Tailgater Party Menus and Recipes!

This is Cheryl Bell, Meijer Dietitian and Healthy Living Advisor here to help you kick-off tailgating season!

How about a plate of flavorful Grilled Chicken Pita Pockets to heat up your party? Serve it with hearty root chips and a prepared Meijer veggie tray for a super-easy and healthful meal.

In fact, a mix of store-bought goods and stunningly quick recipes will allow you to pull off a great tailgating party for the next Colts game without a hitch.

And make sure your party is safe as well as delicious. Transport and maintain cold foods at 40 degrees or lower and hot foods above 140 degrees. Pack any raw meats for grilling separate from other foods in the cooler.

And don't forget cleanup. Take bottled water for drinking and washing hands and cleaning up. Aluminum foil works both on the grill and for wrapping leftovers. And you'll need trash bags for cleanup and packing up dirty dishes, towels or other linens you may bring.

But let's start with the menus! Sure to score major points with your friends and family!

--Cheryl

Menu #1
Grilled Chicken Pita Pockets (recipe below)
Root Vegetable Chips
Fresh Veggies and Dill Dip
Apple & Pear Crisp (recipe below)

Grilled Chicken Pita Pockets
Makes 6 servings

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 T. lemon juice, plus 1 t. lemon juice, divided
2 T. Meijer olive oil
2 t. dried oregano
1 T + 1 t minced garlic
½ cup Meijer plain fat free yogurt
½ cup Meijer light sour cream
½ unpeeled seedless cucumber, halved and coarsely grated
6 (6-inch) whole-wheat pitas

1. Arrange chicken in glass baking dish. In small bowl, whisk 2 T. lemon juice, olive oil, oregano and 1 T minced garlic. Pour mixture over chicken and turn to coat. Cover; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.
2. Meanwhile, combine yogurt, sour cream, cucumber and 1 t garlic. Cover; refrigerate for flavors to blend.
3. Preheat grill to medium. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade. Place chicken on grill 4 to 5 minutes per side or until chicken is no longer pink.
4. Transfer chicken to cutting board. Meanwhile, spread yogurt sauce inside pitas. Slice chicken into thin strips and add to pitas.

Nutrition information per serving: 333 calories, 36 g carbohydrate, 30 g protein, 9g  fat, 8 g fiber, 52 mg cholesterol, 344 mg sodium

Apple & Pear Crisp
Makes 4 servings

2 red apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin
2 Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, and sliced thin
3 t. Meijer sugar, divided or Splenda for baking
1-3/4 t. Meijer cinnamon, divided
2/3 cup Meijer flour
2/3 cup Meijer light brown sugar
4 T. Meijer butter, melted
1 c Meijer light whipped topping

1.  Toss apples and pears with 1 t. sugar and ¼ t. cinnamon; set aside.
2.  Combine flour, brown sugar, and ½ t. cinnamon in a medium-size bowl. Add butter and mix well.
3.  Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch baking dish and layer half of the fruit mixture over the bottom.
4.  Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the fruit. Repeat with remaining fruit and topping. Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes.
5.  Soften whipped topping and add remaining cinnamon and sugar.
6.  Spoon the crisp into dessert dishes and garnish with whipped topping.

Note: Recipe can be doubled for 8 servings. Bake in a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Menu #2
Chunky Beef Chili (recipe below)
Crispy Corn Cakes (recipe below)
Assorted Cheese Platter
Meijer Apple Cider

Chunky Beef Chili
Makes 7 servings

1 (2-lb.) boneless beef chuck roast
4 slices thick-sliced bacon, dried
1 large onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, cored and chopped
1 T minced garlic
2 to 3 T. Meijer chili powder
1 t. ground cumin
2 (15 oz.) cans Meijer dark red kidney bean, divided
1 (28 oz.) can Meijer crushed tomatoes in juice
1 (10 oz.) can Meijer diced tomatoes and chilies

Meijer shredded Cheddar cheese and light sour cream (optional)

1. Trim fat from roast and discard. Cut meat into 1-1/2 –inch pieces. Set aside.
2. In Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium-high heat until browned. Discard drippings, reserving 3 tablespoons. Add beef chunks, onion, green pepper, garlic, chili powder and cumin to drippings in pan. Cook over medium-high heat 3 to 5 minutes until meat is brown and vegetables are crisp-tender.
3. Rinse and drain 1 can of beans. Leave remaining can undrained. Stir beans, tomatoes and ½ cup water into meat mixture. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with shredded Cheddar cheese and sour cream, if desired.

Nutrition information per serving: 454 calories, 30 g carbohydrate, 37 g protein, 21 g fat, 9 g fiber, 89 mg cholesterol, 862 mg sodium

Crispy Corn Cakes
Makes 16 cakes

½ cup Meijer flour
½ cup cornmeal
1/3 cup Meijer grated Parmesan cheese
1 t. Meijer baking powder
1 t. Meijer salt
½ t. Meijer ground black pepper
1 can (15 oz.) Meijer whole kernel sweet corn, drained
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1 fresh jalapeno chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 cu Meijer fat free milk
1 egg, lightly beaten

Cooking oil for frying

1. In large bowl stir together flour, cornmeal, cheese, baking powder, salt, and black pepper. Add corn, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno pepper; toss to mix. In small bowl stir together egg and milk. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring until combined.
2. In heavy skillet heat about ½ inch of oil. Drop batter by rounded tablespoons into hot oil. Cook about 4 min. or until brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.
   
   

Menu #3
Strawberry Lemonade (Prepare Meijer frozen lemonade concentrate and add Meijer whole frozen strawberries to individual glasses)
Cobb Salad (recipe below)
Bakery Whole Grain Rolls
Chocolate Marble Pistachio Cake (recipe below)

Cobb Salad
Makes 4 servings

½ lb. chopped sliced Markets of Meijer turkey breast (about 1-1 1/2 cups)
2 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
4 cups DOLE salad greens
¼ cup sliced green onion
1 avocado, peeled and cubed
1 cup crumbled blue cheese
½ to 1 cup bottled lowfat Thousand Island dressing

1. Arrange all ingredients except dressing in rows on serving platter.
2. Serve with dressing.

Chocolate Marble Pistachio Cake
Makes 12 servings

1 pkg. (2-layer size) Meijer white cake mix
1 pkg. (4-serving size) pistachio flavor instant pudding & pie filling
4 eggs, slightly beaten
½ cup Meijer vegetable oil
½ cup water
¼ cup Meijer orange juice
¾ cup Meijer chocolate-flavored syrup

Powdered sugar, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 10-inch tube pan; set aside.
2. In large mixing bowl combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, oil, water, and orange juice. Beat with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 5 minutes. Pour two-thirds of batter into prepared pan. Stir chocolate syrup into remaining batter. Pour chocolate batter evenly over pistachio batter.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

MEIJER TAILGATING CHECKLIST
Take this list to Meijer and shop for everything you need for the perfect tailgate party!

• Menu and all food
• Beverages
• Cooler and ice
• Chairs
• Blankets
• Utensils, cups, plates, bowls, spatula, tongs, pot/pans
• Napkins, paper towels, tissues
• Tables, tablecloths, table weights
• Cleaning wipes
• Binoculars
• Seat cushions
• Can opener
• Corkscrew
• Camera
• Football
• Frisbee
• Trash bags
• Grill, charcoal, matches, lighter fluid
• Cooking mitt
• Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, resealable bags
• Bug repellent
• Sunscreen
• Rain ponchos
•  Flashlight