text: TAILGATE GURU: GEORGIA TECH VS DUKE - 10/29/16
  THE HALLOWEEN HOMECOMING GAME
  This late October game is another ACC rivalry (although neither team is having a super stellar season). As of this writing, Georgia Tech is 4-3 (1-3 in the ACC), and Duke's record is 3-4 (0-3 in the ACC). But, it is Homecoming for Georgia Tech, and it should be a fabulous fall day in Atlanta.
  It'll be (another) noon game, so brunch (again) it is.
  POPCORN BALLS or
  HALLOWEEN DARK AND STORMY
  FOOTBALL EVE MENU:
  We've got a big tailgate the next day, but we're going to grill out with family members at the stadium the night before. Since we've had a season of noon games (aka Brunch tailgates), it'll be nice to relax and enjoy an evening DINNER for a change.
  I LOVE THIS DIP~A hot cheese based dip with all of the flavors of a reuben sandwich! I'm doubling the recipe for my crowd.
  Crackers or crostini for serving (or toasted cocktail rye bread squares)
  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes, olive oil and salt together until coated thoroughly.
  Place the potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or so, or until soft.
  Once cool enough to touch, cut a small slit in the top of each potato and gently scoop out a small portion of the flesh, discarding it.
  Top each potato with your desired toppings, and serve.
  I'm making this dressing in advance, so will toss in the avocados just before serving.
  FOOTBALL BRUNCH:
  The great thing about making quiche for a tailgate party is that you can make it in advance a day or two. Takes the pressure off on those early morning tailgates for sure. I'm doubling the recipe for my tailgate crowd.
  1 (1-lb.) package ground pork or turkey sausage (or one package of fully cooked sausage crumbles)
  1/2 cup thinly sliced onion (I use Vidalia)
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brown sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 8 to 10 minutes or until sausage crumbles. Remove from skillet; reserve 1 Tablespoon drippings in skillet.***NOTE: if using precooked sausage, eliminate this step and use 1 TBSP butter to sauce the veggies in the next step.
  Sauté onion and bell pepper in hot drippings (or butter, if using precooked sausage) over medium-low heat 5-10 minutes or until tender.
  Stir together cheese, flour, sausage, onion, and bell pepper. Place piecrust shell on a baking sheet, and spoon mixture into piecrust.
  Bake the quiche for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and set. Serve immediately or let cool a bit, then cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days.
  Yet another dish that needs to be made ahead - love that. So ALL the busy work is done the day before your tailgate. All that's left on the day of your event is to throw it in the oven and serve.
  Stir pancetta mixture into egg mixture, and pour over hash browns.
  (Adapted from Magnolia Days)
  So there's not a real recipe here - just put together on a skewer what sounds good to you. The colors will liven up the tailgate table, AND they'll be delicious and easy to pick up and eat without utensils - perfect for a party.
  Variety of deli meats such as: Ham, Salami and prosciutto
  I may even go crazy and add a grape or small yellow tomato in there for fun...and you can serve it naked (meaning no "dressing"), OR you can drizzle with a balsamic vinaigrette or Italian dressing to add some extra flavor. I'm going to drizzle it in a tupperware dish, and then refrigerate allowing the flavors to permeate the ingredients, THEN place the skewers on a platter for serving.
  My friend Marian told me about this recipe, so I just HAD to try it! Sounds pretty perfect for a fall tailgate menu to me. AND - I will make it a day or two in advance to make gameday stress free!
  2 cups coarsely chopped, peeled tart apples, like Granny Smith (2 medium)
  This "layer" is totally optional. It just adds an element of sweetness, but it's absolutely delicious sans whipped cream too!.
  In medium bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, nuts and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
  Cut in cold butter, using fork or pastry blender, until mixture is crumbly. Set aside.
  In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan; top evenly with cooked apples.
  Bake 44 to 48 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven to cooling rack. Cool completely, at least 1 hour. Cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. At this point the cake can be served, or placed in an airtight container to serve later or frozen.
  *Note: the whipped cream can be made a day earlier and stored in the fridge.
  I thought these sounded and looked cute for the end of October aka Halloween - - - sort of a take on Rice Krispie Treats. And I love the combination of salty and sweet!
  1 (3 oz.) bag unpopped Popcorn
  1 cup mini or regular M&M's
  Pop popcorn according to package directions. Set aside to cool. In a large pot, melt butter over low heat.
  Add marshmallows, and cook, stirring regularly, until melted.
  Remove any un-popped kernels from popcorn, and stir popped popcorn into marshmallow mixture. Add pretzel pieces, and stir in to combine.
  Using a 1 cup measuring cup for large popcorn balls or a 1/2 cup measuring cup for small popcorn balls, scoop out popcorn mixture. Shape into balls. If the mixture sticks to your hands, spray your hands lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Press M&M's and mini chocolate chips into the outside of the popcorn ball.
  Let cool to room temperature before serving. Can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container.
  Here's another recipe that's a blast from the past. I've been making this recipe since high school - there are lots of variations (chocolate only, added marshmallows, butterscotch only), but this version is my favorite. It's the perfect combination of salty and sweet that I love. AND it's great for a FALL game, because it's cool enough so the chocolate won't melt at your tailgate.
  1 large bag of semi-sweet chocolate morsels
  1 large bag of butterscotch morsels
  1 small can of planters peanuts (roughly 1 1/2 cups)
  1 can dry chow mein noodles
  Melt morsels in a large sauce pan stirring constantly over medium-low heat.
  Turn off the stove, and add remaining ingredients, stirring to coat all dry ingredients thoroughly.
  Drop in tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet covered with wax or parchment paper.
  Place in freezer until solid; then refrigerate in an airtight container.
  NOW THE FUN PART! ;0)
  ***It's Halloween weekend, so I thought I'd go with a Halloween-ish drink. It's Atlanta, Georgia though, so if the weather ends up being warm, I may go with a lighter beverage. But this one sounded perfect for this game:
  (Adapted from punchdrink.com)
  This drink recipe makes just one drink, so multiply for a crowd. I'm going to make it in advance to serve 12.
  2 ounces rum (24 oz for my tailgate)
  1 ounce lime juice (12 oz for my tailgate)
  4 ounces ginger beer (dry and spicy such as Fever Tree) - 48 oz for my tailgate
  In a Collins glass, add rum and lime juice. Add ice and top with ginger beer.
  Alternately, IF the weather is still very warm (Atlanta, GA in October!), we'll go with a lighter beverage. Our favorite seems to always be this one:
  2 ounces pale yellow grapefruit juice (fresh squeezed if you can find it)
  Football Fashion Find!
  So one of the hottest things to accessorize with this season is a choker. Whether it's made of metal or rope or some sort of fabric, they look sort of retro and can really change a boring outfit and make it pop! So when I saw these collegiate ones online at Tailgate Tees By Gabby, obviously I HAD to have one from Georgia Tech! So adorable! They'll make one for ANY college (they tell me). Hoping mine arrives before this tailgate (they didn't have GT on hand so said it would take 3 weeks)!
  tailgateteesbygabby.com
  GT has away games the next few weeks, so our next tailgate isn't until November 19th where Georgia Tech hosts the University of Virginia! Until then, we'll just have to cheer on them and our other favorite teams on from home....
  POSTGAME NOTES: GT WON!!!
  Posted by Cate Bogue at 10/19/2016
  Labels: apple crisp cake, Cheese and Sausage quiche, cheesy hash brown casserole, dark and stormy, flank steak, Georgia Tech, haystacks, mini loaded baked potatoes, muffuletta skewers, popcorn balls, tailgating