Category: TAILGATING

MAPLE PEPPER WINGS

MAPLE PEPPER WINGS
3-4 pounds chicken wings
1/3 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt

  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Line baking pan with foil and lightly spray with non-stick oil.
  • Toss flour, baking powder, pepper, salt and garlic powder in a large Ziploc bag.
  • Place chicken pieces in the bag, tossing to coat.
  • Shake off excess and place on baking pan in a single layer.
  • Bake 20 minutes.
  • Dip each wing in the sauce and return to pan on its opposite side.
  • Bake another 25 minutes until cooked through.
  • Dip in sauce a second time as you plate them.

GLAZE
2/3 cup PURE maple syrup
2 teaspoons FRESH ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Bragg’s liquid aminos
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 green onion, minced (optional) for garnish

  • Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan.
  • Bring to a boil over a medium heat,
  • Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, 5-7 minutes until thickened.
  • Garnish if desired and serve.

HONEY BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS

HONEY BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS
2 cups buttermilk
3 pounds chicken wings
3/4 cup Frank’s original hot sauce
1/3 cup QUALITY honey
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon celery flakes
1/2 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt

  • Place chicken wings in a large Ziploc bag.
  • Pour buttermilk over chicken pieces, turning to coat. Let sit 30 minutes.
  • Drain chicken and discard buttermilk.
  • Place chicken pieces back in the bag.
  • Preheat oven to 425°.
  • Line baking pan with foil and lightly spray with non-stick oil.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the hot sauce, melted butter, tomato paste, garlic powder, celery flakes and sea salt.
  • Add 1/3 of sauce to the bag, tossing to coat chicken.
  • Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer on the baking tray.
  • Bake 40-45 minutes, basting with remaining sauce and turning every 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through .
  • Serve with Bleu cheese dressing and celery sticks.

Home made “BLEU” CHEESE DRESSING
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup large curd cottage cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
4 ounces Bleu cheese crumbles (sometimes I use Gorgonzola for a bit of change or when I accidentally pick up the wrong container at the grocery store and we like it just as well)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

  • Place all ingredients in food processor and pulse until it’s well mixed.
  • Chill for 24-48 hours before serving.

BACON WRAPPED TENDERLOIN TIPS

These will make a HUGE hit at your next party!  They are the perfect guy food too making them perfect for backyard get togethers or tailgating parties!

BACON WRAPPED TENDERLOIN TIPS
1 pound beef Tenderloin Tips
Precooked Bacon
1/4 cup avocado oil
Thin slices of Gruyere cheese
1 teaspoon Zero to Hero Sweet BBQ rub
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar glaze, reduced slightly
2 tablespoons minced chives

  • Preheat a cast iron skillet on high.
  • Blot dry the Tenderloin Tips.
  • Trim the pieces so they are about 1 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inches wide.
  • Season the meat with the BBQ rub.
  • Add the oil to the cast iron skillet and heat briefly.
  • Add the seasoned tips the skillet and cook for 1 minute while stirring JUST long enough the sear the sides but keep the center raw.
  • Quickly remove the meat from the skillet and cool in fridge.
  • Lay a piece of cheese on each beef tip.
  • Wrap seared tips with bacon and hold them together with a tooth pick.
  • Stand the wrapped tips up on a sheet pan so that the bacon is on its side leaving some space in between.
  • Cover pan with plastic film and refrigerate until ready to bake.
  • Preheat oven to 450°.
  • Bake 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Remove from oven and transfer to serving plate.
  • Drizzle with balsamic vinegar glaze and sprinkle with minced chives before serving.

PINEAPPLE CHILI MEATBALLS

This recipe makes 70 meatballs making it perfect for a crowd, tailgating party, church potluck or freeze in batches for quick weeknight meals.

HONEY GARLIC GLAZED MEATBALLS
2 pounds ground beef
1 cup PANKO bread crumbs
2 LARGE eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons each FRESH sea salt and black pepper
1/2 cup finely diced Vidalia onion
3 LARGE cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon butter

SAUCE
1/2 cup Smucker’s Pineapple Preserves
1/3 cup Sweet Red Chili Sauce
6 ounces orange juice
3 tablespoons Teriyaki sauce

  • Spray baking racks with non-stick cooking spray and place on baking trays. Set aside.
  • Whisk together the milk and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper, stirring to combine.
  • Crumble ground beef over milk mixture and combine well.
  • Shape into ping pong size balls.
  • Place each meatball on a baking rack.
  • Baked uncovered 12-15 minutes until cooked through.

