Five Best Pro
Buffalo: Ralph Wilson Stadium was
made for tailgating. Set up the RV two days before kickoff, and
revel in the madness that includes hot tubs in December and a guy
called Pinto Ron who cooks from the hood of his car. Get cleaned up
for the game in a comfort station designed specifically for
overnight tailgaters.
Green Bay: Don't let the subzero
temperatures of the frozen tundra fool you. Lambeau Field is the
hot spot among
NFL stadiums for bratwurst, beer, and Cheeseheads.
Oh yeah, green and yellow body paint is apparently a logical
alternative for a parka and a scarf on a cold December Sunday in
Wisconsin.
Kansas City: The intoxicating aroma
of classic
Kansas City barbecue permeating through an endless fleet
of RVs hours before kickoff makes Arrowhead Stadium the holy land
of tailgating.
Oakland: Tailgating at McAfee
Coliseum is the equivalent of a Lollapalooza sideshow. Raiders
fans, with their spiked shoulder pads and skull-and-crossbones
tattoos, are the most eccentric tailgaters in the NFL and make for
great people-watching. Think of game day here as Mardi Gras for the
West Coast.
Pittsburgh: Of course Heinz Field
made the list - it's named after a bottle of ketchup. Great hot
dogs with all the toppings and fans with some of the highest
football IQs in the NFL make tailgating in
Pittsburgh a must for
every football junkie.
Five Best Collegiate
Louisiana State University: Cajun food, jazz music, and great
football from a traditional powerhouse are the perfect ingredients
for some of the best tailgate parties in the Southeastern
Conference.
Penn State: Before you watch living legend Joe Paterno pace
the sidelines on Saturday, kick off your tailgate party on Thursday
night in the aptly named
Happy Valley. And don't worry about
running out of space - Penn State provides one of the largest
tailgate areas in the nation.
University of Michigan: Tailgate on a
golf course next to the
largest and most storied stadium in the nation. Plus, the
family-friendly atmosphere makes "the Big House" a great place to
bring the kids.
University of Mississippi: The Grove at Ole Miss is the best
place to tailgate in the nation, says the "Commissioner of
Tailgating," Joe Cahn. The world's only professional tailgater
(visit his website, www.tailgating.com), he explains it as
"Scarlett O'Hara meets the parking lot" because of the Southern
hospitality.
University of Washington: Here, you'll find the most
unconventional tailgating in college football. Instead of just
packing the parking lots with RVs, U-Dub fans also anchor hundreds
of boats in
Lake Washington. And instead of downing brews and
brats, fans sip on fine wine while grilling salmon.
Throw It On the
Grill
Want three simple ways to make your tailgate
cooking a surefire success? Beef, birds, and brats - cooked to
perfection. These recipes from Tailgating.com and HeinzRed Zone.com
will guarantee a grilling victory.
Beef:Game-Day Barbecue Sauce
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 cup Coca-Cola Classic
?1/4 pound butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
?1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
Salt, pepper, seasoning salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic to
taste
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan; simmer over low heat for 20
to 30 minutes. Enjoy immediately, or store in a jar and refrigerate
for next time.
Brats:The Commissioner's
Brats
Boil brats in water the night before the big game. While hot, take
the brats from the pot and soak in cold beer. As the brats cool
down, they will absorb the beer, which adds flavor. Cook the brats
overnight and just reheat on the grill at the stadium the next
day.
Birds:Chicken Kickoff Kabobs
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 green pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 red pepper, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained
1/2 cup Jack Daniel's Original No. 7 Barbecue Recipe grilling
sauce
?1/4 cup orange marmalade
Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch squares. Thread skewers alternately
with chicken, green and red pepper chunks, and pineapple chunks.
Combine Jack Daniel's Original No. 7 Barbecue Recipe grilling sauce
and orange marmalade. Brush mixture over skewered kabobs. Grill
over medium heat for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked, turning
and brushing with additional Jack Daniel's grilling sauce.
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