Tailgating Tips

Flank steaks need a longer period of marinating, so on Monday, I put them in a ziplock bag with the dressing or whatever marinate we are using. Let them sit for two days and then freeze them until the night before the game. They thaw but are still very cold for the trip and there's less danger of meat turning in a cooler.

Line your portable grill with aluminum foil for easy clean-up and disposal of spent charcoal.

Get bottled water and freeze it. Place it in your cooler. If it gets hot, you can take it out and as it melts, you will have cold water to drink. Unlike, ice, it won't "water down" your cooler! The bottles make good ice packs!!

Make hamburgers in advance (make sure they are no thicker than 3/4 inch) and freeze between sheets of wax paper. Put on grill still frozen and cook 3 to 4 minutes each side.

Always bring your own personal "jumbo" beverage glass with me. When you set your beverage down for any reason, having a distinguishable cup makes it is easy to spot and retrieve. That prevents you from grabbing someone else's cup.

Laminated Check List. We have been tailgating for years. We developed our check list over the years and laminated it. On Fri/Sat as we are packing, simply check off the items with a dry erase marker. When all done, wipe it off and you are ready for the next game!

An Easy-Up canopy provides shade, or protection from the elements. It also gives friends an identifiable rally point.

Use large storage bins to organize all of your tailgating gear and keep it that way, so it's easy in, easy out, all season.

When tailgating in warm weather, make sure your beverages are real cold before placing in a cooler of ice helps to slow the ice melt. It sounds simple but it works, along with freezing some bottles of water to throw in the cooler, too.