While meatballs are baking start sauce.

  • Whisk together all the ingredients and bring to a SLOW boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes more.
  • Add meatballs to sauce, gently turning to coat.
  • Cook for 5-10 minutes.

HONEY GARLIC GLAZED MEATBALLS

This recipe makes 70 meatballs making it perfect for a crowd, tailgating party, church potluck or freeze in batches for quick weeknight meals.

HONEY GARLIC GLAZED MEATBALLS
2 pounds ground beef
1 cup PANKO bread crumbs
2 LARGE eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons each FRESH sea salt and black pepper
1/2 cup finely diced Vidalia onion
3 LARGE cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup jalapeno ketchup
1/3 cup honey
3 tablespoons BRAGG’s liquid aminos

  • Spray baking racks with non-stick cooking spray and place on baking trays. Set aside.
  • Whisk together the milk and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add bread crumbs, onion, salt and pepper, stirring to combine.
  • Crumble ground beef over milk mixture and combine well.
  • Shape into ping pong size balls.
  • Place each meatball on a baking rack.
  • Baked uncovered 12-15 minutes until cooked through.

While meatballs are baking start sauce.

  • Melt butter in a LARGE sauce pan.
  • Add garlic, cooking until aromatic.
  • Whisk in the ketchup, honey and liquid aminos.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes more.
  • Add meatballs to sauce, gently turning to coat.
  • Cook for 5-10 minutes.

GRILLED BBQ BACON WRAPPED CHICKEN WINGS

GRILLED BBQ BACON WRAPPED CHICKEN WINGS

3 dozen chicken drumettes
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
36 slices bacon, cut down to 3/4 strips – save 1/4 ends for another dish or salad
1/2 cup favorite BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Chipotle)
3 tablespoons pineapple juice
36 toothpicks
Lime wedges for serving.

  • Soak toothpicks in pineapple juice for 20 minutes.
  • Prepare grill for indirect heat.
  • Pat chicken dry.
  • Season chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Wrap each piece with a bacon slice and secure with a soaked toothpick.
  • Oil grill grates.
  • Grill drumettes over direct heat 4-6 minutes until bacon is lightly browned. Turn frequently so as to brown evenly.
  • Move chicken to cold side of grill, cover and cook 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
  • Baste several times during last 5 minutes.
  • Serve with lime edges.

CHICKEN FLAUTA RING

CHICKEN FLAUTA RING
2 cups chicken, cooked, shredded **
1 small red onion, chopped small
1 large ripe tomato, chopped
2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese, divided
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
18 flour tortillas fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
guacamole and avocado slices, for garnish
sour cream, for garnish
salsa, for garnish

  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken pieces, onion, tomato, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/2 cup  cheddar cheese, the lime juice, and taco seasoning, mixing thoroughly.
  • Preheat the oven to 400˚.
  • Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Place one of the tortillas on a cutting board.
  • Scoop 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture onto the bottom edge of the tortilla.
  • Roll up the tortilla tightly and cut in half crosswise.
  • Repeat with the rest of the tortillas and filling.
  • Arrange the flautas in a circle on the baking sheet.
  • Sprinkle with half of the remaining cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
  • Place a second layer of flautas on top of the first so they are overlapping.
  • Sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
  • Place the rest of the flautas on top for a third layer.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
  • Place a spoonful of guacamole and sour cream in the center.  Top with tomatoes and sprinkle with green onions and salsa.
  • Serve immediately and Enjoy!

NOTES:

  • **ROTISSERIE chicken works great!
  • I use my pizza pan wrapped in foil to get them really crisp!

BBQ CHICKEN SLIDERS

BBQ CHICKEN SLIDERS

12 King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls OR 6 King’s HAWAIIAN buns
3 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
½ cup Sweet Baby Ray’s original barbecue sauce
½ red onion, thinly sliced
6 slices Baby Swiss or Gruyere cheese
3 ears baby white corn cut from cob or 2 cans white shoepeg corn
2 green onions, minced
FRESH ground salt and pepper
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Bragg’s amino acids
2 +1 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Over medium high heat melt 2 tablespoons butter.
  • Add corn and green onions, generously seasoning with FRESH ground salt and pepper.  Cook until staring to turn golden brown.
  • Add apple cider vinegar and Bragg’s amino acids to the skillet, stirring to combining and cooking JUST until liquid is absorbed.  Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Slice the rolls in half lengthwise.
  • Place the bottom half in a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) rimmed baking dish.
  • Combine chicken and BBQ sauce until well mixed.
  • Spread the chicken evenly over the rolls, followed by the red onion, corn and then the sliced cheese.
  • Top with the remaining rolls.
  • Brush the tops with melted butter mixture.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, until the bread is golden brown.
  • Slice into individual sliders.
  • Enjoy!

