Are You Ready for Some Football?

Football season has finally arrived! College games got underway last week and the NFL kicks off this Thursday with a showdown between the Packers and Saints, the last two Super Bowl winners.

As my mom always said, "it seems like every game is a big game." So, whether you plan to watch at home or from the stadium, make sure to put together a bunch of great tailgating dishes for everyone to enjoy. For our football watching, we like having some lighter fare that's easy to prep (like a Meat & Cheese Platter and Chips & Guacamole) and hearty dishes that take a little more time (like Chili, Ribs and Wings).

Put that all together with your favorite team and a frosty beverage and you've got yourself a party. Game on!

With the start of Football Season on the brain, we fired up the FoodPair recipe search engine and found a handful of great recipes from across the Web.

Serrano Ham and Manchego Cheese Plate
A nice meat & cheese platter is a great way to get things started.
Ingredients: Manchego cheese, Serrano ham, Extra-virgin olive oil, black pepper

Club Med Salsa Mexicana and Guacamole
Delicious salsa, chips and guac are a must for game day.
Ingredients: avocado, tomato, onion, serrano, lime, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, salt and pepper

Memphis Ribs with Coleslaw
You can't go wrong with ribs and coleslaw for football.
Ingredients: pork spareribs, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar, barbecue sauce, cole slaw

Boilermaker Tailgate Chili
The expert tailgaters behind this recipe insist it's the best.
Ingredients: tomato, garlic, oregano, corn, cumin, bell pepper, paprika, celery, Cheddar, chili powder, Italian sausage, ground beef...

Tailgating Asian-style Wings
These sweet and spicy wings hit all the right notes.
Ingredients: honey, dried oregano, cumin, ginger, soy sauce, black pepper, sesame oil, oyster sauce, chicken wings, orange juice, lime, garlic powder


Let's get cooking!

Any other favorite ingredients or dishes you'd like us to highlight? Post them in the comments section or on our Facebook page! And while you're at it, "Like" us on Facebook to get helpful updates in your news feed.