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Tailgates, Touchdowns & Time Together


Because the People Around the Table Matter More than the Final Score


If you know me, you know exactly where my loyalty lies on a fall Saturday… Go Vols!


I love Tennessee football - the traditions, the sea of orange, Rocky Top and everything that comes with Saturdays in the South. But as much as I love my Vols, I believe something even more important: There’s room for every fan base at my at my table. Football gives us a reason to gather. We put something delicious on the table, pour a festive drink, cheer a little too loudly and enjoy some good-natured trash talk. But it should never cost us a friendship.


When the clock hits zero, somebody wins and somebody loses. We’ll debate first downs, questionable calls and overtime victories, but the people sitting around our table matter so much more than the final score. To me, that’s what tailgating is really about. It’s Southern hospitality with a scoreboard in the background. Pull up another chair. Grab a plate. And yes, I’ll feed you even if you’re wearing the very wrong shade of orange. We can cheer for different teams and still cheer for each other. So, wear your colors. Fly your flag. Celebrate the touchdowns. Then pass the dip. Championships are wonderful - friendships are better. At the end of the day, the score will be forgotten, but how we treated each other won’t.


See you around the table. And because I can only be so impartial… Go Vols!




Game Day Orange Crush


(Serves 8-10)


Ingredients

  • 3 cups orange juice

  • 2 cups vodka

  • 1 cup orange liqueur

  • ½ cup fresh lime juice

  • 2 cups lemon-lime soda or sparkling water

  • Fresh orange slices


Method

Combine the orange juice, vodka, orange liqueur and lime juice in a pitcher and chill. Just before serving, add the bubbles and fresh orange slices.


Stef's Hack:

Make everything except the bubbly part the night before. On game day, pour over ice, top with bubbles and get back to the fun. Also, you can freeze some of the orange juice and orange slices into some festive Game Day ice cubes!


Mocktail:

Skip the vodka and orange liqueur and add extra sparkling water or lemon-lime soda.




Nashville Hot Chicken Pimento Cheese Dip


Ingredients

  • 2 cups finely shredded cooked chicken

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened

  • ½ cup sour cream

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise

  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar

  • 1 cup shredded pepper jack

  • 1 (4 oz) jar diced pimentos, drained

  • ½ cup bacon crumbles

  • ¼ cup Captain Rodney’s Nashville Hot Chicken Sauce

  • 1 Tbsp. dill pickle juice

  • ½ tsp. garlic powder

  • ¼ cup finely chopped dill pickles

  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced

  • Mike’s Hot Honey, for drizzling


Method

  1. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Nashville Hot Chicken Sauce, pickle juice and garlic powder until creamy. Fold in the chicken, cheeses, pimentos, bacon, pickles and half the green onions.

  2. Refrigerate for at least one hour - or overnight. Before serving, finish with green onions, bacon crumbles and a generous drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey.

  3. Serve cold with buttery crackers, pretzel crisps, sturdy potato chips or celery.


Stef's Hack:

Grab a rotisserie chicken from your favorite spot and shred it to cut your prep time in half. Make the dip the night before, and game day becomes grab, garnish and go.

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