Happy Football Friday, Y’all. Or Merry Christmas Eve Eve. We are knee-deep in bowl games and last-minute Christmas shopping. Most people are hunkered down as Mother Nature blankets the country in an arctic blast. So, why not make some FUN holiday-Esque tasty tailgate treats for bowl game watching, family fun, or just something more exciting than leftover cold pizza as you gear up for the arrival of Santa?
You can revisit some of these tasty tailgate treats from this past season that will be great for cold weather and family gatherings. All sorts of Soups, Bacon Wrapped Greatness, and Kickoff Weekend had a good mix of tasty treats.
Football Friday Tasty Tailgate Treats: Holidays Edition
As cold and flu season come back with these frigid temperatures several people in my family have been using some good old-fashioned tried and true “cough medicine. Brandy. Did you know that Brandy helps with colds and the flu because of its strong anti-inflammatory properties? These anti-inflammatory properties reduce the pain of a sore throat and also help in clearing mucus. As well as the strong alcohol content makes it antibacterial. The website I pulled the recipe from has copious amounts of information on the healing properties of Brandy during cold and flu season.
Brandy Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
- 2oz brandy of choice
- 2oz honey
- 1 cinnamon, whole stick
- 1 lemon
- 1 clove, crushed
- 4oz hot water
- 4oz hot water (this is not a mistake)
Serves: 1
Instructions:
Your eyes didn’t fool you, you’ll need two measures of water of 4oz each. Bring the water to a boil, then pour it into a mug to temper it (this will keep the Toddy from cooling too fast). While the mug is tempering, you’ll want to cut off a slice of lemon (orange is a good stand-in) and pierce it with bits of clove.
Then, pour out the water from the mug and pour in the brandy. Add honey, lemon juice, and lemon slice with cloves and cinnamon stick, then cover everything with four ounces of hot water (or whatever the mug will hold). Stir as vigorously as your achy self can, sip, and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
Ingredients:
- 1 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. cloves
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- Cooking spray, for slow-cooker
- 6 c. pecans
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together sugars, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
- In another medium bowl, combine egg whites and vanilla. Whisk until frothy.
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add pecans to the Crock-Pot.
- Pour egg white mixture over pecans and stir until coated.
- Pour the sugar mixture over and stir again until the pecans are fully coated.
- Cook on low for 3 hours, stirring every half hour. If sugar isn’t dissolving, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. When finished, remove the nuts from the slow cooker and cool in a single layer.
- Serve.
Pull-Apart Christmas Tree
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. refrigerated pizza dough
- Egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp water)
- 7 mozzarella sticks
- 1/4 c. melted butter
- 1/2 c. finely grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp. Thinly sliced basil
- 1 tbsp. chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp. chopped rosemary
- Marinara, warmed (for serving)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 450°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut mozzarella sticks into 1” pieces and set aside.
- On a floured surface, divide the pizza dough into two pieces. Stretch and roll each piece of dough into a long rectangle, then cut the dough into 2” squares (you’ll need 33 total).
- Wrap a dough square around each piece of mozzarella, forming a tightly sealed ball.
- Place balls seam-side down on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree (they should be touching).
- Brush egg wash on dough balls and bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together melted butter, Parmesan, and herbs.
- Brush on baked pizza balls.
- Serve warm with marinara for dipping.
Pigs In a Blanket Wreath
- 24 mini hot dogs
- Rosemary sprigs (for decoration)
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- Ketchup, for serving
- 2 tsp poppy seeds
- 1 tube refrigerated crescent rolls
- Egg wash
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper.
- Slice crescent rolls lengthwise into thirds.
- Brush all over with dijon mustard.
- Place a mini hot dog on the thick end of each triangle and roll up.
- Arrange the pigs in a blanket, side by side, in a circle on the baking sheet. They should be touching!
- Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with salt and poppy seeds.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the crescents are golden.
- Let cool for at least 20 minutes.
- Lay rosemary sprigs around the inside of the wreath and place a small bowl filled with ketchup in the center.
Happy Everything
Happy Bowl Season. Merry Christmas Eve Eve. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Holidays. Whatever you are celebrating or even if you are just hanging out at home trying to stay warm we hope you enjoy these tasty treats. The holidays are hard for everyone so, be sure to check in on all your friends and family. Everyone is struggling with something. If you need someone to talk to there is a new hotline to help if you are feeling helpless 988. Be kind. Spread love.
