Posted originally on the CTH on February 5, 2024 | Menagerie

Like a lot of people, I quit watching the Super Bowl some time ago. My oldest son is the only real pro football fan in the family, the rest of us only love college football. So, unless he is here for a visit, we don’t follow pro ball much. My husband stays current on playoff stuff each year  just to be able to talk with (read aggravate) my son.

However, some time ago when I used to always be at work, my husband and youngest son decided to have a small family party and cook one of the leftover turkeys from Christmas in the deep fryer. Back in those days, the two of them cooked everything (I miss those days!) and it was all fried.

We have kept that family party alive, even though only a few of the guys watch the game now. I remember that after I retired I used to watch the commercials, and most of them were fun. Not so much anymore, but this is a recipe post, so, on to the important stuff.

Unfortunately, once we bought a smoker, I became the chief cook for the party. I am doing the meats this year, and I am looking for recipes.

I am still learning, and not as adventurous yet with the smoker as I am in my kitchen. I am looking for recipes to smoke that aren’t too hard. I don’t want to ruin a bunch of expensive meat when I have guests. We will probably have 12-15 people here, and I’m going to rely on appetizers and tailgate food for at least half the menu.

I will have a lot of smoked cream cheese, with pepper jelly. My favorite brand is Captain Rodney’s. Yum. I season the cheese with various rubs I usually use in smoking foods. I also plan to have bacon wrapped smoked meatballs, smoked cheezits, and smoked Alabama firecrackers, which I will do the day before. Maybe some candied smoked bacon, and definitely a smoked Mexican street corn casserole.

Help me out with some meat suggestions, preferably beef or pork. I usually default to cooking whole chickens, which I can shred, or not, and I am really good at that, and pork chops. I don’t want burgers or brats again.

Maybe I’m ready for a tri tip?

Please share all your best recipes for tailgating or a bowl party. We all still have time to change the menu, so everything’s on the table. And don’t neglect desserts! Ash Wednesday is next week on Valentines Day, so I’ll be looking for treats this weekend!