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Community Corner

Tailgating Temptations for Football Fans

For all you football fans these tasty dips are a great way to start off your weekend celebrations.

Well, Boston sports enthusiasts, it’s been a bit of a rough week to say the least.  But as fans, we know that there’s always next year and that once the catcher’s mask is packed away, the football gear is front and center. Whether you make the pilgrimage to Foxborough, catch a local college matchup or cheer the hometown team, no doubt tailgating is part of your ritual.

What gained popularity in the 1950s as a casual way to grab a snack while awaiting the opening of a stadium has evolved into a full-blown entertainment extravaganza. Today, in parking lots across the nation, fans gather for hours before kickoff, until well after the last play is made enjoying some pretty tasty and creative appetizers, entrees and desserts.

So where did this ritual originate? Well, it should not come as a surprise that a number of passionate football historians credit their chosen team’s spirited fan base with the first tailgate occurrence. So although that information is not certain, all accounts center on devoted fans circling around the stadium with food and drink to toast the team’s win or console each other when a loss becomes a reality.

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Since the practice began in approximately 1920, innovative solutions like the tailgate grill which attaches to your bumper for approximately $200 have come into being. If you are so inclined, Tailgategrill.com offers some great tailgating tips and reviews of grill for perusing.

Some of what I am about to suggest may seem obvious, but bear with me. Tailgating recipes are not the same as Superbowl recipes. By the time the Superbowl rolls around, the temperature will more or less demand that you are entertaining indoors, with all the oven-ready items that make sense when there is, dare I say it, snow on the ground. 

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Many die-hard tailgaters will bring a hibachi or small grill to allow for burgers dogs and wings. And if you’re smart, you’ll get the parking space next to them in the hopes of neighborly sharing. For our purposes this week, the focus are those things you can prepare ahead, are easy to transport and don’t need to be warmed in an oven. 

When transporting your game snacks, a reliable cooler is a necessity. Even when there is a chill in the air, the sun can create enough heat in a car to allow things to spoil. And given the way the parking traffic seems to go, you’ll want your leftover snacks for nibbling at game’s end. Though you may want to use the theme appropriate football serving platter you picked up at a recent sale, remember that you may be balancing things on your trunk, the top of a cooler or folding table. Opt instead for plastic storage containers and platters that are disposable. You won’t lose your favorite items to mishaps and cleaning is eliminated as a challenge.

This week, some dips are featured. You can prepare them the day ahead and keep them chilled in the cooler until you are ready to devour your hard work. Next week, stay tuned for additional tailgating treats. But until then, game on!

Bacon Tomato Dip

  • 2 cups light sour cream
  • 8 slices crisply cooked bacon, crumbled
  • 1 ½ cups tomato, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • Chips, crackers or cut-up fresh vegetables

Stir together first four ingredients in a medium bowl until well mixed. Cover, refrigerate to blend flavors (at least 2 hours). Serve dip with chips, crackers or cut-up fresh vegetables. Yield: 3 cups dip 

Zesty Shrimp Spread

  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (9.75-ounce) jar shrimp sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 pound cooked shrimp, finely chopped
  • Assorted crackers

Beat cream cheese, shrimp sauce, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper in small mixing bowl until creamy. Stir in shrimp. Transfer to serving dish. Cover, refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with crackers. Makes 4 cups

Beer Cheese Dip

  • 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
    2 packages of 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
    1 package Ranch Dressing Dry
    1/2 Cup beer (seasonal micro brews work well)

Mix all together and let set refrigerated at least 2 hours before serving. Garnish with green onions Great dip for pretzels.

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