As we move into mid-November, we honor our veterans who have served our country as well as the Movember cause for men. For more on the Movember cause, check this out from Tim Nutting of LWOS.Life covering Movember :
“November is not only the month of Thanksgiving, but it is a time to celebrate for all of the men out there. Across multiple generations of men, November is more famously known as No-Shave November.”
To pay homage to our veterans we have on our game day menu the infamous Spam Sliders. Those who served in the military are very familiar with Spam, your guests probably not so much. In addition to Spam Sliders we have the classic hamburger and seasoned potato wedges for your game day menu.
November Grilling
Spam Sliders
Grilled Spam Sliders make a great appetizer. They are easy to make and will definitely be a big part of the conversation at your football party. You will hear many comments from your guests when you offer up the Spam Sliders, most of which are not fit to print. Before your guests rip into your delicious appetizer pass along some useful information about Spam found at Spam.com :
“When the first SPAM® Can came off the production line in 1937, the world was forever changed. This revolutionary new product won over the hearts of soldiers, world leaders, celebrities, chefs, kids and parents. Gracie Allen, Dwight Eisenhower, Margaret Thatcher and Monty Python all have sung praises of SPAM® products.”
Your guests should be impressed that Spam has been around since 1937. It’s delicious flavor has probably been forgotten by your guests who were forced to eat it as a child. Most will have repressed the memory and will be against trying the Spam Sliders you create. It may take many attempts to get your reluctant guests to take a bite. Cutting a Slider or two into quarters will help convince most of them because of the petite portions. After serving the Sliders to your guests, watch closely as their faces go from fear, to relief, and then to a “holy *&^# that’s good” reaction.
Ingredients
- 2-3 cans of Spam, any variety
- 18 Hawaiian Rolls
- Your favorite cheeses with bold flavor: Pepper-Jack, Swiss, Horseradish, Manchego, Gouda, etc.
The first step is to light your grill with 20-25 charcoal briquettes in the center. As the charcoal is getting ready, remove the Spam from the cans. Slice each Spam loaf into five to six one inch thick slices. Have the cheese cut into 1/4 inch thick pieces that are large enough to cover the Spam. Once the coals reach that perfect grey, spread them out to cover the bottom of the grill. Grill your Spam slices for about 4-5 minutes on each side, adding the cheese to the Sliders once both sides are browned evenly. Cut open the Hawaiian rolls and place the Spam Sliders onto the rolls and serve. These will be the hit of your game day menu!
Classic Burgers
A good tasting burger is key to your football party. Here are the ingredients needed:
- 3 Pounds 80/20 Ground Chuck
- 1 Tablespoon Granulated Garlic
- 2 Tablespoons Lawry’s Season Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
- 6 Ounces Of Your Favorite Barbecue Sauce
- (The seasonings are meant as a guide and should be adapted to your taste)
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix them together gently. Three pounds of ground chuck should equal about twelve 1/3 pound burgers. Press out each 1/3 pound portion into a burger patty being careful not to stretch the meat too much. Less stretching means less burger shrinkage on the grill.
Grilling
It is best to give your burgers a 2-3 minute sear on both sides over direct heat on your charcoal or gas grill. Once both sides are seared, move them off to the side away from direct heat. The burgers will finish to whatever degree of “doneness” you desire. Once done serve your burgers with all of the popular toppings and cheese on a hearty roll.
Seasoned Potato Wedges
This is one of the easiest side dishes you can grill up for your guests.
Ingredients
- 8-10 potatoes (reds work best)
- Olive oil
- Lawry’s seasoning salt, pepper, granulated garlic, Cajun spice
Slice your potatoes into long wedges and place in a large bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil and toss until covered on all sides. Season to taste with the spices listed and toss again making sure all sides are seasoned. Grill the wedges indirect on your charcoal or gas grill to prevent flare ups from the olive oil. Turn them every 7-10 minutes until all sides have that incredible grilled look to them. You can serve them with dipping sauces such as ranch or Bleu cheese dressing or just plain. If you’re feeling decadent, serve them with melted cheese sauce. Go crazy it’s your tailgate party!
Game Day Menus
Today we honored our vets and Movember. Be sure to check back as we continue to bring more game day menus for you this football season. Check below for our previous pieces for more menu ideas.
- Halloween Game Day Menu: New Orleans Style
- Football Season Begins: What’s on Your menu?
- Oktoberfest and Your Sunday Football Menu
- Football Game Day Means Chili, Chili Dogs, and Chili Boats
- Football Game Day Menu – Road Trip To Italy
- Grilling American Classics for Your Game Day Menu
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images