Tailgating Times - The Best Times are Tailgating Times!

Friday, September 3. 2010

Fantasy Football Game Offers Consumers Opportunity to Compete for Weekly Prizes

Johnsonville Sausage is running another contest, the “Rush for 2,000 Yards Challenge” Fantasy Football game. Through the online game, which runs through Jan. 2, 2011, football fans will compete to win the “ultimate fan cave,” featuring their choice of televisions, speaker systems and other items.

“Johnsonville Sausage and football season go hand-in-hand, whether you’re tailgating in the stadium parking lot or enjoying the week’s rivalries from the comfort of your family room,” said Chris O’Toole, brand manager for Johnsonville Sausage. “We’re excited to provide football fans and consumers another exciting way to enjoy the season and get in on the action through the ‘Rush for 2,000 Yards Challenge.’”

How the “Rush for 2,000 Yards Challenge” Works:

Sign up to play at www.johnsonville.com. Each week, you select one running back (whom you have not selected in a prior week), and that running back’s yards for the week become their yards. The goal is to have the most rushing yards each week and to have the most cumulative yards at the end of the season. Weekly prizes will be awarded to those participants with the most rushing yards that week, and the player with the most cumulative rushing yards at the end of the season will win the grand prize “ultimate fan cave.” In addition to allowing consumers to showcase their football knowledge and skills through some friendly competition, Johnsonville and Athlon Sports will be providing Rush for 2,000 participants the latest in fantasy football news, as well as tips and recipes to help make the football viewing experience better than ever this year. Content on the game’s Web site will be updated regularly, and football fans can check back each week to get the latest inside scoop from the league, giving them an advantage to make the best selections for the this season’s game.

Making the Most of your Football Tailgates

In addition to making smart picks when it comes to running backs this season, Johnsonville Sausage tailgate and grilling experts offer these suggestions to help ensure a successful gathering during the upcoming football season:

Stay Out of Frozenville – Prepare your sausage. Always thaw your bratwurst or Italian links prior to cooking – it’ll help ensure a smooth grilling process.
It’s OK to Pre-cook Brats —Simmering brats in a pan of broth, or a beer-and-onion blend, makes for plump and delicious links. Give your brats 8 to 10 minutes in the hot tub before you place them on the grill. (It’s okay to dump the beer when you’re done … really, it is)
Rotateville – Turn the brats every five minutes or so to get thorough, even heat. Always use tongs. Never Use a Fork…Ever! Forks puncture links, releasing great taste and savory flavors. Tongs keep the links intact and make ’em easier to turn.
Golden Brownville – Your brats are done when they’re golden-brown and appetizing, not charred to a crisp. Burning is not grilling! Brats typically take about 20 to 25 minutes using the above guidelines. When in doubt, your meat thermometer should read 180 degrees.

I personally highly recommend Johnsonville's Brat Patties. These things are tasty. I also like grilled onions, peppers, and sauerkraut with spicy mustard despite the fact that Johnsonville brats have so much flavor you don't need them. You don't need a truck with 7 TVs either but it sure is nice to have.

For full details and official rules of the “Rush for 2,000 Yards Challenge” online fantasy football game, visit www.johnsonville.com and click on the “Rush for 2,000 Yards Challenge” icon. While at the Johnsonville Web site, check out the tailgate tips and recipes sure to fill all the hungry fans at your football party this season.

Posted by Sweet G at 11:01 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

TailgateWiki - the Encyclopedia of Tailgating

Friday, August 6. 2010

When it comes to tailgating, most of us tailgate within the confines of our home team’s stadium parking areas. The main reason we don’t travel too far from home is numerous whether it be the costs of gas or finding a place to stay or maybe, just being in a “hostile” environment at a rival’s stadium. Lots of tailgaters cite unfamiliarity with another team’s stadium as reason alone to not take their tailgating show on the road.

