similar pants | sweater | similar blouse | similar blazer | boots
guess who’s getting their game face on? that is, georgia football game face ‘cuz the georgia bulldogs are #1 this week and we’re throwing a tailgate party. one of my kiddos and his buddies are on their way to athens to watch georgia face off against south carolina on saturday.
this week it’s all about game day prep! oscar’s even joining in on the fun. he even helped in the kitchen. or maybe he licked the floor when any stray crumbs found their way down… but he’s ever ready to head to the car.
whatever the case, the trays are assembled, the jell-o shots are made, our game colors are flying, and we’re ready to watch some UGA football.
- 6 cups mixed Chex cereal (I used half Wheat Chex and half Corn Chex)
- 1 ½ cups Cheez-Its, or other cheddar-flavored crackers
- 1 ½ cups pretzels
- 1 cup peanuts
- 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
- ¼ cup Sriracha
- 2 tbsp. soy sauce
- 1 tsp. grated ginger (or powdered ginger)
- 1 tsp. grated garlic (or garlic powder)
- Preheat your oven to 250°F.
- Mix the Chex, Cheez-Its, pretzels, and peanuts in a large bowl. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, Sriracha, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Microwave the mixture in 15-second intervals until the butter is melted. Stir to combine.
- Spread the mixture evenly over a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until the Chex Mix is crunchy. Allow to cool. Once cool, store in an airtight container.
Mini Italian Skewers
Ingredients:
- 1 (8-9 ounce) package of refrigerated cheese tortellini
- Approximately 50 salami slices (usually 2 small packages)
- About 50 cubes of sharp white cheddar (I just buy a block and cut it into 1/4 inch thick pieces)
- 1 bottle of your favorite Italian salad dressing
- 1 (6 ounce) can or jar of medium olives (green, black, pimiento stuffed, kalamata, or a combination– your choice!)
- Toothpicks
Directions:
- Cook the tortellini according to the package directions (about 4 minutes). Don’t overcook.
- After cooking, drain the water and let the tortellini cool on the counter for about 10 minutes before placing them in a large ziplock bag or bowl. Pour an entire bottle of Italian dressing in with the tortellini, and let them marinate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator.
- On each toothpick, thread the marinated tortellini, salami, cheese slices, and olives however you would like.
- Arrange the skewers on a platter. You can make these ahead of time and let them sit in the fridge.
Jello Shots
Ingredients:
- 1 small box of Jell-O (I use small boxes so I can make different flavors in batches. Double the recipe if using large boxes.)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2/3 cup Smirnoff vodka
- 1/4 cup water
Directions:
- Stir the Jell-O into the boiling water until dissolved.
- Allow the mixture to come to room temperature, stirring occasionally. If you don’t do let the mixture cool, the alcohol can get boiled out, and you’ll just be stuck with plain Jell-O.
- Stir in vodka and water (I usually mix these while I’m waiting for the Jell-O to cool a little and keep it in the freezer.)
- Pour into shot glasses or paper cups, and place in refrigerator until set.
Enjoy!
Walking Tacos
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 lb Ground Beef
- 2 tbsp Taco Seasoning
- 7 Lunch size bags of Fritos* or plastic cups
- Shredded Lettuce
- Shredded Cheese
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jalapeno Slices
- Taco Sauce
- Sour Cream, etc.
Directions:
- Brown ground beef and drain.
- Add seasoning and 1/4 cup water.
- Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Gently crush chips in each bag.
- Open the top of Frito bags and roll down edges.
- Add a meat and cheese and your favorite toppings and gently toss with a plastic fork.
before we head to the game, oscar and i wish each of you a lovely weekend! for more tailgate hacks watch the video below. go dawgs!
About The Author
Looks like the perfect day for it, too! Have fun. And good luck to the Dawgs. Crate & Barrel used to have a cool little table (almost like a little coffee table for a picnic!) that rolled up into its own long bag like those bags chairs fit into. I used to take it with me on picnics. I love that thing… Your skewers look good and so easy. I’ll have to give them a go. I’m always collecting good appetizer recipes and these would all be fun. Enjoy your game and your family!
Thanks for sharing your recipes. A perfect tailgating menu. Have fun!