Table of Contents

Chapter 1: TAILGATES - Pre-Game Munchies
Chapter 2: THE GRIDIRON - Grilled to Perfection
Chapter 3: SIDELINES - Sauces, Salsas, and Spreads
Chapter 4: SUPER BOWLS - Chilis, Soups, and Stews
Chapter 5: HALF-TIME SHOW - Main Entrees
Chapter 6: TOUCHDOWNS! - Sweet Victories

1. TAILGATES - Pre-Game Munchies

Tex-Mex Chili DipTailgater's Tex-Mex Chili Dip
"I love black beans and wanted to develop an easy-to-make, fully Mexican-flavored dip without cheese."


Hearty Mexican DipGame Day Hearty Mexican Dip
"This is a great recipe to make ahead and then just heat up before the gang arrives or before you head out for your tailgate party. It's quick and easy to make and would allow your fellow football fans could start partying the minute you get together. "No-waiting Tailgating"


Pre-game pinwheelsPre-game Pinwheels
"This recipe is a savory version of the popular cinnamon roll. I have added fresh basil to the biscuit dough then rolled it into a rectangle. Then I spread Caesar salad dressing over the dough and sprinkled it with Parmesan cheese before rolling it up like a cinnamon roll."


Cheesy Pigs In BlanketsCheesy Pigs in Blankets
"Of course, this recipe was inspired by the more traditional version that uses prepared crescent rolls as the "blankets." I particularly like this recipe because the added crunch coming from the cornmeal and the added flavor coming from the shredded Cheddar cheese."


Football Pork PocketsFootball Pork Pockets
"This chipotle-seasoned pork stuffed in a cheese biscuit was inspired from a recipe contest sponsored by the National Pork Board."


2. THE GRIDIRON - Grilled to Perfection

Tangy Honey-Barbeque Beef SteaksTangy Honey-Barbecue Beef Steaks
"I like tangy sauces and adding balsamic vinegar was just the right ingredient to add the right tang to this slightly sweet barbecue sauce. Of course it's great served over beef steaks."


Pork Loin with Honey OnionHerb-Rubbed Pork Loin with Honey-Onion BBQ Sauce
"I love using rubs on pork loins and tenderloins. It's a great way to add flavor without adding calories. The Honey-Onion BBQ Sauce is a unique sauce that enhances the flavors of the herb-rubbed loin."


Honey BBQ ChickenHoney-Barbecue Chicken
"It's finger-licking good! The honey sweetens the sauce perfectly."


Honey Ginger SalmonHoney-Ginger Salmon
"I think this has to be my favorite recipe in the book. However, since publishing my cookbook, I now have developed an even better way to prepare this recipe for a tailgate party. Simply combine all the marinade ingredients (including the honey) in a resealable (Ziplock) bag. Add the salmon; marinate and keep chilled until ready to grill. Grill over high heat for about 6 minutes per side."


3. SIDELINES - Sauces, Salsas and Spreads

Basic Honey, Honey Beer, and Southern-Style Honey Barbecue Sauces
"I developed these barbecue sauces to provide a variety of different flavor combinations.

Sweet and Spicy Caribbean BBQ Sauce
"I lived in Trinidad and Tobago for about 5 months on a 4-H cultural exchange program right after college, so I always like to create recipes that remind me of the great tastes and experiences that I had in the Caribbean."

Avocado Salsa
"I especially like this simple dip that was inspired by the popular guacamole. I think it's so much more attractive to serve."

Roasted Red Pepper Salsa
"I basically like anything with roasted red bell peppers - so I thought a new salsa to use on burgers or as a dip would be quite tasty."

Black Bean Salsa
"I originally developed this recipe to be served over grilled brats, but I recommend it as a tasty dip served with tortilla chips, as well as a topping for brats and burgers."

Creamy Dijon Mustard Sauce

Easy Creamy Italian Herb Spread
"I developed all these to be served on top of burgers or brats to jazz up and add new flavors to the old standbys."

