ENTERTAINING

27 Aug
2010

It's Football Party Time

posted by ninahelleny in ENTERTAINING


Football season is here and it's time to get  your friends together to cheer your favorite team to victory! I love everything about Fall - the weather, long sleeve t-shirts, pumpkin and spice flavored things, jackets and FOOTBALL. Plus with Fall & football comes lots of reasons to throw a party... which is what I love the most!


So to kick off the season the right... here's a party blueprint full of recipes, resources and new products just for you!



Fajita Burgers


A packet of dry seasoning can add a bunch of flavor to any burger, as does the fajita mix in this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1.27 oz. packet Lawrys Fajitas Seasoning

  • 1/4 Cup melted butter

  • 1 lb. ground beef

  • 1 brown onion

  • 2 green peppers

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil

  • 4 hamburger buns


Directions

  • Combine fajita seasoning and butter until incorporated. Add ground beef into a bowl and mix in fajita butter until throughout. Form 4 patties and place in an airtight container for transport to the tailgate site.

  • Prepare onions and peppers at home: Slice onion and peppers into strips and discard pepper seeds. Saute in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned. Cool and place in a foil pouch. Reheat by placing pouch on the grill at the tailgating site.

  • Grill burgers on a lightly oiled rack over medium-high heat, 5 minutes on each side for medium burgers. Top with reheated onions and peppers and serve on a bun.

  • Makes 4 servings


credit: www.celebrations.com/article/5-tailgating-burger-recipes

My Favorite Guacamole Recipe


Well, favorite next to the pre-packaged kind at my local Kroger store!

Ina Garten's recipe out of her 1999 The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

Ingredients



  • 4 ripe Haas avocados

  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 lemon)

  • 8 dashes hot pepper sauce

  • 1/2 cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion)

  • 1 large garlic clove, minced

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 medium tomato, seeded, and small-diced


Directions


Cut the avocados in 1/2, remove the pits, and scoop the flesh out of their shells into a large bowl. (I use my hands.) Immediately add the lemon juice, hot pepper sauce, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper and toss well. Using a sharp knife, slice through the avocados in the bowl until they are finely diced. Add the tomatoes. Mix well and taste for salt and pepper.



credit: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/guacamole-recipe/index.html


Don't forget to mix in a few kid-friendly-picky-eater items. Classics like ham & pickle rollups, little smokies or rotel cheese dip!



Ham & Pickle Rollups



  • 3 packages cream cheese, softened

  • 1 pound ham, thinly sliced

  • 1 quart dill pickles, drained, patted dry.


Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes

Place pickles on a paper towel to dry off some of the juice. Carefully spread the cream cheese on a 2 slices of ham. Roll a pickle up in the ham slice and roll again with the other ham slice. Slice into 1-inch pieces. Repeat as necessary. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

credit: http://www.recipetips.com/recipe-cards/u--3694/ham-and-pickle-rollups.asp

Football Cupcakes


Here are links to a few of my favorites...

http://projectdomestication.blogspot.com/2009/10/mini-football-cupcakes.html

http://cupcakeideasforyou.com/cupcake-ideas/football-cupcake-ideas/superbowl-cupcake-ideas-10-decorating-ideas-for-your-superbowl-party/attachment/steelers-football-cupcakes2/

http://food.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/01/fun_football_food_ideas.php

Cocktails


Here are a couple drink recipes to get you started! You can always switch it up based on your liking and of course, you must keep your team colors in mind!

Raspberry Beer Cocktail


3/4 cup Fresh Raspberries*
3-1/2 (12-ounce) Bottles Beer, chilled
1 (12-ounce) container Frozen Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup Vodka

Muddle raspberries in a bowl.  Transfer to a pitcher. Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve over ice. Makes 6 servings. *3/4 cup thawed frozen raspberries may be substituted.

Beer Margarita by Rachael Ray


Four 12-ounce bottles cold light-flavored beer, such as Corona
1 cup (8 ounces) Tequila
One 12-ounce can frozen limeade concentrate
Lime wedges
Kosher salt, for rimming glasses

In a large pitcher, combine the beer, tequila and limeade. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each of glass and dip it in the salt. Pour the margaritas into the glasses and garnish with a lime wedge.  Makes  8 servings.

credit: http://intoxicologist.net/2009/09/beer-drink-recipes-for-football-weekend/

Boozer: Hangover Remedy


Don’t forget to fill your cooler with Boozer - Give your guests a party favor of no hangover! :)



How does it work? “...Boozer’s multi-functional formula facilitates the metabolism of toxins and replenishes the essential nutrients due to alcohol depletion.” - Boozer Dog


Boozer is offering Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE sale for According to Nina readers. Shop the Boozer Online Store & enter BOGO coupon code during checkout! *Sale only applies to Boozer drink.

Candy by Color


Order based on your team colors at OhNuts.com! Also, always be on the lookout at your local grocers and Wal-Mart and Target stores too for candy and other items in your team colors!

Invitations


I prefer paper invitations but if it’s for a weekly gathering at your local alma mater an online invitation is an easier (and far more budget friendly) method of getting your friends and family together!

Paper Invitations [shown above]:

Invitation Consultants: Tailgate party

Online Invites:

Try using sites like PaperlessPost.com, Punchbowl.com, Pingg.com - I'm anti-evite and I love these sites so I'm confident you will too!

Now the only thing left to do is start planning your first football party of the season! Don't forget to report back to let me know how it goes!

  • debbie

    where can you buy those cute glasses that look like a football?

  • Jane

    I can’t wait to try your guacamole. A good friend of mine taught me a trick to keep your guacamole from turning brown. If you put a pit or two from the avocado in the guacamole you will not have to worry about it turning black on you.

  • Kiks

    Love the recipes, Nina. When I make Ina Garten’s guacamole I add a little hot sauce and/or red pepper flakes for a little kick. Not too much hot sauce or it gives the guac a funny taste but the red pepper flakes work well. Also, thought I would mention not to make too far in advance because the dip will change colors quickly. One way to keep it from changing too quickly is to apply a sheet of saran directly on the surface and push out any air bubbles. It will slow down the browning process.

  • http://lilacsandavocados.blogspot.com/ Rachel

    I’ve made the Beer Margaritas before, they are so yummy!!
    .-= Rachel´s last blog ..Menu Monday can you believe it! =-.

  • http://laurenslaughinglife.blogspot.com/ Lauren

    Such wonderful ideas. Nina, do you have any awesome BRUNCH time tailgating suggestions? I’m in charge of food for the tailgate for a 1pm game, so I’m looking for ideas that are more morning appropriate. Mimosas are already a given!

  • http://eatlivelaughshop.blogspot.com/ amy

    Love all these ideas! I am so ready for FALL – the colors, the food and, of course, the weather!

    I’m your newest subscriber. Hope you will visit as well.

  • http://eatlivelaughshop.blogspot.com/ amy

    Love all these ideas! I am so ready for FALL – the colors, the food and, of course, the weather!

    I’m your newest subscriber. Hope you will visit as well.
    .-= amy´s last blog ..Thats a wrap =-.

  • http://eatlivelaughshop.blogspot.com/ Amy

    Love all these ideas! I am so ready for FALL!

    I’m your newest subscriber. Your blog looks fab!
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Thats a wrap =-.

  • Meghan

    Love these ideas! I might have to use some of them for my fiance’s birthday, since it’s coming up and he loves football! Thanks for sharing.

  • http://funwiththebaker5.blogspot.com/ Katy B

    fun ideas and makes me hungry for some tailgating food!!
    .-= Katy B´s last blog ..Mcs Happy Birthday Post =-.