Husker Football: Big Red Tailgate Recipes – Week Five

Husker Corner’s own Tailgate Diva, Kelli Anne Francis takes to the kitchen once more to satiate the appetites of husker football fans waiting for a another late night match-up, this time against the Illinois Fighting Illini. Without further adieu:

Another new week of college football and it’s HOMECOMING!! School spirit should fill the air. It’s time to show how much you love the Huskers by wearing RED to work every day or by eating Runza and Valentino’s pizza all week.

What should one bring to a homecoming tailgate? Anything and everything in red and white, scarlet and cream and with a BIG RED N on it! Seriously, all kinds of sweet treats can have a red N in icing put on them.

You can order 18-inch cookies with the emblem, cupcakes with red and white sprinkles, brownies with red and white candies baked into the top. When grilling burgers or steaks or even chicken, there are Husker branding irons on the market.

Kelli Anne Francis-Husker Corner

The easiest thing to make and bring is a peanut and candy mix with red and white chocolate candies. Literally buy, dump and stir. If you plan far enough in advance you can order red and white M&Ms and have GO BIG RED printed on them.

They are pricey, but unique. Party City carries most every color sold individually. This mix is usually temperature resistant until you get over 80, as well.

With the warm weather predicted, I’m recommending a new twist on an old favorite, rice krispie bars. By mixing in some oreos it changes it up a little. In case you haven’t been in the cookie aisle lately, Mr. Keebler has some amazing new flavors and colors.

You could make these without the food coloring and just add in the orange and black bits for Illinois, but HEY! It’s HOMECOMING!!!

Husker Rice Krispie bars

• six tablespoons butter
• four cups miniature marshmallows (or one 10-ounce package big ones)
• six cups Rice Krispie cereal
• Red food coloring
• Half a package of Oreo cookies broken into bits (about 14 cookies)

Break cookies up into cookie bits (I do this with a kitchen hammer rather than a food processor). In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat.

Add marshmallow s and stir until completely melted. Drop in enough red food coloring to achieve desired color (I go heavy). Add Rice Krispies and cookie bits together, then stir into marshmallow.

Using buttered spatula or wax paper, evenly press mixture into a 13-by-9-by-2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool and cut into squares. Decorate with additional red and white candy, if desired. It looks a little “dirty” but once you taste them you won’t mind at all!

In line with the plate comment, the Etiquette Tip of the Week is: “Plan on leaving it.” When it comes to food or drink, plan on not taking the leftovers. It is the host’s gift. If they really want you to take it home with you they will let you know. Otherwise, bring it, enjoy it and leave it.

This week’s opponent is Illinois, the Fighting Illini. Academics time! In January of 1874, the weekly student newspaper changed their name from “The Student” to “The Illini.”

More from Nebraska Football

• Former Nebraska football star returns to the program in new role
• Travis Hunter injury uproar has some Nebraska football fans reminding Colorado about Adrian Martinez
• Nebraska Football: Freshman RB in line for big playing time
• Nebraska Football: Matt Rhule faces tough decision between Heinrich Haarberg and Jeff Sims
• Nebraska Football: Trio of big contributors banged up after NIU

That term was later used specifically in reference to the athletic teams (the 1907 football team as a prime example). In 1921, Chief Illiniwek became the school’s mascot.

A Native American headdress and face was the symbol for all things Illinois. Like many things deemed politically incorrect, the mascot was retired in the fall of 2007.

The University of Illinois is located in Champagne. In order to come up with a tailgate cocktail, I figured using champagne would be more than appropriate. Mimosas (champagne & OJ) work, and is the color of the opposing team team (orange), but that seems rather basic.

What other drinks contain champagne? A Peach Bellini – WAIT! That rhymes with BO PELINI – and so let the concocting commence!

Kelli Anne Francis-Husker Corner

First ingredient is champagne – duh. Next, you need some red! After perusing the juice aisle, I reasoned that cranberry pomegranate is the darkest without sacrificing flavor.

Next I need a little bit of “BO”. In my mind, that means it needs some spice, passion and a little bit of rebellion. That spells “pirate” in my book. After some market testing I came up with the following recipe:

The Bo Pelini

• two ounces champagne
• four ounces red juice (cranberry pomegranate or cranberry cherry)
• one ounce Captain Morgan

Serve over ice (can also garnish with a lime). Can’t wait to hear how you love it.

GO BIG RED!

Lagniappe (that’s LSU for something extra): The traditional regalia Chief Illiniwek wore was given over to the Ogalala Lakota in a private ceremony in October of 2009.

Kelli Anne’s Cookbook:
Florida Atlantic: BBQ Drumsticks
McNeese State: Morning Casserole and Dark Russian Coffee Shots
Fresno State: Crockpot Potato Soup and Wickedly Evil Mac N Cheese
Miami (FL): Husker Beef Kabobs w/ Orange Glaze and Hurricane Jello Shots

Be sure to like Husker Corner on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, snag the FanSided app (iOS) (Android) and subscribe to our newsletter below to keep plugged into Husker Nation from all over the globe.