Just within the past few months a website was created that is a lot like Wikipedia where users can add in information based on their own experiences and knowledge. TailgateWiki.com launched a few months ago and within that short amount of time a wealth of information has been added by tailgaters just like you. This is the grassroots, insider information submitted by those that know tailgating the best. Sharing their knowledge on the best places to park, which areas of the parking lot are family oriented and do not allow alcohol and which direction to park so that you can get a clear shot of the sky to set up your satellite dish are just a few pieces of information you’ll find at TailgateWiki.com. Just take a look at the San Diego Chargers tailgating page for a great example of information you would only get had you had a friend that was a season ticket holder and tailgated there regularly.

Although there is some really great information already on TailgateWiki.com, some team pages are completely bare. Apparently fans of those teams have not discovered Tailgate Wiki yet. With football season fast approaching these team pages may become invaluable sources of information for not only the out of town tailgater but for those locals looking for a few hints and secrets to improve their own tailgating experience. Some may have reservations about revealing their secret entrance gate that allows them in the parking lot early or letting people know the section of the parking lot that has the shortest lines for the portable toilets. Think of this information as “paying it forward” to those tailgaters that share your same love and passion for the parking lot. After all, Joe Cahn, the Commissioner of tailgating, calls tailgating, “the last great American neighborhood where no one locks their doors and people share everything”. So why should that attitude stop when it comes to sharing insider information on improving the tailgating experience?

To see if your team’s information needs updating, visit: TailgateWiki.com.

Posted by Scott Free at 10:06 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

Reader Contest: Win a Johnsonville Tailgate Pack!

Wednesday, June 30. 2010

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

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)

Earning additional entries is also a snap:

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.

(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.)

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

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.

Posted by Sweet G in Gear at 01:30 | Comments (5) | Trackbacks (0)

Johnsonville "Share Your Ville" Contest

Tuesday, June 29. 2010

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.

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.

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."

"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."

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.

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.

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.

Posted by Sweet G at 13:11 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

“Game Ball” Pork Chops with Pecan Ginger Butter

Wednesday, June 16. 2010

recipe developed by The Clever Cleaver Brothers®

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

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).
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.
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.
Remove the Pecan Ginger Butter from the refrigerator approximately five minutes before the chops come off the grill. Cut butter into eight slices.
Remove chops from the grill and place two slices of the Georgia Pecan Ginger Butter on each chop. Enjoy! Makes four servings.

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.

Posted by Sweet G at 23:19 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Diabetes prevention and tips for healthy tailgating

Thursday, May 27. 2010

by guest columnist Patricia Harris

If You Won't Stay away from Type 2 diabetes Now, You will certainly Hate Your self Later.

Type 2 diabetes is easily the most common kind of diabetes. Lots of Americans are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and more are unconscious they are at high risk. Some groups have a higher risk for developing diabetes type 2 than others. Diabetes type 2 is much more common in African Americans, Latinos, Indigenous Americans, and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians along with Pacific Islanders, as well as the older people.

In diabetes type 2, either the body doesn't produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is critical for your body to be able to use glucose for energy. Any time you eat food, our body breaks down the sugars and starches into glucose, that is the fundamental fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from your blood into your cells. When glucose builds up in the blood rather than going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications.

You may have the capability to improve and protect your quality of life. With proper nutrition and exercising and also making good life style choices (like not smoking), you can feel better, stronger, and healthier, and may decrease your risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cerebrovascular accident.

What is a Healthy Weight?

There's a good way to learn in case your current weight puts you in danger of developing serious diseases. Check out www.diabetes.org/bmi and take the Body Mass Index (BMI) test. The results can help you decide if you need to be concerned about your weight.

Better You consume, Better You experience

Here are some basic guidelines to assist you and your family make healthier food decisions.

Eat many vegetables and fruits.
Choose wholegrain foods over processed grain products. Try brown rice instead of white. Substitute whole wheat grains bread for white.
Eat fish 2 - 3 times per week.
Select leaner cuts of meat like those who end in "loin."
Remove the skin from chicken and turkey.
Eat low fat dairy
Drink water and calorie-free non-carbonated beverages.
Use liquid oils for cooking as a substitute for solid fats.
Reduce junk food like chips, cookies, cakes, and regular ice cream. Look for baked chips and reduced calorie snacks. Or have a bit of fruit instead.
Be careful about your portion sizes. Even an excessive amount "healthy" food can cause an increase in weight.

