Tailgating Times - The Best...

Last year Scott Free and I made the journey to Vegas to cover the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show for TailgatingTimes and we liked what we saw. This year we are helping the guys out with a couple of the tailgating panels and some of the party planning.

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The show starts today and this evening I will have photos and videos from the likes of Skinit, Freedom Grill, Margaritaville, GrillToppers, and many manufacturers of great tailgating products. There's even going to be a private party at Margaritaville.  I hope we see Jimmy Buffett.  Stay tuned. There will be more videos at TheTailgateShow.com as well.

Everyone knows our buddy Joe Cahn has traveled over 500,000 miles to 123 colleges and all 32 NFL stadiums to explore the exciting world of tailgate parties – and tonight, he joins TLC to hunt for the country’s best tailgaters in TAILGATE TAKEDOWN. This promises to be a great show and after watching the preview I can say it will make you hungry.

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Premiering tonight at 10 PM (ET/PT) on TLC – just in time for the BCS Championship game – The " Commish" will explore a different college stadium and rivalry game each week where three competing teams of local tailgaters will face off against one another in a spirited cooking competition.  

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After canvassing the home team’s most fanatical fans to find the most talented tailgaters to compete in the TAILGATE TAKEDOWN, Cahn introduces the three teams and takes viewers on a tour of their tricked-out trailers and tailgating tools for a first hand look at the hard work, creativity, inventive technology and cooking skills that go into these one-of-a-kind tailgate creations.  

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As each team prepares their signature spread, the Commissioner will meet other tailgaters to learn about local tailgate tradition and cooking. Celebrity judges are brought in to determine a winner for the competition based on taste, presentation and how functional the dishes are in a tailgate environment. The lucky winner receives a cash prize – and, of course, bragging rights!

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"Tailgating food goes way beyond burgers and dogs off the grill," says Nancy Daniels, SVP of Programming and Development for TLC," and we'll highlight the unique and tasty culinary creations of today's tailgates, while taking in the time honored tradition outside the grand stadiums of college football."

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I had the privilege of having a sneak peek at tonight's premier episode and Joe is a great host.  He's like everyone's favorite uncle and you'd be hard pressed to find a more likeable guy in any parking lot.  Joe loves tailgating more than anyone.  The contestants are all great cooks too and my only issue was with the guy complaining about his grill not working after he ran out of gas.  That's not the grill's fault!  He obviously tripped the OPD by opening the new tank with the burner controls "on" and then panicked.  Anyone who knows anything about grills knows that... OK, not anyone but professional tailgaters should know better.  First of all he should have started with a full tank.  He knew he was in a competition. 

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But enough about that...I don't want to spoil the show for anyone and it looks like TLC's already got 6 episodes slated to run so I hope everyone watches and we can make this a regular program.  I know my DVR is set and I'll be watching it too.

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Congrat's Joe!  Terrific Show.  Can't wait for more and I will see you out at the Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show in Las Vegas in just under 2 weeks. I think we're on the same panel.

Another year has come to an end and in fact, tonight marks the end of a decade.  An amazing, unbelievable decade in which a whole new way of grilling outdoors was created when Scott Salter looked at his grill and then looked at his hitch and decided to combine the 2 into a grill that swings away and allows you to stand up and grill proud in the parking lots.  Had it not been for that lightbulb moment I'd still be slaving away doing email marketing for technology companies rather than writing about tailgating, grilling up new recipes, and finding the best drinks and hottest women to post every week here so Happy New Year to the Tailgating Legend Scott "Free" Salter and on to the shot of the week and resolutions.

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Last year I posted my resolutions and I'm glad to be able to say I hit 4 out of 10.  This year I want my results to be better so I'm making less resolutions:

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1. Make the shot of the week a weekly feature instead of random intervals. Sorry about that readers.  I welcome any and all suggestions as well as photo submissions.

2. Never ever again drink from a giant souvenir cup in Las Vegas. Booze that comes in large plastic jugs isn't meant for human consumption.

3. More product reviews on the site.

4. If not win a cooking competition, at least enter one this year.

5. Finally, as always...Tailgate More!

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Happy 2010 everyone!  Welcome to a new decade of tailgating have a fantastic and safe new years and get ready for the playoffs.

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If the girls next door to me looked like Holly Madison it would be a lot easier to find a new Miss Freedom Grill. I guess after Holly Weber and Eileen Craker I've gotten spoiled.

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See you all next year.  Happy New Year!

Last night I was going to pick up several bottles of egg nog for a taste test after dinner along with the Saturday Night Live Christmas Special.  In the end I stopped at Costco prior to the liquor store and they still have Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog on the shelves. At under $12 for 1.75 liters it's a steal and the alcohol is already mixed in.  This brand is thick and creamy and has a smooth flavor with brandy, rum, and whiskey providing a nice kick of about 30 proof. 

