Walking Taco - Fiesta Party in Your Mouth

The other weekend at our tailgate against Auburn, our friends Andy and Heidi introduced us to a tailgating item that we have never seen before.  

We have a tendancy to often claim recipes as "The Best Ever" but seriously, this was one is really up there. Let us introduce to you.....the Walking Taco!  Basically, the walking taco is an individual size bag of Doritos that is snipped open, crunched up and then topped with all your favorite taco goodies.  Grab a fork and you have yourself a Walking Taco!  This is perhaps the simplest, easiest, most innovative tailgating food ever! 

From what we hear about these snacks it sounds like they originated from the Mid-west...our friend is from Kansas.  But, we definitely want to bring these down South. 

Bama Bombs

The basis of any good southern tailgate is Bourbon. You can use it in marinades for ribs or chicken, you can add it to your hot chocolate on a chilly November morning, have it on the rocks after a great win, and of course it always goes great with its best friend, Coca Cola! So why not soak some maraschino cherries in Bourbon (or your favorite liquor) before the big game for a quick bite during your tailgate??!!??

Two years ago at the UGA/Bama game a friend of ours introduced us to what they call BAMA BOMBS. According to Warren St. John, the author of Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania, real BAMA BOMB’s consists of cherries marinated in golden grain alcohol for a period of weeks or months.

That is a serious snack! We have found that 1-2 days in advance of soaking the cherries works too! Simply pour out all the cherry juice and replace it with the liquor. Then store them in the fridge or cooler until you are ready to eat them.
Since she introduced them to us we have seen them made with several different liquors and named many different things. Depending on your school and favorite player, you can name “BAMA BOMBS” a zillion different ways. Definitely try these at your next tailgate party!!
Happy Gameday!

Tent Panels

Those of you who are UGA fans probably remember the downpour from last year’s UGA/Tech game. Well we are hardcore so we decide to suck it up and get out there because surely our tent would shield us from the rain…wrong! We got soaked and it was miserable!

Well the guy next to us had panels on his tents and was dry as can be. That is when we were convinced that having tent panels was just about as important as having a well stocked bar!

Other than just the rain, these panels are key in keeping the glare of the morning sun off your TV (Nothing is worse than watching ESPN Game Day with a glare) and also will keep your food/drink area from roasting.

They fastens with snaps and Velcro so they are virtually idiot proof and fit to almost any typical tailgate tent. They are also pretty inexpensive and you can buy them online. No longer can bad weather be an excuse for missing a game!! Just get some tent panels and the tailgate will go on!

Happy Gameday!

Game Day Outfits for the Kids

It seems that there are more and more kiddies running around our tailgate area than ever before. Hmm, perhaps this is a sign that we are getting older.

Well, as we have done a previous post on proper Game Day attire for adults we feel that it is now time to do one for kids! Have you ever really looked at how cute baby and toddler Game Day outfits are? There is such a big selection - from onesies to the cheerleading outfits for the little girls -  there are so many darling options.

There is an Atlanta based company called BabyFans.com – their motto is “Once a Fan, Always a Fan.” They have EVERYTHING…from NFL to every major college to even NASCAR clothes and toys. This website makes me want to have kids just so I can dress them in adorable Georgia Bulldog gear!

Calzones

Probably the most requested tailgate recipe of all time are these Calzones. This recipe originated from a great family friend who would bring them to every Super Bowl party. When I started requesting she make a calzone for myself alone, I knew I needed the recipe. These are sooo easy and quick, and they are an absolute crowd pleaser!

Calzones
1 can of Pillsbury Pizza Dough
1 store bought package of mozzarella cheese (8-10 slices)
1 store bought package of provolone cheese (8-10 slices)
1 package of pepperoni
1/3 lb of salami (12-15 slices)
jar of banana peppers
1 tsp oregano
S/P
1 egg + 1T water
poppy seeds


Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Place a piece of foil on a baking sheet and roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle. Sprinkle the dough with a little salt and pepper. Layer the provolone slices on the dough. Leave about 1-in around the border of the dough. Next layer all the salami ontop of the provolone. Then layer all the mozzarella ontop of the salami. Finally layer the pepperoni on the last cheese layer. Sprinkle as many banana peppers as you like on top of the pepperoni followed by the oregano.

