This Football Season, Host a Winning “Homegating” Party

Ready for some football tailgating, but want to avoid the crowds? Consider taking the game day experience to your own backyard with a true #homegating experience.

"According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), grilling is becoming a year-round passion with football fans choosing to light up the grill for their tailgating and "homegating" events. The homegating trend gives football fans the best of both worlds. Fans can fire up their grill and cheer on their favorite team without even having to leave their home," said Emily McGee, director of communications, HPBA. "Homegating also opens up endless options for grill owners as they're no longer confined to stadium tailgating restrictions and they don't have to choose which grilling accessories to bring along and which to leave at home."

The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association is helping home grillers get their game plan together with these tips for a winning homegating event:

• Draft a strong safety: Tackle common grilling errors and avoid a homegating penalty by brushing up on your barbecuing safety tips.
• Equipment check: Don't drop the ball on making sure your equipment is working properly. Before the party starts, fuel up with charcoal, wood chips or a propane tank.
• Pre-game prep: Prep and marinate meat before the crowd arrives. Mix dips, cut up fruit and chop veggies so everything is grill-ready for game time.
• Go the extra yard: Score big by offering to bring an extra grill to the party. There are plenty of portable options like a tailgate grill that attaches to your vehicle, a portable grill with a push-button ignitor, or a small smoker.
• Be a team player: Smoked or grilled meat may be the MVP at your homegate party, but to really win big, grill up sides, desserts or veggie kabobs using a grill stone to keep sauces and marinades from slipping through the grates, or use a pizza oven to whip up a few pies for an appetizer that everyone will love.
• Complete the two-point conversion: Score the extra point for your party with the ultimate homegating patio accessories. Fire up the patio heater to keep your guests around post-game, or huddle around a fire pit to celebrate a big win with a cold beverage from your bar caddy.
• Trade in your quarterback: Just as every team relies on its quarterback, every homegate needs a solid grill. Consider upgrading to a new model or adding a new flame to the team with a smoker or charcoal grill.
• Score a touchdown during your homegating party with these fan favorite recipes.

Plank-Grilled Potato Skins

Source: Napoleon Grills
Serves 12-36
Prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Grill time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 -2 cedar planks, soaked overnight
• 6 baking potatoes
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup rib rub
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 8 slices bacon, diced, fried crisp and wrapped in paper towel
• 1/2 cup shredded old orange cheddar cheese
• 3-4 green onions, chopped

Directions:

Boil or bake potatoes until tender. Cut in half lengthwise and scoop out flesh (reserve for another use), leaving a ¼ to ½ inch shell. Preheat grill to medium high or 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut each potato shell lengthwise into 3-5 wedges. Rub both sides of wedges with olive oil. Sprinkle with rib rub and place skins on pre-soaked planks. Set planks on the grill, close lid and grill-roast for 10-12 minutes.

Generously brush wedges with barbecue sauce. Sprinkle with bacon and cheese. Grill another 3-5 minutes, or until cheese has melted and the edges of skins are crispy. Remove from grill and garnish with chopped green onions.

Serve immediately from the plank with additional barbecue sauce on the side.

Maple Glazed Chicken Wings

Source: Primo Grills
Serves 4-6
Prep time: 1 hour
Grill time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds chicken wings
• Marinade Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 lemon (fresh squeezed juice)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Additional olive oil for brushing
• 7 teaspoons kosher salt
• 7 teaspoons fresh ground pepper

*For spicy wings, add 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper

Directions:

Thoroughly whisk together all marinade ingredients in a pot. Allow mixture to come to a boil. Simmer until salt is dissolved and allow to cool to room temperature. Set aside a portion of the marinade to brush on the wings while roasting. Place the remaining marinade and chicken in a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate for 1-4 hours.

Rinse the chicken pieces and pat dry. Lightly brush with olive oil to prevent sticking.

Prepare grill for indirect heat and head to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the chicken on the indirect side of the grill (opposite charcoal). Roast 20 minutes and brush with marinade. Turn the chicken wings over and brush with marinade. Roast an additional 20 minutes.

Move the wings to the direct side of the grill for five minutes to crisp up the skin, turning frequently. Remove from grill and serve immediately.

Candied Pork Back Ribs

Source: Napoleon Grills
Serves 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Marinade time: 24 hours
Grill time: 3.5 hours

Ingredients:

• 2 racks pork back ribs
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons BBQ seasoning
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup honey

Sauce Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Remove the silver skin from the back of the ribs and cut each rack in half. In a bowl, mix brown sugar, BBQ seasoning, garlic powder and black pepper. Generously rub the seasoning mixture on all sides of the ribs. Place ribs onto a baking tray and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Soak your favorite wood chips for at least 30 minutes. Preheat your smoker or charcoal grill to 200 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill smoker tube with wood chips or place directly onto the charcoal.

Place ribs on the grill bone side down and cook for 1.5 hours. Remove ribs from the grill and place on tin foil. Coat tops of ribs with brown sugar and honey. Wrap tightly in foil and return to grill for another hour.

While ribs are cooking, combine BBQ sauce, maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, Salt and Pepper in a bowl. After one hour in the foil, unwrap the ribs and glaze with sauce every 10 minutes until the sauce is gone and the ribs are shiny and sticky.

Remove from grill. Slice between each rib and serve.

About the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), based in Arlington, Va., is the North American industry association for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, representatives, service firms and allied associates for all types of barbecue, patio and hearth appliances, fuels and accessories. The association provides professional member services and industry support in education, statistics, government relations, marketing, advertising and consumer education.