Blue Cheese Spread

Southwestern Spread

4. SUPER BOWLS - Chilis, Soups and Stews

Bowl Game ChiliBowl Game Chili with Chili Cheese Herb Biscuits
"My friend and fellow culinary professional, Irma Harbour, helped me with both the chili and biscuit recipes. We wanted to develop a great-tasting chili using convenience products so it would be quick to stir together from foods most cooks already have in their pantries. The biscuits are one of my favorites in the book."


Chicken ChiliChicken Chili with Roasted Red Pepper Drop Biscuits
"I developed this chicken and white bean recipe as a great-tasting alternative to the usual beef and red beans. The Roasted-Red Pepper Drop Biscuits are a great taste sensation and are so easy to stir together."


Mexican MeatballMexican Meatball and Salsa Chili with Cheesy Ranch Pinwheels
"I was inspired by traditional meatballs when I developed this hearty meaty chili."


Black and White ChiliBlack and White "Referee" Chili with Peppered Sour Cream Biscuits
"I was inspired to create this recipe by my favorite NFL referee, Bill Quinby. We used to work together in Cedar Rapids. Bill even let my husband and I borrow his referee shirts one time for a party."


Easy Chicken and DumplingsEasy Chicken and Dumplings
"I wanted to create an easy recipe for chicken and dumplings that wouldn't seem so threatening to today's less experienced cooks. This recipe is especially great-tasting with the fresh parsley in the dumplings."


Tex Mex Cheesy Chicken ChowderTex-Mex Cheesy Chicken Chowder with Hot and Buttery Biscuit Squares
"This is one of my favorite "stand-by" recipes. It uses a variety of convenience foods that are stirred together into one big pot. The cooking technique brings out the great flavors of all the ingredients."


5. HALF-TIME SHOW - Main Entrees

Fabulous FiestaFabulous Fiesta Football Food "This recipe may be a bit too cute for some of the "tough" sports guys out there in football land, but the tasty combination of ingredients is sure to win over even the most discriminating fans."


Meat and PotatoesMeat-N-Potatoes-N-Gravy Meat Loaf
"I wanted to create a recipe for all the "meat-and-potatoes" folks. This recipe combines beef, potatoes and gravy into one meat loaf."


Kickoff BrisketKick-Off Brisket with "Game Thyme" Biscuit Squares
"I had the help of my friend and fellow culinary professional, Linda Behrends on this brisket recipe. The Bloody Mary mix is a unique twist and adds a wonderful punch to the taste. I developed the biscuits to be a clever and tasty complement to the brisket."


6. TOUCHDOWNS! - Sweet Victories

Football BiscuitsFootball Biscuits with Caramel-Apple Fondue
"Biscuits made with heavy cream simply melt in your mouth and should not be saved just for ladies teas, but shared with everyone who loves great food. The football shapes make then particularly pleasing to football fans and tailgaters. I developed the Caramel-Apple Fondue to reflect the same great taste sensation you get when eating a caramel apple dipped in chopped pecans."


Sweet and Spicy CookiesSweet and Spicy Football Cookies
"I wanted to create a brown roll out cookie that would make great-looking footballs! This recipe uses dark brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger and cloves to achieve the right "look. And, the spices give this buttery cookie a wonderful flavor. It can be cut into any shape and served anytime of year."


Touchdown TurnoversTouchdown Turnovers
"I came up with what I thought was a clever name for this recipe first, then I created a recipe to go with the name. I learned later that technically you can't have a "touchdown turnover," but rather a "turnover touchdown." I guess this is where my creative culinary skills were challenged by the technicalities of the game of football."


Banana Nut Sandwich CookiesBanana-Nut Sandwich Cookies
"This recipe is another football cut-out cookie recipe that takes advantage of some of the convenience products on the market. The ingredient list is short, but the flavor is rich and tasty."