When you have all of the ingredients layered on the pizza dough, take the left side and begin to roll the dough into a log. When you roll it all the way up, seal the sides. Take the log and place it in the middle of the baking sheet.

Crack the egg in a bowl and beat it with 1 T of water to create an egg wash. Brush the calzone with the egg wash - this will help it get nice and brown in the oven. Then sprinkle the poppy seeds over the top of the calzone.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes until the dough is golden brown.

Enjoy!

Happy Game Day

Bud Light Fan Cans - Tailgate Approved!

One of the our favorite things Bud Light has come out with this year are the Fan Cans. They are beer cans color coded to your favorite college teams school (and they have NFL colors). The cans are being marketed to match the colors of towns with college football teams, a move that has some school administrators up in arms...many have even asked Anheuser-Busch to remove them from stores around their campuses! Would you drink beer cans with your school colors...Queens of Game Day most definitely would!! Thoughts?

We also love the "Grooler" commerical Budweiser has! Similar to our Cruzin Cooler, we think this is mandatory at any tailgate...I wonder if it really exist? They have some pretty cute ideas, the dog tailgate companion and the Foozie.

Happy Game Day!

Cruzin Cooler

Cruzin’ Cooler
“Cruzin Cooler combines two basic necessities of life, the ability to have cold food or a beverage handy along with the means to get somewhere, without walking.” Is there a more appropriate motto on Game Day??!!


We had heard of the Cruzin Cooler but had never seen one in action until last weekend in New Orleans. I saw a guy zipping down Bourbon Street on this cooler and knew the Queens had to have one! The cool part about this item is that they now have a Cruzin Cooler wagon that you can hook onto the back of the cooler to carry extra stuff. You can even get a seat pad! Check them out!!
Happy Gameday!

Game Day Recipes Galore

We hope everyone had a great first weekend of College Football tailgating! We are exciting about this weekend and experimenting with some new recipes. We love this time of year because everyone comes out with their best recipes. We recently received a Southern Living e-newsletter that highlights tailgate food!

We tested out the Turkey-Cheddar Kabobs With Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce this weekend for a get together and they were great! Definitely an easy and impressive tailgate snack.

Better Homes also came out with an e-newsletter full of tailgating happiness..."Our All Time Best Burgers, "19 Perfect Potluck Recipes," "16 Quick & Easy Dips," and even "26 Blissful Brownie Recipes."

We hope you enjoy some of these recipes...let us know what you decide to make. We would love to hear your feedback on any great game day recipes you create!

All-Hottie Team - Hottie of the Week, QB Colt McCoy

As the Queens of Game Day, we consider ourselves in touch with everything that surrounds Game Day and what is more important than the players themselves! This is precisely why we have started the All-Hottie Team! Each week will select a player that we feel is a hottie at his position and by the end of the season we will have our All-Hottie Team (not to be confused with All-America or All-Conference).

Since this week is the start of college football, we are starting the inaugural All-Hottie Team with the most important position on the field: The Quarterback. We proudly announce the 2008 Heisman Trophy runner-up Colt McCoy as the first ever Hottie of the Week! This New Mexican hottie led the Texas Longhorns to a 12-1 record in ’08 and is looking to do big things this upcoming football season. He also does great things off the field which makes him worthy of our first ever QB hottie…Congrats Colt! We’ll have our eyes on you!

Perhaps the Best Invention Ever – DirecTV SAT-GO

If you really want to have a big time tailgate, having a TV is a must! This is especially important for night games because you cannot miss all the day’s action! The best part about having a TV set up is that it brings instant credibility to your tailgate! Wandering tailgaters will stop by to check scores or put in their two cents about the last play.

Now it can be a hassle to set up the TV because you need a receiver, satellite, generator and of course a television. You have to point the receiver in the right direction and find the signal and then when you finally have it all set up some random drunk fan from the other team decide to lean on the dish and mess the whole signal up at a critical point in the 2008 Florida/Ole Miss game (true story!) However this amazing product combines a receiver, antenna and TV all in one easy-to-carry unit.

