The Perfect Tailgate Menu

 

Truth be told, I have never actually tailgated before.  I’m sure this is partly due to the fact that I also don’t watch football.

However, when the Arkansas Razorbacks play in Little Rock, tailgating takes up a good part of the town, as well as the local twitter, instagram and facebook feeds.

So in honor of the Razorbacks playing this Saturday in Little Rock, Whitney and I have put together The Perfect Tailgate Menu.

And if you are not tailgating this weekend, you can adapt this yummy menu to any gathering of friends.

You only need one or two friends around to have an excuse for making homemade margaritas, right?

There is nothing quite so yummy to me as a margarita with fresh lime juice.  Whitney and I frequently drive all the way across the river to have Arkansas’ Best Margarita at ZaZa’s because it is made with fresh juices, but if you want to squeeze a whole bag of limes, you can have a pitcher of the best margarita at home.

So grab a bag of limes, some Petit Jean meats and more than one bag of chips because it’s not about whether the Razorbacks win or lose. To me, it’s all about the food.

Recipes for onion dip and margaritas are below.  All other recipes are linked!  Happy Tailgating!

The Perfect Tailgate Menu

BBQ Chicken

Tortilla Chips and Homemade Salsa

Margaritas with Frozen Sangria Ice Cubes

Fancy Hot Dogs made with Petit Jean Polish Sausages and Petit Jean Jumbo Grillers

Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Petit Jean Summer Sausage and Pita Crackers

Arkansas Iced Sugar Cookies

Pan Fried Onion Dip with Kettle Potato Chips

Margaritas with freshly squeezed Lime Juice

 

Pan-fried Onion Dip from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

Ingredients:

2 large yellow onions
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup good mayonnaise

Cut the onions in half, and then slice them into 1/8-inch thick half-rounds. (You will have about 3 cups of onions) Heat the butter and oil in a large sauté pan on medium heat. Add the onions, cayenne, salt and pepper and sauté for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 more minutes, until the onions are browned and caramelized. Allow the onions to cool.

Place the cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat until smooth. Add the onions and mix well.

Taste for seasonings.
Serve at room temperature.

Enjoy!

 

Fresh Margaritas

1 cup fresh lime juice

1 cup Triple Sec

2 cups tequila

1/2 cup simple syrup

coarse salt for rims (optional)

Mix all ingredients (except salt) and chill until serving time.

Enjoy over ice.

 

Notes:

Summer sausage and hot dogs for The Perfect Tailgate Menu were provided by Petit Jean Meats, a local Arkansas company.   I’ve been using Petit Jean Meats for a long time, as my mother would send me back to the store if I brought any other brand of bacon in her house, so partnering with them is a pleasure!  In fact, soon I will be getting to give away a Petit Jean Thanksgiving Ham here on the blog.

Awesome tailgating picture provided by Whitney Loibner, truck was loaned to us by our sweet friend Jeremy Jeffery, and all our boots are courtesy of Country Outfitter.  Gals pictured are all Arkansas Bloggers who are game for any kind of gathering that includes boots and tequila.