TailGreater: Lagers, white chicken chili and beverage balls in East Lansing
Very quietly, we've come upon one of the biggest weeks in college football. This week's matchups feature rivalry games, interesting matchups, and the possibility for upsets, and that's just in the Big Ten! Florida State faces Clemson, Washington faces Utah, Florida faces Georgia, and Nebraska faces Wisconsin. This week, perhaps more than any previous week, should tell us a lot about what the playoff picture will look like, with a veritable smorgasbord of top-25 faceoffs on display. So this week, make sure to bring that HD antenna to your tailgate, or at least make sure you have the ESPN app on your phone so that you can keep up. You won't want to miss any of the action.
Don't lie to yourself. You love each and every one of these songs, no matter how many vinyl records you have at your house, no matter how many flannel shirts or scarves you own, no matter how on-point your waxed moustache looks.
This week, bring some guilty pleasures to your tailgate, from newer pop hits like Carly Rae Jepsen's "I Really Like You" to 80s hits like "Mickey" and "Maniac" (Yes, that "Maniac". The one from Flashdance). You might be beet-red at first, embarrassed at how much you actually secretly enjoy "MMMBop", but after a few minutes (and drinks), trust us. You'll be singing along with that dumb "De-be-be-de! De-be-be-bada-badebadabedabadabadeba" part of "Two Princes" in no time. Life's too short not to enjoy your guilty pleasures.
Recipe of the Week: White Chicken Chili
Roasted corn + cheese + beans + chicken = heaven. (Image via Sarah Sprague)
Now, before you all start railing against me for choosing a recipe created by our own editor Sarah Sprague, know that I actually made this recipe last night, as part of an elaborate ritual related to a superstition I have about making a delicious home-cooked meals during Cubs games.
Obviously, it didn't help the Cubs out last night, but as a silver lining to the shutout, the chili was amazing, and it's even better this morning after the jalapeños and chilis have given up more of their flavor to the dish. If you've never made or tried a recipe for chili like this before, you may be surprised – there's no tomato (or tomato paste) to be found. Instead, the base of this chili is a roux, giving it a luscious gravy-like texture. This also means that you can further augment the flavor and texture by cooking the roux for longer, creating a blond or brown roux. Personally, I used a white roux for my application of the recipe, and opted for chicken thighs in lieu of breasts for deeper, heartier flavors.
The full recipe can be found here – and you really have no excuse not to try this one. I'm incredibly disorganized in the kitchen and even I could throw this together in less than an hour.
Invention of the Week: The Beverage Ball
Yes, it's completely unnecessary. Yes, you want it anyway. (Image via Beverage Ball)
We've all been there. Our friend asks us to toss them a beer, and then are disappointed when we simply pass them a cold can of Miller or something without any flair. Well, the wonderful people over at Beverage Ball have solved that problem forever by creating a football that can hold your favorite brew inside as you pass it to a friend. While the foam ball was originally developed as a way to deliver cans of beer to friends while floating down the river without the cans or bottles sinking to the murky depths, the Beverage Ball is a fun-if-silly-and-ultimately-unnecessary gadget to have at tailgates. Just make sure to let the beer sit for a bit after you catch it, unless you want a face full of beer foam. Unfortunately, Beverage Balls aren't on sale quite yet, but the site promises that an online store will be opening soon so that you can get one of your own in time for next season. Tailgate of the Week: Michigan vs. Michigan StateIf there is a silver lining to be found in the tailspin that the Michigan State Spartans have found themselves in, it is that now fans can concentrate on the most important aspect of football: drinking beers and eating food. And despite the fact that they will be, um, 21-point underdogs when they host the Wolverines this weekend, the Spartans and their fans can be counted on to show up for their biggest rivalry game of the year. Tailgates in East Lansing span across all of the campus parking lots (and even the tennis courts!), so you'll have your pick of places to plant yourself before the game. And if you're really lucky, you'll run into the MSU Fan-bulance, a kitted out ambulance stocked with booze, food, and tailgating gear. While you're on campus, be sure to take a walk through the botanical gardens and appreciate the beauty of East Lansing in the fall before the Wolverines take the field and crush your hopes and dreams.
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