By: Ashley White

It’s a breezy fall Sunday afternoon, and your husband/boyfriend/significant other is once again hogging the couch and TV for a 10-hour football marathon. Rather than retreat into your own room and go on an online shoe buying spree, why not whip up a few fun foods to keep yourself occupied and your man very happy? The secret to good football tailgating food is a lot of munchies: grazing your way through Sunday afternoon and keeping everyone eyeing the kitchen door to see what comes out next!

Dips are always a fabulous way to ease your way from tailgating to kickoff. A tray of chips and dips alongside the first crackle of a beer can opening is the sign of wonderful things to come. A few very easy- but always tasty- winning recipes for dip are below.

Classic Queso Dip: This is a holdover from my girl sleepover days. It was the first thing I learned to “cook” and has since become a classic in my book. All you need is a pound of Velveeta and a can of Rotel tomatoes (Rotel is a brand of chopped tomatoes combined with chili peppers and/or jalapenos; substitute with salsa if you can’t find Rotel). Melt them together in the microwave until fully combined (usually about 5 minutes depending on your microwave), stirring occasionally, and then transfer the dip to a mini crock pot to serve (this will keep the Velveeta from congealing). It’s hard to believe that something so easy is so irresistible. Yum!

Guacamole: Ingredients for good guacamole can range from anything like basic avocados to something as unexpected as Worcestershire Sauce. The recipe below comes from a friend who always has great guac. The secret is finding avocados that are ripe enough to mash, but not overripe and brown:

Serving size: 8-10 people

2 ripe avocados
2 ripe vine tomatoes (chopped)
1 small yellow onion (chopped)
1 jalapeno (minced)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

First mash up avocados in a medium bowl, but leave a little chunky. Gently mix in tomatoes, onion, jalapenos and cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Helpful hint: If storing before serving, make sure you place plastic wrap directly on the dip to avoid browning through oxygenation.

Chili: Rather than serving up chili in a huge soup bowl and filling up on just one selection, why not serve it as a dip, top it with a dollop of Daisy (sour cream) and shredded cheddar, and delight your family with the perfect compliment to Fritos!
There are many easy crock pot friendly recipes like the one here: http://www.recipezaar.com/251837.

Once you’re nearing halftime, it’s time to take the game up a notch with some “finger foods” gone football. These will make all your fans cheer for more!

Stuffed mushrooms: I can’t take credit for these, but a good friend of mine taught me her secret after I couldn’t stop fawning over her mushrooms. These are a must for football games and dinner parties alike. They are easy and unbelievably tasty.

1 package stuffing mushrooms (or standard white mushrooms), 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1-2 cloves of garlic, Finely minced 2 oz sausage (I usually use roll sausage like Jimmy Dean in the frozen foods section), ¼ cup Italian flavored bread crumbs, 3-4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, Salt & pepper to taste, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, 1-2 tablespoons melted butter (optional)

Pop the stems out of the mushrooms and set aside. Finely chop the stems. Heat olive oil in a sauté pan and add chopped stems and garlic until fragrant. Add sausage and sauté until browned. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool.

Slowly add bread crumbs, cheese, salt and pepper and lemon juice. The mixture should be moist, but not too wet. If you need additional liquid to help moisten, add 1 tablespoon of melted butter at a time. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Uncover and bake until tops start to brown, for an additional 5-10 minutes. Allow to cool, and serve.

Pizza rolls: I can remember pool parties where moms would pop frozen pizza rolls in the oven and serve them up. But how hard is it to make your own? Not at all. Here’s a hint: Use crescent roll dough as a shortcut like this: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1747,128176-249192,00.html

Empanadas: Don’t put away the crescent roll dough just yet! Add some Latin flair to American football with this tasty and easy empanada recipe: http://littlespatula.blogspot.com/2007/06/super-easy-empanadas.html

Chicken wings: Buffalo Bills fans wouldn’t stand for football without wings, and you shouldn’t either. Here’s a step by step guide to proper wing preparation: http://www.hotsauceblog.com/hotsaucearchives/how-to-make-hot-wings-a-step-by-step-guide/

Beer brats: Normally served as a “main course” in football food, brats can be cut up in smaller slices and served on toothpicks. The smaller size certainly doesn’t cut down on the burst of flavor on your taste buds when you taste this sausage boiled in beer and onions. Try this:

1 package of spicy bratwurst links
1 medium yellow onion (chopped in thick slices)
1 bottle of amber or light beer

Fill large pot half way with water, bring to boil. Add one bottle of beer and onions. Place brats in pot and let boil for about 5-7 minutes. Remove brats from pot and place on grill or stove top grill pan (on medium high heat). Finish cooking on grill for about 6-8 minutes.

Brownies:Finally, if your sports fans are still running for a touchdown after all this, I have to recommend the Barefoot Contessa’s Outrageous Brownies. Truly an aptly-named delicacy, the recipe calls for a pound of butter for starters. Check it out here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/outrageous-brownies-recipe3/index.html and bake if you dare!

By the time the last game ends, you’ll hear snores from the couch reminiscent of a post-turkey Thanksgiving nap. Job well done!

Forwomenonline.com