Tips:

Compare labels of similar foods, then pick the one with smaller amounts of saturated fats, cholesterol and sodium.
Adults should eat lower than 2400 mg. of sodium a day. For people with high blood pressure, you'll want to target even less.
Try adding spices and herbs as part of your cooking to take the place of salt for enhancing flavor.

A bit of Physical activity Goes a long way

Something that gets you up and moving will work for you. Some tips about what it may do:

Reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Decrease your risk of coronary disease and stroke Lower high blood pressure and cholesterol
Reduce blood glucose (sugar) levels in case you have diabetes, which often can lessen your risk of developing diabetes-related complications * Decrease stress
Assist you to lose weight
Offer you more energy
Make it easier to sleep better
Build stronger bones and muscles

Its not necessary to visit a gym, play sports or use fancy equipment. Of course, you should speak with a family doctor prior to starting any exercise program.

When you have Diabetes.

Eating healthy and staying active are even more important when you have diabetes. Well-balanced meals may help keep your glucose (sugar) level as close to normal as it can be. Being active also helps you lower your blood glucose. In case you increase your level of physical activity, you may be able to take less insulin or diabetes pills. If you're very inactive, have heart disease or a history of foot ulcers, consult your doctor about safe exercise to suit your needs. Check your blood glucose before exercising. If it's under 100 mg/dl, eat some fruit, crackers or have a glass of milk or juice. Check it again after exercising to understand how your blood glucose responds to physical exercise. Bring a snack if you'll be active for some hour.

About me -Patricia Harris writes for the diabetic diet blog , her personal hobby web log focused on suggestions to eat healthy to avoid and manage diabetes.

Posted by Sweet G at 13:11 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Video for Summer: Bikinis & Beer

Saturday, May 15. 2010

June Gloom is upon us here in "Sunny San Diego" and I hear it's been snowing in Denver. Crazy weather aside summer is almost here. Memorial Day is in 2 weeks and BBQ season will officially begin.

Just to get you in the mood, here's a great video from Nickleback, "This Afternoon". Watch carefully as the female police officer is none other than our own Miss Freedom Grill 2008, Holly Weber. This is one pool party I wish I'd been at.

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Posted by Sweet G at 10:58 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Freedom Grill Girls in Maxim's Hometown Hotties. Vote Today!

Tuesday, April 20. 2010

By now everyone knows that Freedom Grill Girls are hot. One needs look no further than Miss Freedom Grill 2008 and Miss Freedom Grill 2009 for proof of that. Holly Weber and Eileen Craker are both so hot you have to poke a hole in a piece of paper just to look at them, like an eclipse. Holly is a Hollywood Actress and Eileen recently won America's Finest Lady competition here in San Diego.

With that in mind, I wasn't surprised at all to find out two of our Freedom Grill Girls are in this week's Maxim Hometown Hotties Competition. It's week 8 so the only shock is "what took you so long Maxim?" First up is the gorgeous Meghan Beck, Freedom Grill's Sema Show 2009 Booth Babe. She was also Playboy's Miss Playboy Club of the Year and she's on the cover of their calendar (which I have yet to receive my signed copy of).

Meghan is in the first row so get on over there and vote for her. Hint - she's from Las Vegas.

Next is the lovely Miss Jenny Tran. She worked several Freedom Grill events a few years back. She's a lingerie model and rides a GSX 600. That's a big bike for such a small girl.

You can vote every day so show your support for Freedom Grill and help these girls get into the magazine. Jenny is in the 5th row and she's from San Diego. I realize that there are a ton of girls named Jenny in San Diego but thankfully for the voters there's only one in this week's contest.

It's always nice to see our models move on to bigger things. I can't say better because what's better than getting paid to be hot (they already are naturally) and tailgate? They get to hang out and eat barbecue and enjoy some of Sweet G's famous shots and hand shaken margaritas. They even have their own fans. Just ask anyone who has a Miss Freedom Grill poster. Even if they win they'll always be Freedom Grill Girls in our book. Thanks for voting!

Posted by Sweet G at 00:01 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

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