Tailgating Recipes

It's that time of year again, when football fans gather for an afternoon of good fun and good food while they cheer on their favorite teams. Instead of he usual buffalo wings and ranch dressing, why not try something a little different?

Honey Chicken Wings can be made with salsa for a mild kick or with picante sauce for those who like more zip. Make a marinade with one cup of the salsa or picante, 1/4 cup of honey and 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger. Stir in 1 1/2 pounds of chicken wing pieces and coat well. Bake at 400 degrees on a foil-lined jellyroll pan for 55 minutes or until the chicken is done, turning once. This will make 4 satisfying appetizer servings. Find it at http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=257397.

This recipe for Marinated Grilled Shrimp serves 6 as an appetizer. Combine 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1/4 cup of tomato sauce and 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. Season with 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Add 2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined, stir well to coat and let it marinate for 30 to 60 minutes. To cook, thread the shrimp onto skewers and discard the marinade. Grill over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until opaque. You can find this at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Marinated-Grilled-Shrimp/Detail.aspx.

Serve with fresh, cut veggies and a light dipping sauce instead of greasy potatoes or mayonnaise-laden coleslaw to lighten up this finger food.