In America, we have rituals about tailgating. We’re superstitious, sentimental and even a bit crazy come game day. Your slow cooked chili, chicken wings or bacon-woven bratwursts are just as important as the colors you are wearing. Tailgating season isn’t recognized as a series of national holidays with greeting cards and days off, but perhaps there should be?

Check out some of our favorite get-your-tailgate-on recipes below:






Tailgating Recipe Links
Date Night Doins
Grillin Fools
Tailgating.com

Above Photo by Veeliam

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This Labor Day, you can make a difference by taking part in the National Day of Action. This Monday, September 7th, people from all over the U.S. will gather together at “Eat In” potlucks and talk about the National School Lunch Program and the Child Nutrition Act.

This movement is an effort by Slow Food USA to call attention to our nation’s current school lunch program and its direct influence on the health of our country’s youth. Each school day, 30 million children take part in the National School Lunch Program, governed by the U.S. Congress, but the program is lacking precisely what it is suppose to provide- real food. According to Slow Food USA, one in four children is overweight or obese and one in three will develop diabetes in their lifetime! It’s time to take action now!

Currently, our schools continue to nourish students with heavily processed food on a daily basis and sadly, for many children it is their one guaranteed meal they can count on each day. Every four to five years, the Child Nutrition Act comes up for reauthorization in Congress and the deadline is here.

Want to Help, Learn More or Get Involved? Here’s How!

Slow Food USA National Day of Action

Better School Food

Farm to School Network

Renegade Lunch Lady, Chef Ann

Above Photo by: Bookgrl

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Today is the 5th day of Julia Child Week at Foodista! There are so many delicious recipes, we really could go on for months! Looking through Julia Child’s recipes and watching her episodes, it’s clear to me that she wanted to take the fear and intimidation out of cooking. Her explanations are clear and well described. She offers excellent substitutions and make-ahead suggestions to help the busy cook. I can imagine hundreds of women watching Julia effortlessly create Caneton a’ l’ Orange or cook live lobsters like it was an every day occurrence and surely thinking to themselves okay, I can handle this, or at least some of it!

Cooking can be incredibly nerve racking and awkward when you are first starting out, but instead of tackling live lobsters or roasting whole ducks right off the bat, Julia has several other recipes that are far less intimidating to start out with. For example, nothing could be more simple than making Julia’s Roquefort cheese balls. Elegant, rich and delicious, especially paired with a nice red wine, it’s a recipe that is perfect for a potluck or a party, and although easy to make, they look and taste like you slaved half your day in the kitchen!

Bon Appetite!

Other inspirational recipes for Roquefort cheese appetizers you may be interested in trying:

A Roquefort cheese roll by Homesick Texan, a leek and Roquefort tart from Too Many Chefs or some Roquefort and wine pairing tips from Rhino Wino with a scrumptious recipe for Roquefort gougeres.

Photo by Kaytethinks

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Family picnics,  Friday night barbecues and last minute invitations to a friend’s potluck doesn’t always require that you bring a dish to share, but more often than not it’s a good idea to bring a little something even if it means a bottle of wine, olives or some good cheese. But, if you like to cook and want to bring a little something to the party that doesn’t take up too much time in the kitchen, here are a few simple ideas that are quick and easy to make and celebrate summer’s freshest ingredients.

Summer tomatoes, garlic, sweet and spicy garden basil and tangy balsamic vinaigrette over toasted baguette slices are heavenly and a snap to make!

Fresh figs stuffed with sweetened ricotta and drizzled in honey is a a great appetizer to bring to a wine pairing party.

And lastly, one of my favorites is peppadew peppers stuffed with herbed goat cheese. The sweet and vinegary peppers mixed with the tangy and creamy goat cheese is a marriage made in heaven. One quick stop to the grocery store and a maximum of 20 minutes pre-party and you’ve got yourself some great potluck or party appetizers.

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