Tailgating: Spicy Dry Rubbed Honey Chicken

Chicken is the most versatile ingredient protein. You can cook it a number of ways, cut it up, shred it, pound it flat, bread it, fry it, etc. You get my drift. We would all be lying if we said there wasn't a star chicken dish at all of our football tailgates.


The Ultimate Grilled Chicken
Nothing tastes better at a BBQ than a smokey piece of grilled chicken. Pouring a bottle of barbeque sauce can end up with chicken that is just oh k. However, I must admit, there are some great sauces out there, like Jack Daniels BBQ marinades. If you do use a store bought marinade (there are so many now), I always say to doctor it up. I love adding honey and orange juice to store bought BBQ when I am in a hurry. Play around :)

I say its better to make the marinade yourself. Any marinade you put on the meat can either make it sink or swim, but if you know what you are putting into it, it has to be good. Therefore, here is my favorite game day grilled chicken!

Club Culinaire of French Cuisine vs Las Vegas

Ever since I was a little girl, my mother has taken me to Club Culinaire events. One of my first food memories was driving to this Ranch in the Malibu Hills, and just eating some of the best food all day long. The day ended with the biggest strawberry tart I had ever seen, literally. It must have been 10 feet in diameter. The people organizing the event began cutting pieces from it and every one dug in.

I couldn't make this year's Cancer fundraising event, because I had unknowingly booked a vacation with my boyfriend the same weekend. But, without fail, my mother grabbed me a goody bag.

Chocolate (85%), Vanilla Sugar, Heirloom Balsamic, Red Wine, and mini bottles of Olive Oil and Vinegar

Things to Bring to a Tailgate: Breakfast Casserole

*I decided to break up my Breakfast Tailgate Post  as it was long and hard to read.* 


Spicy Breakfast Casserole
This meal is especially great to make if you are in a hurry. You add everything about breakfast in a pan, bake, and take! You can change up the vegetables you use, as well as the cheese. Play around :)


8 large eggs
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (can also use sausage)
1 large loaf of french crusty bread or 1 baguette
4 cups homefries (you can make them yourself or use frozen ones)
1 cup milk
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 onion, sweated
1 jalapeno, diced (leave some seeds in for more heat)

Things to Bring to a Tailgate: Easy Cinnamon Sticky Bread

*I decided to break up my Breakfast Tailgate Post  as it was long and hard to read.*

Easy Cinnamon Sticky Bread
Cheating times 2 on this blog today! Oh k... again, I am going to use a Pillsbury product. You can do this with biscuits, BUT it tends to come out a little doughy for my taste. Play around with the recipe and see what suits you

2 cans Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits, cut into 4ths
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup raisins
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup melted butter


Preheat oven to 375 (directions on the biscuit can). Roll biscuits in granulated sugar and place in a large baking dish (large enough to fit them all, but not too big that the biscuits don't touch each other).

Blogger Recipes I Have to Try

If you are like me, I am sure you spend time scouring the internet for tasty treats and food you want to eat. I thought I would share with you my current blogger wishlist. Feel free to add any blogs where you have found some fantastic looking food. Plus, if you make the dish yourself, I will include a blog post dedicated to you on my site. Happy Hunting!

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Bloomin' Onion Bread. This recipe comes from changeabletable.com.

"If you’re not quite the onion-lover Outback Steakhouse targets in their ads for the “Bloomin’ Onion” - this might be for you.  This is great for standing around and snacking as you visit with your dinner guests.  The aroma as it bakes is wonderful.  Don’t bother looking for a serving tray - it’ll be gone soon."

I am an onion lover and this bread looks amazing, even better than a Bloomin Onion. I have had recent posts about tailgating, and this would be a great idea of something to bring and share.

Things to Bring to a Tailgate: Breakfast

Getting in a good meal before tailgating is always important. Trust me, you don't want to drink beer on an empty stomach. Sometimes, early football games, or early tailgating, call for a breakfast with friends coupled with a good screwdriver, mimosa, or bloody mary. Make sure your tailgate is ready for game time with these amazing recipes.

Silver Dollar Sandwich
Pancakes are one of my favorite morning foods, but are not super portable. Try this recipe for an easy pancake sandwich. You can play with the pancakes too, making them apple cinnamon, blueberry, or strawberry.

12 silver dollar pancakes, about 4 inches in diameter
6 slices bacon, made into crumbled maple bacon
*try this recipe, or make your own. Simply cook bacon on a cookie sheet with real maple syrup and  brown sugar. the addition of dijon mustard ensures it isn't too sweet*
6 eggs, fried (scrambled eggs don't really work with this recipe)
Aluminum foil

Dip-spiration

Every New Years I veer away from resolutions because I always break them. Well, I have a blog resolution and hopefully I don't forget about it. TAKE PICTURES!

A lot of times when I come up with recipes, I forget to use the camera. And sometimes, I just write about recipes of mine I haven't divulged before or in a long time. However, when I was spending time with some friends over summer, one of them mentioned "I used to look at your blog all the time, but its hard because I rarely look at blogs without pictures." And, she was right. The websites I am prone to viewing also usually have brilliant images.

So here is to my end of summer resolution, to take more photos!

Now, on to food. This summer I have eaten some amazing dips. And really, what is summer without chips and dips. With the end of summer you may be thinking "isn't this post coming too late?" Though if you are like me, for me and my friends, it's coming just in time. College Football season is rapidly approaching and if you want to be bell of the tailgate ball, try some of these recipes. I promise you won't be disappointed.

And just for kicks.... U C L A. GO BRUINS!!

Summer Luvin'

Vacation #1 is done and I have neglected this blog for too long. Here is a little update on the past few weeks. Birthdays, festivals, and art Oh My! Don't worry, recipes are coming!

Ventura County Fair: Foot long corn dog

Free Summer concerts