Remember when tailgating just meant staying too close to the car ahead of you? Well, times have changed. It’s been said that tailgate parties are replacing the family picnic, and are creating the new American neighborhood.

That may be an overstatement but certainly football season, and the accompanying cold weather, brings the opportunity to participate in one of our great modern pastimes.

Automakers are even getting in on the act, tricking out their cars to make throwing a great tailgate party easier than ever. SUVs like the Chevy Avalanche, Honda Element, and Lincoln Navigator all have numerous features to enhance your tailgating experience.

While nobody really knows for sure when tailgating started, there’s no question that tailgate parties have become hugely popular game-day events. They can be easy, fun, and stress-free - especially if you’re organized. It all starts with creating some checklists:

The vehicle checklist is the easy one. These are the items you need to make sure you get to the parking lot and home again, so you really need to gather up the items on this checklist only once a season. Your list should include things like car door de-icer (Southern California fans can probably skip this one), a first-aid kit, jumper cables, and an instant flat tire repair kit. You can pretty much put everything in a bag and leave it in your garage ready to grab on your way to the game each week.

The pregame checklist is more about the setup itself. This is the list on which you’ll include your decorations, face paint, extension cords, towels, football, TV…you get the idea. Also an important element on this list is preparing for the weather with jackets, umbrellas, blankets and warmers. And if you’re using a charcoal grill, be sure to have an ash container on your pregame checklist. Ashes should never be disposed of where they could start a fire or harm the environment. This is a must for your list.

Now comes the good stuff-food and drinks. Your cooking and serving tools list is one to review each week to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. Forget tongs and you’re turning food on a hot grill with your hands. Not a smart move. Neither is forgetting the bottle opener or napkins. Plus, your menu changes every week, so your tools list probably will, too.

Finally, there’s clean-up. Your last checklist is a handful of items for when you pack up the tailgate and head to your stadium seats. They’re simple, no-brainers, but they’re easy to forget when rushing to make kick-off. Things like remembering to turn off your car, locking your car, and remembering your tickets. Oh, and don’t forget where you parked. Go team!

Dijon & Dill Burgers: A “Can’t Miss” Recipe!

Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef, 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons sour cream, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons fresh dill, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, hamburger buns.

Preparation:

• Pre-heat grill to medium-high heat
• Combine meat with mustard, sour cream, garlic, dill, and black pepper
• Form into 4 to 6 patties
• Place on grill and cook 6 min. per side

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