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Parking lot picnics

Football season is here and that means tailgating parties are back. Ric Orlando, the owner and chef of the New World Home Cooking restaurant in Woodstock, N.Y., explains how to tailgate in style.
/ Source: msnbc.com

Football season is here and that means tailgating parties are back. Ric Orlando, the owner and chef of the New World Home Cooking restaurant in Woodstock, N.Y., explains how to tailgate in style. Check out his suggestions below.

FOOD THAT travels well and is easy to prepare is a must.

At a recent New York Jets game grilling, dips, chips, salsas and Tex-Mex were all the rage.

Start your preparations with foods that are easy to pack in the cooler — mostly in ziplock bags — and that can be prepared with minimal ingredients and a grill. With great food and little hassle throwing a great tailgate is simple.

CHILI

A pot of turkey chili that you make at home and transport in a pot can be put straight on the grill to heat up. Serve the chili in hollowed out round bread loafs — this will not only cut back on garbage, but it is also a new and fun way to eat the chili.

Why turkey? For those who aren’t red meat eaters, chili with ground turkey meat is a tasty alternative.

SAUSAGES

It’s all about the sausages when you are tailgating. You can buy the sausages at your local supermarket or butcher, keep them packaged and put them in the cooler. After you warm up the grill, throw the sausages on, then serve them on a pita with sauerkraut or some hot mustard.

You can make the sauerkraut at home and transport it the same way as the chili — in a pot that can be thrown on the grill. Also, serving it in a pita helps with controlling the garbage.

TEX-MEX

Tex-Mex food is hot in parking lots across the country. Since there is still space on the grill, why not whip up some quesadillas?

These are easy to make and appeal to both vegetarians and picky eaters. To make: Put the flour tortilla on the grill and throw on some cheese.

For dessert how about a chocolate chip and banana quesadilla? To make: Put the flour tortilla on the grill and put on chocolate chips and bananas.


Ric Orlando is chef at the New World Home Cooking restaurant in Woodstock, N.Y.