It's a Vol Thing

It's football time in Tennessee! Are you ready? For many, this means planning over-the-top tailgating parties. . . a true Southern ritual. It's not too soon to begin thinking about menu items. This season, I plan on serving many of the same items that I served at Keely's graduation party in May of 2011. We had a good time trying to think of orange and white foods as well as other food items that could just be re-named Vol style such as:

Rocky road brownies became "Rocky Top Road Brownies." Just take your favorite brownie recipe and top it with marshmallows, pecans, and chocolate chips. They taste better in a T-shaped pan, too!

Don't just serve sweet tea. Serve "Sweet as Soda Pop Tea!"

How about some "Wild as a Mink Rice Salad?"

At our family get-togethers, we almost always have deviled eggs. Not this time. They're "InVOLved Deviled Eggs." All you need is a little orange food coloring!

Consider serving a "Go Big Orange and Spinach Salad":

How many different orange and white candies can you think of? We had plain orange M&Ms, white coconut M&Ms, orange slices, orange circus peanuts, and white yogurt raisins.

Can you stand some more? Consider serving:

• "Tennessee-Style Veggies and Dip" - Only serve orange and white veggies such as carrots, orange peppers, peeled cucumbers, and cauliflower.
• "Big Orange and White Cookies" - These are actually butter pecan cookies that have butterscotch chips and white chocolate chips.
• "Go Big Orange Velvet Cake" - It's tradition. I have to make this at least once a season.
• "Go Big Orange Fluff" - An orange jello salad mixed with Cool Whip.
• "Tennessee-Style Baked Yams" - Sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows and coconut.
• "Smokeys" - An all-time favorite appetizer. You know, the little mini-sausages?
• "The Big T Pasta Salad" - I saw the T-shaped pasta at Cracker Barrel just the other day.

So, you get the idea. Can you think of more?

Thanks to Pinterest, I also plan to try new things this season such as these Rice Krispie treats. I can't believe I didn't think of that!

Ah, yes. Our much-loved orange and white checkerboard pattern.

What's your favorite tailgating food?

Here's to a great season!