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That's great if you're drinking with family but if the holidays for you are more like the Griswolds and less like White Christmas, I recommend adding a little extra to the mix.  I don't have any brandy so I added a bit of Maker's Mark and Captain Morgan and topped off the whole concoction with a bit of nutmeg. 

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Only two things would have made this drink better...

1) Drinking it out of a moose mug like Clark's from Christmas Vacation, now available from CanadianMoose.com, but sadly not in time for Christmas this year.

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2) Drinking it with these girls... I don't think they are from Pennsylvania.

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Recipe developed by The Clever Cleaver Brothers®

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1 loaf artesian flat bread

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Butter Mixture

With only 9 shopping days until Christmas people are starting to get a bit frantic about wrapping up their gift lists.  I generally like to get everything done well ahead of time but invariably something comes up forcing me to have to add 3 or 4 more things to my list.  You know how it goes...someone you barely talks to at work brings you a bottle of wine with a Christmas card, your family decides to do "gag gifts" or "stocking stuffers" in addition to the annual gift exchange and now you're faced with the prospect of braving the crowds at the 99 Cent store or looking through your closets for stuff to regift.

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Fear not for I bring you tidings...(oops, wrong story). I do have a great gift for people that like food and you don't have to be Martha Stewart to make this work.  Gourmet oil and seasoned salts are easy and inexpensive but they look like you went to a lot of trouble.

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Garlic Chili Oil

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• Extra Virgin Olive oil
• 1 Tbs red chili flakes
• 3 whole garlic cloves
• 5-6 dried red chili peppers

You will need a nice looking glass bottle for this.  Recycled dressing bottles and even drink mixer bottles with the labels removed work well or you can pick up bottles at a craft store for a dollar or two.  There are 2 ways to make this infusion depending on how much time you have and how much flavor you desire.  The easiest way is to put the chili flakes, garlic cloves, and red peppers into the bottle first then slowly pour in the oil and cap it off.  For greater flavor you can heat the oil on the stove until the first signs of smoke form, then remove from heat, add the ingredients and let it stand until cool before bottling.  (It is harder to get everything in the bottle this way but the flavor is much more intense)

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Rosemary Garlic Olive Oil

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3-4 Garlic Cloves
• 1-2 Rosemary Branches

This is the same process as the chili oil.  Stuff the garlic and rosemary into the jar then slowly pour the oil in and cap it off. You can really do this with nearly any spice you wish...Cilantro, thyme, peppercorns, basil, sundried tomatos, or whatever you desire.

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Gourmet Sea Salt

• 2 cups sea salt

• 1 tsp dried rosemary

• 1 tsp dried sage

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 1 tsp dried parsley

• 1 tsp garlic powder

Recipe developed by The Clever Cleaver Brothers®

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Dressing

• 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Cholula® Hot Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dill weed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

Salad Fixins

• 2 quarts diced red potatoes, cooked crisp
• 4 chopped hard boiled eggs
• 1 cup sliced green onion
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced red pepper

1. Rinse potatoes and dice in bite-sized pieces. Place in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and
   immediately reduce heat to a rolling simmer. Cook just until potato pieces are cooked crisp. DO NOT
   OVERCOOK.
2. Pour potatoes into a colander and spray with cold water to stop cooking. Place in a container and refrigerate
   until completely cooled. Do not cover container tightly until completely cooled. NOTE: Steps #1 & #2 can be
   completed up to a day in advance.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the Sauce ingredients. Cover tightly and refrigerate. NOTE: Step #3 can be
   completed up to a day in advance so all the flavors combine.
4. When ready to enjoy, combine the Salad Fixins in a large mixing bowl. Add the sauce and combine.
5. Let set for 10 minutes prior to serving so some of the sauce will be absorbed into the potatoes. Makes eight
   servings.

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TAILGATE TIP: If you plan to enjoy this away from home, we recommend that you prep everything at home.
Transport these prepped items to your event in a cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs. Begin again with Step
#4 at your event.

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For more delicious recipes visit www.CleverCleaver.com.

The tree is up, the lights are hung, and it's time for a shot of Christmas cheer. Nothing says Santa and Season's Greetings like candy canes and these candy cane shots would definitely make my holidays happier. Finding this hottie in my stocking (ok her stockings) would be 100 times better than a partridge in a pear tree. For that matter anything on the 3wishes.com site would be a most welcome present. The Gift of the Magi indeed...

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Should I wake up to find this bit of holiday delight under my tree I know exactly what drink to whip up too. The candy cane shooter would be perfect.

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Candy Cane Shot

• 1/2 oz peppermint schnapps
• 1/2 oz Rumple Minze® peppermint liqueur
• 1/2 oz cream
• 1 dash grenadine syrup

Pour the schnapps and Rumple Minze into a cocktail shaker full of ice and top off with the cream.  Shake until frosty cold then swirl in a few drops of grenadine for color. For an added touch serve this shot in a festive shot glass made of candy cane, available at Amazon.com. 

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Hope your holiday season is off to a good start.