IRISH PUB STYLE POTATO NACHOS

IRISH PUB STYLE POTATO NACHOS serves 4

I had these recently at an Irish Pub and they were SOOO good!.  They are like regular nachos but instead of tortilla chips, they use crispy fried potato slices!

3-4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed clean
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped bacon
4 green onions, sliced thin
1 large tomato chopped and drained
scant 1/4 cup avocado oil
sour cream

POTATO preparation

  • Slice potatoes in half.
  • Slice each half into 1/4″ thick slices.
  • Place potato slices in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes.
  • Drain WELL and dry potatoes with paper towel.
  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Toss potatoes with avocado oil.
  • Place on a parchment lined pan and bake 30-35 minutes or until browned and crispy.
  • Season with FRESH ground sea salt immediately.
Drain on paper towels.
  • While potatoes are baking, cook bacon and render fat.
  • Drain bacon on paper towels.

NACHOS preparation

  • Increase oven to 475°.
In a bowl, combine cheese, most of the bacon and half of the green onions.
  • Layer half of the potatoes in an oven proof skillet or the same baking tray.
  • Top with half of the cheese mixture.
  • Top with another layer of potatoes.
  • Top with remaining cheese mixture.

  • Bake 15 minutes or until cheese is melted through.
  • Remove from oven and top with remaining green onions, bacon and dollops of sour cream.

BACON WRAPPED SPAM BITES

BACON WRAPPED SPAM BITES

PREP & COOK TIME 30 MINUTES – yields 32 bites

1 pound bacon (16 strips, cut in half)
12 ounce can SPAM, cut into 32 pieces
1/3 cup mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 clove garlic, minced
32 Heavy toothpicks

  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Cook bacon until a good deal of the fat is rendered, but bacon is NOT crisp and is still pliable. Drain on paper toweling until cool enough to work with.
  • Wrap a bacon strip around each spam cube, securing with a toothpick. Place 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Whisk together the mustard, maple syrup and garlic.
  • Drizzle over baked cubes and return to the oven for another 10 minutes until bacon is crisp.

NOTE: If you’re not a SPAM fan, cubes of country ham can easily be substituted.

BUFFALO CHICKEN TENDER SLIDERS

BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS

2/3 cup Frank’s hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
4 cups shredded chicken**
12 KING’s Hawaiian sweet rolls
1/3 cup Ken’s Sweet Vidalia Onion dressing
Green leaf lettuce or cabbage mix, optional
Thinly sliced Mozzarella cheese

  • In a large sauce pan combine the hot pepper sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a SLOW boil, removing from heat as soon as it bubbles.
  • Add the chicken and stir to coat.
  • Spread a layer of the dressing on each roll or better yet make a slaw with the dressing and a cabbage mix or the lettuce.
  • Top with a slice of mozzarella cheese, lettuce if using and a scoop of the chicken mixture.
  • Serve and enjoy!

NOTES: **A rotisserie chicken works great when you’re in a time crunch! I prefer to pan sear a few breasts for shredding when I have time.

COWBOY SMOOCHES

Whether you use a grill or the oven these are a HUGE hit with the guys and a perfect appetizer for ANY sporting event!  They are quick, easy and can easily be prepared in advance!  If you want something with a little less punch try my COWGIRL KISSES with their raspberry chipotle sauce.

COWBOY SMOOCHES

8 ounces chive and green onion cream cheese
2 tablespoons Frank’s Hot Sauce
4 slices bacon, diced and browned crisp
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Jalapeno Peppers

  • Mix cream cheese and hot sauce until well blended.
  • Fold in half of the cheese.
  • Clean and remove seeds from peppers.
  • Fill peppers with cream cheese mixtures.
  • Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bacon pieces.
  • Bake or grill over low heat 15-20 minutes.

or try my COWGIRL KISSES