Nebraska Cornhuskers Football: Big Red Tailgate Recipes, Week Six
By Kelli Anne
It’s a BIG week. I mean REALLY big week. Even I know it’s going to take a really good game to win this weekend but the Nebraska Cornhuskers CAN do it! Rain is expected so that should keep the score low. I predict 21-13 Cornhuskers victory.
If you are traveling to Michigan State you should know a little bit about it before you get there. As for etiquette, always be respectful when wearing your HUSKER colors. Bring along a business card, or something with your phone number or email in case you meet someone you would invite back to Lincoln. Lots of great friendships have started from traveling to another venue and meeting people. Smile, you’re the nicest fans around. People can’t wait to meet us.
Conversation starters: Michigan State first started as an agricultural college and from 1947-1969 President Hanna would hold student meetings at what was called the Spartan Round Table. Sparty, the mascot, had a statue put in place in 1945. There are 5,192 acres of campus. MSU graduate and former professor Jim Cash helped write Top Gun and Dick Tracy.
Just in case you are not traveling the 724 miles to Lansing, Michigan, I suspect you will be doing the cooking from home. I know people that are using the night game festivities to put on a soup-fest. Chili, Potato soup , and chowder are being discussed. I think in honor of the sword wielding mascot, Sparty, I would just grill up some shrimp skewers on the barby!
It’s easy and quick, plus you can change it up with different marinades and sauces so that everyone gets a little different flavor.
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp Tequila
¼ tsp Cayenne pepper
¼ salt
Mix all these ingredients together per pound of shrimp (peeled & deveined) and let marinate in a bowl covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for 45 minutes. Thread the shrimp on the skewers and cook on the grill until they are pink (2-3 minutes per side at high heat). Season with a little extra lime wedge depending on your taste.
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 minced cloves of garlic
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tsp curry paste
Marinate with a pound of shrimp for 1 hour in the fridge while covered. Thread the shrimp on skewers and transfer the remaining marinade to a sauce pan to boil for a few minutes. Use this to brush over the shrimp while cooking on the grill.
How about a little green food to serve up as a side dish. This week’s healthy edition is super easy. It can just sit and cook on the grill while you are keeping an eye on the shrimp. You can use this as a side dish for just about anything.
Zucchini & Potato packet
4-6 small golden potatoes, cut into cubes
1 vidalia onion, sliced and separated (can use yellow if prefer)
2 medium sized zucchini, cut into cubes
4 pats of butter
Olive oil
Create the packet with tinfoil. If doubling the recipe, double the foil. Toss the cubes of potatoes, zucchini and onion in a bowl with olive oil to lightly coat the vegetables. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (I have added ranch spice mix at times as well to change it up) Place in the tinfoil packet and close it up. Cook on the grill about 10 minutes each side until potatoes are cooked. Grill times vary.
It appears that jello shots are rather popular. I didn’t bring any to the tailgate last week (forgot them at home) and was given a lot of grief for the failure to bring little cups of goo. So this week, I bring you the Sparty. If you do not give it the respect it deserves, it will run you over. (see what I did there?)
Oct 27, 2012; Madison, WI, USA; The Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty performs prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Michigan State defeated Wisconsin 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Sparty
1 cup of boiling water
1 package lime jello
1/2 cup Cherry Brandy
1/2 cup Rum
Dissolve jello and stir until fully dissolved. Add Cherry Brandy and Rum and stir well. Cool before pouring into the jello shot cups. Chill until set. These will have a kick to them.
Lagniappe: (that’s LSU for a lil something extra) Built in 1952, the Alumni Memorial Chapel on campus holds an average of 100 weddings per year. Do the math, that’s a LOT of love right there.