Tips for an At-Home Tailgate
Special to The Truth
Football season is here
(sort of), and for many, tailgating is a main event. While
there will be nothing traditional about tailgating this
year, that doesn’t mean you can’t grill delicious food and
enjoy a few beers before game time in the comfort of your
own backyard or driveway.
Tackle your tailgate with
these tips:
Play it Safe
Being outdoors is the
safest way to socialize these days, making a tailgate party
a good way to see a few friends. Take into account the size
of your space, and don’t have more folks over than you can
manage while practicing social distancing. Encourage more
space between attendees by spreading out chairs. While
tailgating parties oftentimes entail finger foods eaten
communally, consider serving snacks in individual bowls.
Don’t forget to provide hand sanitizer!
Score a Flavor Touchdown
Smoking food can be a game
changer, adding big flavor to meats and veggies. The good
news is you don’t need a special grill or artificial
additives to create easy, wood-fired smoke flavor. Consider
adding Smoke ‘Ems from Bear Mountain BBQ to your tailgating
playbook. Adding up to 45 minutes of all-natural hardwood
smoke, Smoke ‘Ems are an easy way to add real wood smoke
flavor to your food, whether you’re grilling in your
backyard, at the park, in a parking lot or on a camping
trip. Made from 100 percent premium all-natural hardwoods,
they come in four different blends: Gourmet, Bold, Savory
and Sweet BBQ. Each blend provides a unique flavor profile
that will inspire delicious meals.
So, what should you serve
at your tailgate? Using any type of grill, try creating Bear
Mountain’s World Famous Brats and Sauerkraut:
Ingredients:
• 8 - 12 uncooked brats
• 8 - 12 potato style brat
or hot dog rolls
• 1 medium yellow onion –
sliced
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 24 ounces lager or
pilsner beer
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• A medium-sized foil pan
(use a smaller pan with fewer brats)
• One 27-ounce can of
sauerkraut
Preparation using Gourmet
Blend Smoke ‘Ems:
1. On one side of the
grill, turn on the burner to medium-high or fire up
charcoal, and place the Bear Mountain BBQ Smoke ‘Ems packet
directly over the heat until it starts smoking.
2. When smoke starts,
place brats on the other side of the grill, or an upper rack
over low heat, and cook to an internal temperature of 150
degrees or until the Smoke ‘Ems has stopped smoking.
3. Remove from the grill,
and turn temperature to medium/high.
4. Place the brats,
onions, butter, beer and onions in the foil pan and return
to the grill.
5. Cook for 30 or more
minutes, allowing the brats to soak in the flavors.
6. When the brats are
plump and juicy, remove the brats and onions, and discard
liquid. Add the sauerkraut to the pan and mix in the brats
and onions to combine. Cover the pan with foil and place
back on the grill until the sauerkraut is warm.
For more crowd-pleasing
recipes and ideas for adding wood-fired flavor to your
tailgate, visit www.bearmountainbbq.com.
While you will likely be
changing a few aspects of your tailgates this year, you
don’t need to compromise on big flavor or fun.
Courtesy StatePoint
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