FOOTBALL SEASON is here and coaches aren't the only ones with game-day strategies.
Tailgate parties are becoming more and more a part of football, whether adjacent to a high-school field, in the lakefront muny parking lot or on your back-yard deck. The key to success? PLANNING!
Don't get fussy with the kids. They still prefer traditional fare such as chicken nuggets, burgers, hot dogs, sloppy Joes and chili.
At home parties, game-day cooks demonstrate creativity when it comes to food choices. Occasionally, you'll find professional tailgaters doing such exotics as roast whole pig, barbecued ribs -- even shish kebabs and game hens. It's fun but costly and time-consuming.
Don't overlook a hearty soup or chili. There's nothing boring about a beautifully seasoned soup. I love soup anytime of the year, but it's especially good during a brisk aftenoon or evening on the deck or when gathered around a bonfire.
Both sloppy Joes and soup are great choices if time is limited and you need a make-ahead idea.