The DirecTV SAT-GO ("Satellite-To-Go") combines a receiver, antenna and TV all in one easy-to-carry unit. It is like an all in one TV in a suit case! If you have DIRECTV you just have to buy the Sat-Go and then pay an additional $4.99 a month (the same price you would pay for an additional home subscription). The Sat-Go itself can be a little pricey, so check around, but the pain in setting the whole thing up is worth it!!

Happy Gameday!

Chicken Bites

This recipe for Chicken Bites is probably our most requested tailgate item, and it is also the easiest!! These bites are good hot or cold and they go fast so it’s best to double this recipe.

1 package of chicken tenders cut into 24 bite size pieces
1lb bacon
¼ cup brown sugar
2 T chili powder

Procedure:
Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Combine the brown sugar and chili powder in a bowl and set aside. Cut the strips of bacon in half so you have 24 mini-strips. Take a piece of chicken and wrap it in a mini-strip of bacon. Roll the chicken wrap in the brown sugar mixture and place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.

Bake the bites in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon fully cooked.

Enjoy!!

Bowl Predictions...in August?!?

Is it me or does it always seem wayyy premature to start talking about Bowl predictions in the middle of August? Aren’t we still in the middle of pre-season camp! On Tuesday ESPN released Mark Schlabach and Bruce Feldman’s predictions on Bowl matchups, both paired up Texas against Florida in the BCS National Championship Game. Check them out here.

What do you think? Thoughts on the BCS Game? Is Florida really as good as people think they are?

Cornhole

In addition to beer, bourbon, and ribs, a staple at every tailgate these days is Cornhole. In years past we had always mooched off other tailgates around us who had Cornhole but last season we decided that we needed our own. Now there are two paths you can take: you can buy one (simple, easy, not too $$) or you can make one. Well of course decided to high-tail it to Home Depot and make our own!

Well let me tell you this was a MUCH bigger job than we thought. If you decide to take on this challenge you must have someone who knows about power tools, measuring, and sawing. Luckily we had the best bff and husband to help us with this part because without him we couldn’t have done it. The payoff is much better when you do it yourself because it does impress other tailgates but truthfully if you can buy one, just do that!


If you do decide to take on this challenge then here are good instructions.
If you would rather purchase there is Cornhole Outlet website that has pretty good prices.

If you are not sure that Cornhole is a game you would like to have at your tailgate, check out this website and watch the video. It’s pretty funny!

Happy 27 days until kickoff!!

Stackable Coolers

While strolling through Target the other day, I meandered down the cooler aisle and came across these neat Coleman stackable coolers. I have never seen them before but I think would they make a great addition to your typical tailgate coolers (those babies are on wheels, of course). They are called “Party Stacker” Coolers.

I envision these beings great for larger items like a rack of ribs, a large casserole (they are wide enough to fit a 13x9 dish) or dessert…things you don’t want stuck in with all of those cans of beer! They seem easy to stack, with their interlocking base and lids, and transport and they don’t seem as clunky as normal coolers. AND…for items that need to be kept on ice throughout the day you can just leave that food item in the cooler and put the cooler right on the table. Think about how much food you have thrown away because it has been left out in the heat all day. This is like a built in ice tray below!

Gettin' excited for kick-off!

So there are only 34 days until the college football finally kicks off and we are so excited!! This is about the time when everyone comes out with their predictions about how their team is going to play, who will play for the BCS Title, who has the best/worst uniforms, etc.

I found this fun YouTube video about this year's Heisman hopefuls...it's a pretty good list. In the end it should probably be between Tebow, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford again but we are happy that AJ Green is getting some love!!

2009-2010 Heisman hopefuls
(I should say the song on this video is M.I.A Paper Planes which might be NSFW for some of you!)

Enjoy!

Recipe of The Week

Better Than Sex Chocolate Cake
Every Queen of Game Day needs a simple, go-to tailgate dessert and ours is the Better than Sex Chocolate Cake. It is sinfully delicious! To spruce things up a bit, we glaze the top of the cake with our colored frosting (your team color, of course). Very spirited!

Ingredients:
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and
flour a Bundt pan.
2. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, oil, eggs, water, sour cream,
and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter
into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour. Allow to cool.
4. Glaze if desired. We recommend vanilla or cream cheese frosting. Just add a drop of food coloring to the frosting to create your team’s color.

