Tailgating Times - The Best...

That's right, Tailgating Times is giving away a Johnsonville Tailgating Prize Pack to one lucky reader. 

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This kit includes a 12-pack cooler, 4 koozies, 50 brat foils, and 1 set of grilling tongs because you should never, ever use a fork on a brat. I'd rather burn my fingers than do that.  Entering is easy.  All you have to do is leave me a comment with your favorite Johnsonville recipe or a link to yourville in the official "Share Your Ville" contest.  Your comment earns you 5 entries.  (sorry, only the first comment earns you points)

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Earning additional entries is also a snap:

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• If you have a blog, blog about this contest or link to this contest on your website and earn five (5) additional entries. (Make sure to include the link to your blog post in your comment to receive credit.)
• If you have a Facebook profile, fan us at facebook.com/tailgatingtimes, share this contest with your friends and receive three (3) additional entries.
• If you use Twitter, follow @TailgatingTimes, and @JvilleSausage, then Tweet the following message and earn two (2) additional entries.

Win a Johnsonville Tailgate Kit from @TailgatingTimes – visit http://tinyurl.com/2etroqz, comment and retweet to enter.

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(Note: The two (2) additional entries for Twitter users are awarded for the first tweet. Additional tweets promoting this giveaway, although very much appreciated, can not result in additional entries.)

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Maximum number of entries one entrant can earn is 15:
Comment on TailgatingTimes.com = 5 entries
Blog post = 5 entries
FaceBook profile = 3 entries
Twitter post = 2 entries

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The winner will be selected on July 6 so you have the holiday weekend to come up with comments, posts, and tweets for the contest.

Johnsonville Sausage recently announced the launch of a new online video contest, "Share Your Ville," through which you have the chance to win thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.  This is a great chance to win some good stuff from Johnsonville and everyone knows tailgating just isn't the same without Johnsonville. Who can forget my Double Brat Burger with Cheese from last year? That was amazing.

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The "Share Your Ville" contest is an opportunity for you to upload videos showing how you enjoy Johnsonville Sausage – whether that's in a specific location, with special family and friends or at a particular event.

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The "Share Your Ville" contest is part of an evolution of Johnsonville's "Blank-Ville" marketing campaign, which was first launched in spring 2009.  During the first year of the campaign, consumers had the chance to compete in an online photo contest, "Create Your Own Ville."

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"We were thrilled to see consumers' enthusiasm around sharing their experiences and moments with Johnsonville through our 'Create Your Own Ville' photo contest last summer," said Tony Rammer, Johnsonville creative director.  "We're excited to see where consumers take this new opportunity to truly show and tell us how Johnsonville fits into their memorable experiences."

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To participate in the contest, people can take up to two minutes of video in any format – from a camera, Web cam, cell phone, or other video device – and upload it to www.ShareYourVille.com.  There are four categories for people to enter their videos in the contest, and a winner will be chosen in each category.

"Share Your Ville" Categories

• FRIENDSVILLE – Who is part of your VILLE?  How do you hang out and use the great taste of Johnsonville Sausage to make these moments even better?
• FAMILYVILLE – These are your folks.  Share with us how you spend times together with the great taste of Johnsonville Sausage.
• EVENTVILLE – Share with us what takes you to your special place.  A day on the lake?  Tailgating before the game?  How does the great taste of Johnsonville Sausage make this a more memorable event?
• LOCATIONVILLE – Where do you live?  Invite us into your backyard and share your Johnsonville Sausage grilling recipes & tips.  Happen to live in a "VILLE" of your own (Jacksonville, Bentonville, Libertyville)?  Share your "VILLE" experience with us!

Creators of the first 50 videos submitted in the contest will receive coupons for free Johnsonville products.  (Sorry but you've already missed this as the contest started a few weeks ago. You do have a chance to win though. See my next post) At the end of the contest, winners in each category will each receive about $3,000 in great summer items, including grilling and camping gear from Coleman®, gift cards from Gander Mountain®, a collection of products from Hefty® and coupons for free Johnsonville® products.  More experienced "professional" videographers will be able to enter a category of their own, and they'll be vying for a $10,000 cash prize.

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In addition to the video contest, Johnsonville has created an online game and sweepstakes, "GRILLVILLE," where consumers can win $5,000 in cash and prizes just for playing!  Bonus entries in the sweepstakes are earned for playing each day, entering Johnsonville UPC codes, "liking" Johnsonville on www.facebook.com/johnsonville, following on www.twitter.com/JVilleSausage or even finding secret words Johnsonville will be hiding around the internet on tailgating, grilling, camping and adventure Web sites.   Consumers can earn hundreds of bonus entries, giving them extra chances to win.

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The "Share Your Ville" video contest and "GRILLVILLE" run now, through July 20, 2010.  For all details and official rules on the video contest and sweepstakes game, visit www.ShareYourVille.com.  For more information on Johnsonville, its products and recipes, visit www.johnsonville.com.

recipe developed by The Clever Cleaver Brothers®

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• 4 double-thick, boneless pork chops
• 2 tablespoons Super Hero Seasoning Blend from The Clever Cleaver Kitchen™
• OR combine 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 tablespoon salt & 1/2 tablespoon black pepper

Pecan Ginger Butter

• 1 stick of non-salted butter, softened to room temp
• 1 tablespoon chopped chives
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon Cholula® Hot Sauce
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

1. Rub both sides of pork chops with Super Hero Seasoning Blend OR your blend of spices. Place in a resealable bag and refrigerate for a minimum of three hours (overnight is best).
2. Mix the Pecan Ginger Butter ingredients in a bowl. Spread out a 12-inch piece of plastic wrap and place butter mixture in the middle of the sheet. Roll the plastic wrap to form a cylinder tube and refrigerate the butter.
3. Preheat the barbecue grill to medium heat. Place on the pork chops can cook until they reach an internal temperature of 160 to 165 degrees.
4. Remove the Pecan Ginger Butter from the refrigerator approximately five minutes before the chops come off the grill. Cut butter into eight slices.
5. Remove chops from the grill and place two slices of the Georgia Pecan Ginger Butter on each chop. Enjoy! Makes four servings.

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TAILGATE TIP: If you plan to enjoy this away from home, we recommend that you prep everything at home through Step #2. You can even sliced the hardened butter at home and rewrap it. Transport these prepped items to your event in a cooler with sufficient ice or ice packs. Begin again with Step #3 at your event. For more delicious recipes visit www.CleverCleaver.com.