Tailgating brings unique approaches to food.
By Joanne Foxjfox@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Scrumptious brats are grilled up prior to the Morningside/Hastings football game. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
Food, fun and frolic are all part of the mix for folks who gather in the Olsen Stadium parking lot prior to game time for Morningside Mustang football.
Kelli Tuttle is at the games to watch her son Marshall, a sophomore, play football. The fun of tailgating is only limited by the creativity of its organizers.
"If there's one thing we try to do, it's to have a theme to organize around," she said.
Previous themes have included chicken wings (done in a turkey cooker), build your own burgers, hot dogs, and taco in a bag. For Morningside's Homecoming game against Hastings, the theme celebrated October with Brat Fest, Tuttle said.
"We think about keeping it simple and about the expense involved," she explained. "We focus on food that can be handled safely and is easily transportable."
With food being prepared outside of the kitchen, Tuttle said safety is always on everyone's mind.
"It's important to us that the hot stuff is hot and the cold stuff is cold," she said.
Rhonda Johnson is a veteran of games and tailgating having watched her son, senior Ryan Oetken, play for the past four years.
"We were new and other parents were so good about bringing us in," she reminisced of Ryan's freshman year. "I think all of us discovered that during football season we don't get to see the boys much, so this is a way for us to connect."
Tailgaters may start about three hours before a Morningside game, wrap things up prior to the game, watch the competition, and then return for more tailgating, Johnson said.
"The players will come and join us afterward which is even more fun," she said. "And that's what it's all about, we're there for the boys."
In addition to the main meat, diners can get a vast variety of other foods, Tuttle said.
"We have people who specialize in certain items, like potato salad," she noted. "And everybody will look forward to that contribution."
Johnson said one of the contributions she looks forward to comes from the West Coast. Charlie and Cheryl Fisher fly in for the games to watch son Cody, a junior, on the gridiron. With them, they bring The Coast of Southern California Shrimp Surprise.
"They bring jumbo shrimp they've marinated for a day in melted butter, lemon juice, all types of peppers, a pinch of garlic and seasoned salt," Johnson said. "Then, it's grilled and I can tell you, it's a real treat."
If it sounds like it's easy to pack on the pounds with tailgating, Tuttle said many folks will bring healthy foods as well.
"We always have a relish tray and fruit," she stressed. "We try and have as many choices as possible."
But even with the addition of healthy alternatives, Tuttle acknowledged that it's hard not to overindulge. Movement becomes important.
"Nobody eats at a table," she said. "We walk around a lot and socialize. Then you'll see anywhere from 8 to 10 games going on, like beanbag toss. As a P.E. teacher, I like to see that's it's not just eating."
Of course, it's not just eating. There's logistics as well. Tuttle said canopies will crop up and people are quick to chose a prime spot and hold on to it. It's tough to miss the red school bus that Johnson brings, affectionately called the Cherry Bomb.
"In my car, I have a Tupperware container where I have the dishes and silverware that I can just haul out," Tuttle said. "I have maroon and white table covers in Morningside colors and lots of people have tailgate holders that have a place for your thumb and plate. And everyone has lawn chairs."
There's also a game to attend, Johnson said.
"What I've really noticed is over the past four years, the tailgaters have really doubled in numbers," she said.
"Certainly some of that has to do with winning," Johnson added, referring to Morningside's undefeated season. "We really like winning."
When the Morningside football team goes on the road, so do the tailgaters, Tuttle said.
"When we played Northwestern (in Orange City, Iowa), we took kabobs which were easy to transport," she said.
"This coming weekend when we go to Seward, Nebraska," Tuttle paused, "Well, we're still working on the menu."
Milk Can Stew
Equal parts of: ring sausage, potatoes; corn on the cob; cabbage; calarabi; onions; carrots; celery
Cut up all the vegetables and sausage and put in milk can. Pour over six beers. Cook in turkey cooker for about 90 minutes. Dump into a clean cooler.