Things We Love - Our New Official Game Day Beverage Holder

OB-SESSED with these glasses from Tervis Tumblers! We received some of these UGA 24oz glasses....they are fabulous!! They are made out of high-quality polymer so they are practically indestructible! They are going to make the perfect game day beverage holder because there is no condensation and they are double walled insulated so they keep drinks cold (or hot, hello...Baily's and Hot Chocolate anyone?) for a LONG

Tervis Tumbler makes a great collegiate line and even an NFL and MLB line so everyone can have their team glass on game day! We want to start the collection for sure!

Great Tablescape Item

One of my favorite parts of Game Day is creating a fun and festive tablescape to showcase the great food! I am looking for items all year round and yesterday I found this cute BBQ Grill Picnic Condiment Serving Set at Pier One yesterday and I had to have it! The best part is you can use this item for any cookout or picnic!

I paid $34.95 at the store but I couldn't find this item on Pier One's website.
If you google "BBQ Grill Picnic Condiment Serving Set" you will see a couple other types of sets but nothing as cute! I did see this exact item on Ebay for about $10 less than I paid in the store.

Remember one of the keys to a no stress Game Day is to plan ahead!! So go and pick up this great set today!

Girls and Grilling

Only 66 days until kickoff!

Grilling can be a critical part of the Game Day experience. In most cases the guys like handle this part, but ladies don't be afraid to get in there and show those boys what you can do!
The link below provides some fantastic information from the wonderful folks at Weber Grills about Girls and Grilling: http://www.webernation.com/downloads/pdf/Girls_Guide.pdf
The recipes are pretty good!

Here is one of our simple and tasty gameday recipe's that incorporates 2 of our gameday loves - grilling and Jack! This recipe also travels well because you can do everything ahead of time and it can keep in a Ziploc bag.

Yield: 8 kabobs
Ingredients:

1/4 c. Jack Daniel's Whiskey
1/2 c brown sugar
2 T grill seasoning
1 lb chicken breass - cut into 32 bite size pieces
1 large white onion - cut into 32 bite size pieces
8 long wooden skewers - you can use the metal ones but they get so hot!

Prep:

1.) Preheat the grill to about 350 degrees
2.) Soak the wooden skewers for at least 30 mins before grilling. You can do this overnight too. It is necessary so that the skewers don't burn on the grill.

Directions:

1.) In a Ziploc bag, mix together the Jack Daniel's, brown sugar, and grill seasoning and stir until combined. Remove half of the marinade and reserve for a sauce.
2.) Add the bite size pieces of chicken to the remaining marinade and seal the bag. Marinate in the fridge or cooler for at least 30 minutes.
3.) Heat the remaining marinade over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer until it reduces by half and becomes thick.
4.) Take the chicken out of the bag and pat dry. Alternate the chicken and onion until you have 3 pieces of each on the skewer.
5.) Place chicken kabobs on the grill, cover with grill lid, and cook for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked throughout, with no pink center, turning occasionally. As you turn the skewers, baste with the Jack reduction.
6.) Remove skewers from grill and serve! Enjoy!

Helmet Schedule

Every year we look forward to being sent this helmet schedule. It just isn't football season until you have one of these printed out and hanging on your wall.


SEC Helmet Schedule

All Conferences Helmet Schedule
Thanks to blogger SimononSports for putting this together and making it available for download. Every college football fan should be patting him on the back right now!

Every Perfect Game Day begins with the Perfect Outfit

It’s no secret that in the south and SEC especially, most girls get dressed up for football games. People from out of conference don’t get it and you cannot really explain it other than it’s just the way it is. It’s a unique thing that we do and it doesn’t mean we don’t know anything about the game or will cheer any less…we just look pretty doing it!

There are a few rules or guidelines the Queens of Game Day like to follow when planning our game day outfits, depending on where and how big the game is.

Home Games
* Wear your team colors – this is a given. We often see girls were purple or green when their team colors are red and blue. Where are you going?? Just because the dress is cute, doesn’t mean you have to wear it to the game. Save it for another night.
* Heels are not necessary! As a freshman I felt it necessary to wear heels to games…I learned incredibly fast that this crazy, especially in 90 heat in September. Just wear your flops…it’s really fine because everything goes with flip flops.
* If you know you sweat, accept it and plan accordingly.
* A sundress is perfect in the summer and fall. Luckily it stays warm down here sometimes until November!
* When it does get chilly dressing up jeans is great or leggings and tall boots are a big hit.

Away Games
* It is critical you wear your team colors. There are a lot less of you so must represent! You want to wow the opposing fans with your style as well as your football knowledge.
* If you are going to be going out Friday before the game, also try to wear team colors. Some of the most fun nights we have had on road trips are running into your team’s fans because you feel like you are in enemy territory and need to stick together. And if you are wearing your colors, it’s a great convo starter!

Bowl games and Championship Games (Dome vs. outdoor games)
* These are the games to look your best because they are a big deal for your team!
* Heels are a good idea because everyone looks good in heels! If your team is going to put all they have into the game then your feet can suffer for a few hours.

Finishing Touches
*Accenting jewelry is a must for every game day – be it your diamonds and pearls or just some team colors, accessorizing your outfit MAKES the outfit!
* We adore these Haute Hostess Aprons by Elizabeth Scokin, they are perfect for every tailgate and every hostess with the mostess! Sweet and sassy!


* We also love game faces! Doesn’t matter which cheek you put it on just so long as it isn’t backwards.

**Always try to look for game day clothes throughout the year; you never know when you are going to find something! Plan ahead and try it on!

Welcome to our Blog!

"Happy Game Day! Go Dawgs!"

That is the greeting that replaces “Hello” or “Good Morning” Saturday’s in the fall. When most people think Game Day they probably think it just consists of the 4 hrs when their favorite team is on the field. Well, for us, the term “Game Day” encompasses so much more. After 10+ years of tailgating every fall we have learned that “Game Day” starts with planning the perfect outfit days before to the post-tailgate after a victory!
It almost becomes a way of life that starts in early September and lasts until late November (hopefully into January). We share this excitement with thousands of other football die-hards, and while this feeling exists all over the nation, it’s magnified in the southeast.
The best way we have seen to depict the differences between college football across the country is the email forward below. I am sure you have all seen it before but this is a favorite!!

College Football in the South vs. College Football in the North:

WOMEN'S ATTIRE
Up North: Chapstick in their back pocket and a $20 bill in their front pocket.
Down South: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, powder, mascara (waterproof), concealer, and a bottle Perrier. Wallet not necessary-that's what dates are for.

FATHERS
Up North: Expect their daughter to understand Sylvia Plath.
Down South: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.

GAME DAY
Up North: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
Down South: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting Game Day "Live" to get on camera and wave to the idiots from up North who wonder why Game Day is never broadcast from their campus.

TAILGATING
Up North: Wieners on the grill, beer with a lime in it, listening to local radio station with truck tailgate down.
Down South: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance by Hootie & the Blowfish, who come over during breaks and ask for a couple bottles of beer.

CONCESSIONS
Up North: Drinks served in a paper cup filled to the top with soda.
Down South: Drinks served in a plastic cup with the home team's mascot-filled less than halfway to ensure enough room for bourbon.

COMMENTARY (MALE)
Up North: "Nice play."
Down South: "Dammit you slow sumbitch! Tackle him and break his legs!!!"

COMMENTARY (FEMALE)
Up North: "My, this is a violent sport."
Down South: "Dammit you slow sumbitch! Tackle him and break his legs!!!"

AFTER THE GAME
Up North: The stadium is empty before the game ends.
Down South: Another rack of ribs on the smoker. While somebody goes to the nearest package store for more beer, planning begins for next week's party.

Perhaps former Georgia All-American Frank Sinkwich put it best when he said “I'm from Ohio, but if I'd known when I was two what it was like down South, I would have crawled here on my hands and knees.” Oh Frank, so true!

We have a love for football and everything that goes along with the sport. We, of course, feel that Southern football is superior to everything else but we want to share our love for the “Game Day” experience with football fans alike whether it is in Athens, GA, South Bend or Madison, Wisconsin

One thing’s for sure, come the weekend of September 5 we will be in the midst of a killer tailgate complete with Bourbon and Coke, cornhole boards, the best food around, all while wearing “to die for” outfits! And yes, we understand pass interference.

That my friends, is why we call ourselves the Queens of Game Day.