespoons minced green onions
2 tablespoons minced parsley
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoon Ms.O's Hot & Spicy Seasoning
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Franks Red Hot Sauce
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor and refrigerate until ready to use.
To make the Turkey Wraps:
- Debone and cube turkey breast.
- Lay out each tortilla flat on counter.
- Spread 2 tablespoons of remoulade sauce over each tortilla.
- Place cubed turkey on tortilla, top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, jalapenos and an additional tablespoon of remoulade sauce.
- Roll tortilla up tightly and cut in half.
Browne-Sugar Cola Ribs: (some of this needs to be done the night before)
1 cup brown sugar
12 ounces Caffeine Free Pepsi
3/4 cup Open Pit Thick & Tangy Brown Sugar & Spice
2 medium onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 to 3 pounds meaty pork spareribs, cut into 3- to 4-rib portions
Salt and pepper to taste
- Combine the brown sugar, cola, barbecue sauce, onions, garlic, soy sauce, salt and pepper and stir until mixed.
- Place the ribs in the sauce mixture and marinate in refrigerator overnight.
- Drain ribs, pouring marinade into a saucepan.
- Boil marinade for 12 minutes. Keep half for basting and serving on the side.
- Grill ribs over high heat for 1 minute per side.
- Cook covered over indirect heat on grill for 1 hour or until ribs are no longer pink near bone, turning often and basting with remaining sauce.
Buy your favorite veggies, wrap them up in aluminum foil and throw them on the grill.
Add drinks and enjoy being the envy of every girlfriend in the parking lot. You've just thrown a tasty, grow-up, tailgate. Savor it. 
