EDMOND — Wikipedia defines a tailgate party as a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle.

Tailgating often involves consuming alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and grilling food. Tailgating usually takes place in the parking lots of sports stadiums before a game, but in more recent years, tailgating has reached even nonsports events. The Santa Fe Opera holds a tailgating event on the opening night of its opera season.

This a truly American event that has grown out of the love of the game and the taste of food. September is the start of football season and parking lots for almost very college and pro team begin to fill up hours before the actual event starts. Tailgates are let down, folding chairs are set up and the grill is carefully watched.

Tailgating dates back to the first college football game between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869, when fans traveled to the game by carriage, grilling sausages and burgers at the “tail end” of the horse.

Cook Smart…



CHEF DAVE FOUTS is an Edmond resident and a nationally known speaker in the bariatric weight-loss industry. He also is the author of four cookbooks. Share your recipes with Chef Dave and he may feature you in a future column. E-mail him at chefdave@edmondsun.com.



Don’t forget...tailgating essentials

When getting ready for your big tailgating party, use this list to help get you organized and make sure that you don’t forget anything:

Don’t forget...tailgating essentials

Bungee cords/rope (to secure tent, rain tarp or flag)

Tent, tarp or canopy

Table/table cloth

Chairs

Grill or cooker

Gas or charcoal and lighter fluid

Matches or lighter

Ice

Coolers

Beverages

Cooking utensils

Cooking pans, pots

Oven mitts, apron

Water to douse flame right before kickoff

Trash bags

Paper towels

Bottle opener, can opener

Corkscrew

Plates, cups

Fire extinguisher

Radio/TV

Plastic storage bags

Football, Frisbee, playing cards, games

Blankets

Serving tray

Binoculars

Condiments: buns, cheese, onions, mushrooms, barbecue sauce, salt, pepper, hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, pickles

Camera

Rain gear/poncho

Umbrella

Kerosene heater for those cold days

Sun block

Game tickets

Themed decorations



chef dave’s first down dip

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon garlic, chopped

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

2 cups fat free cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup salsa

1 cup cooked chicken breast, chopped small

1 cup canned pinto beans, rinsed and drained

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup low fat Monterey Jack cheese, grated

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

3 cups baby carrots, for dipping

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except the cheese and baby carrots.

Mix well in a large bowl.

Top with grated cheese and serve cold.

Note: Grilled chicken is a great way to add some flavor to this dip!

Nutritional Information: (per serving)110 calories; 12 g protein; 2 g fat (1 g saturated fat); 15 mg cholesterol; 9 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 400 mg sodium.



beer boiled shrimp and kielbasa

Servings: 12

Ingredients:

2 pounds of large shrimp (do not shell them)

Six pack of good beer (non-alcoholic works as well)

1 pound turkey kielbasa sausage, sliced into 1 inch slices

2 bay leaves

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon celery seed

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

The night before the game, slice the kielbasa into 1-inch slices. Wash the shrimp in cold water.

In the parking lot:

In a large pot, bring to a boil the beer, sausage, bay leaves, garlic, celery seed, salt and pepper.

Lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Add shrimp and bring back to a boil.

Boil for about 2 minutes, the shrimp will turn pink.

Put the shrimp on ice and serve it cold. Serve kielbasa hot.

Nutritional Information: (per serving) 140 calories; 21 g protein; 4.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated);

140 mg cholesterol; 2 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 450 mg sodium.

Homemade Cocktail Sauce:

2/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup horseradish

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Mix well and serve!