The History of Tailgate Parties in America

Tailgating has a long and storied history in America. In fact it's origins can be traced as far back as the Civil War. Patriotic Union supporters used to bring bags of food to cheer on the soldiers on marches and such. While usually confined to sporting events and particularly football these days, tailgate parties can still be widely found at other sporting events such as auto racing or even concerts.

Ease of Tailgating

The biggest reason for the spread of tailgating is the ease and usefulness of having what is basically a food party. Everybody knows how much a Southerner loves his cooking. The caught on popularity especially with the rise of the motor vehicle in the 20th Century and specifically the pickup truck. The tailgate of these trucks served as the counter-top so to speak of these impromptu parties. And they would often take place in a parking lot. This is still the case today.

Most tailgate parties go with the old classic favorites like burgers, sausage, ribs and hot dogs. Really anything that can be fired up on the grill with cold beer flowing while it's cooking. Indeed, the centerpiece of tailgate parties really is the grill or BBQ. There are many different types of grills. Some prefer a heavy duty one to cook for a small army. Some less dedicated tailgaters simply make use of a small charcoal grill. Either will do the job!

Different Food Selections

Plenty of tailgater also prefer more raw types of foods as well such as salads, coleslaw and prepared sandwichs. In fact many tailgaters come prepared with ready made dishes and desserts. A large supply of utensils and plates are also a must  for any serious tailgater. A lot of people use paper plates and forks but if you are going to be siting in for awhile and enjoying a big meal it is better to go with the real thing.

All and all, the tailgate party is a unique American tradition that keeps going strong. There is no lack of tasty treats and hearty meals that revelers take part in. Be sure to check back here often for more great tailgate recipes!

Some Tailgate Party Favorites

With football season in full swing the tailgate parties are breaking out all over America. Who doesn't love gearing up for the big game with all your friends with a cold beer and something tasty off the grill? I've got a couple of great ideas here for you to keep the party rocking.

Tortillas and Sausage

Sausage and tortillas is kind of like hot dogs which every body loves. For this dish though you are going to need your favorite type of sausage meat. There are plenty of varieties from smoked, jalapeno, and cheesy. Pick which one suits your tastes.

Fire up the grill and stick the links on it. Once they are close to being done toss on some tortillas with a little bit of butter. Just cook the tortillas enough to give them a little bit of a crispy ripple. Stick the sausage int he middle, wrap it up and serve. This is sure to be a crowd favorite.

Spinach Bacon Dip

For this recipe you will need a 16 oz section of cheese, a cup or two of chopped spinach, around 4 oz of cream cheese, half a jar of salsa and half a dozen bacon slices.

Put all of these ingredients in a bowl and stir them up. Microwave on high until the cheese is melted. This should take about five minutes. Serve right away.

Bean Dip with Pita Chips

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) can beans, drained and rinsed
6 pitas
1 teaspoon oregano, dried
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Italian parsley leaves, loosely packed
Ground black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Put the beans, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and parsley in a medium sized bowl. Mix and stir it around several times. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Slice the pitas in half and then into 8-10 smaller pieces. Place them all on a large baking sheet. Put a little bit more olive oil over top of them. Add some oregano, salt and pepper and let it cook in the oven for around 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve the pita wedges warm alongside the bean dip. Enjoy!

7 Layer Dip Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, chopped
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1 cup salsa
4 cups cheese, shredded
1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
1 cup guacamole
1 (16 ounce) can refried beans

Directions

1) In a large pan cook the ground beef until it's brown and then drain.

2) Grab a large serving tray and spread the beans about 1 inch thick across it. Layer the shredded cheese on top of it. Put the beef on top of the cheese. Lightly layer the sour cream on top of the ground beef. Add the guacamole on top of the sour cream. Put the salsa on top of the guacamole. Lightly sprinkle the rest of the leftover ingredients (tomatoes, olives and green onions) on top.

3) Serve and Enjoy! Can also be refrigerated overnight and served cold. Add tortilla chips.

How to Make Great Tasting Buffalo Wings

Ingredients

• 12 chicken wings
• 3 ounces of butter or margarine
• 1 minced clove of garlic
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

On high heat, bring to a boil about 1 inch of water. It is best to use a six quart saucepan with a steamer basket for this. Separate the wings at the bone with a kitchen knife. Put the wings into the steamer and lower the heat to medium. Cook covered for about 10 minutes. Set out a plate or tray for the wings to cool out on. Pat them down to make sure they are dry and let them sit in the fridge for approximately an hour. 

After you preheat the over to about 425 F. place the wings on the middle rack under some parchment paper.  Cook for about twenty minutes or until the skin is lightly browned. While you are waiting for this saute some butter with the garlic in a large pan. Add the hot sauce and salt to the mix. Once the chicken is finished roasting, add it to the pan and mix it all around. Ready to serve! Enjoy.