-- From Darin and Stacy Hildahl who own the milk can (Darin is a 1987 Morningside grad who played football)
Kelli Tuttle is at the games to watch her son Marshall, a sophomore, play football. The fun of tailgating is only limited by the creativity of its organizers.
"If there's one thing we try to do, it's to have a theme to organize around," she said.
Previous themes have included chicken wings (done in a turkey cooker), build your own burgers, hot dogs, and taco in a bag. For Morningside's Homecoming game against Hastings, the theme celebrated October with Brat Fest, Tuttle said.
"We think about keeping it simple and about the expense involved," she explained. "We focus on food that can be handled safely and is easily transportable."
With food being prepared outside of the kitchen, Tuttle said safety is always on everyone's mind.
"It's important to us that the hot stuff is hot and the cold stuff is cold," she said.
Rhonda Johnson is a veteran of games and tailgating having watched her son, senior Ryan Oetken, play for the past four years.
"We were new and other parents were so good about bringing us in," she reminisced of Ryan's freshman year. "I think all of us discovered that during football season we don't get to see the boys much, so this is a way for us to connect."
Tailgaters may start about three hours before a Morningside game, wrap things up prior to the game, watch the competition, and then return for more tailgating, Johnson said.
"The players will come and join us afterward which is even more fun," she said. "And that's what it's all about, we're there for the boys."
In addition to the main meat, diners can get a vast variety of other foods, Tuttle said.
"We have people who specialize in certain items, like potato salad," she noted. "And everybody will look forward to that contribution."
Johnson said one of the contributions she looks forward to comes from the West Coast. Charlie and Cheryl Fisher fly in for the games to watch son Cody, a junior, on the gridiron. With them, they bring The Coast of Southern California Shrimp Surprise.
"They bring jumbo shrimp they've marinated for a day in melted butter, lemon juice, all types of peppers, a pinch of garlic and seasoned salt," Johnson said. "Then, it's grilled and I can tell you, it's a real treat."
If it sounds like it's easy to pack on the pounds with tailgating, Tuttle said many folks will bring healthy foods as well.
"We always have a relish tray and fruit," she stressed. "We try and have as many choices as possible."
But even with the addition of healthy alternatives, Tuttle acknowledged that it's hard not to overindulge. Movement becomes important.
"Nobody eats at a table," she said. "We walk around a lot and socialize. Then you'll see anywhere from 8 to 10 games going on, like beanbag toss. As a P.E. teacher, I like to see that's it's not just eating."
Of course, it's not just eating. There's logistics as well. Tuttle said canopies will crop up and people are quick to chose a prime spot and hold on to it. It's tough to miss the red school bus that Johnson brings, affectionately called the Cherry Bomb.
"In my car, I have a Tupperware container where I have the dishes and silverware that I can just haul out," Tuttle said. "I have maroon and white table covers in Morningside colors and lots of people have tailgate holders that have a place for your thumb and plate. And everyone has lawn chairs."
There's also a game to attend, Johnson said.
"What I've really noticed is over the past four years, the tailgaters have really doubled in numbers," she said.
"Certainly some of that has to do with winning," Johnson added, referring to Morningside's undefeated season. "We really like winning."
When the Morningside football team goes on the road, so do the tailgaters, Tuttle said.
"When we played Northwestern (in Orange City, Iowa), we took kabobs which were easy to transport," she said.
"This coming weekend when we go to Seward, Nebraska," Tuttle paused, "Well, we're still working on the menu."
Milk Can Stew
Equal parts of: ring sausage, potatoes; corn on the cob; cabbage; calarabi; onions; carrots; celery
Cut up all the vegetables and sausage and put in milk can. Pour over six beers. Cook in turkey cooker for about 90 minutes. Dump into a clean cooler.
-- From Darin and Stacy Hildahl who own the milk can (Darin is a 1987 Morningside grad who played football)
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TuesdaysGone wrote on Oct 15, 2008 10:35 AM: