Invitations and DécorScatter team memorabilia all-around -- and don't be afraid to make a bold statement to get your guests in the spirit. These events tend to be super-casual (although you can make them more elegant as desired), so the focus is food and the game. Invitations can be as simple as phone calls, or as clever as an invitation created in the shape of a pennant or a simple computer-printed invitation wrapped around a mini-football and mailed to your guests.
Secrets for Success
Event planner Tracy Rose Denham offers the following ideas for a super-simple grill-out, that leaves you time to enjoy the fun!
- Pick up pre-sliced hamburger patties at grocery and put in a bowl, casserole dish or large Ziploc bag. Cover burgers with beer and your favorite Worchester or marinade.
- Grill peppers and onions drizzled in olive oil as the perfect complement to brats.
Check out these recipes from the DIY Recipe Archives:
Beer Brats
Place your brats (any number you desire) over charcoal, low heat. Make sure the brats have holes poked in them. Turn them frequently. While they are grilling, heat enough beer in a container to cover all the brats. Keep grilling until the brats are shriveled up. Once they are at that point, place the brats into the hot beer and keep hot, never boiling. When the brats reconstitute -or swell back up - drain and enjoy with any topping of your choice.
Tequila-Lime Marinade
(for steaks or kabobs)
Ingredients:
3 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 tsp. grated lime zest
1/4 cup tequila or mescal (a Mexican liquor from fermented agave juice)
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. minced garlic
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
Salt to taste
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
In a bowl, whisk together ingredients, generously coat 1-1/2 pounds of meat and marinate for at least 2 hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator. (If you're using pork tenderloin, marinate no more than two hours at room temperature.)
Football Brownie
Ingredients:
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
Approximately 1/2 lb. butter
8 oz. cream cheese (regular, fat-free or low fat)
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs or equivalent amount of liquid egg substitute (e.g., "Egg Beaters")
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbs. orange-flavored liqueur (e.g., Grand Marnier)
Grated zest from 2 oranges (the outer portion of the orange)
Approx. 1/2 cup toasted, chopped walnuts
Preparation:
Combine chocolates and butter in microwavable bowl. Place in microwave on low power for 4 minutes to melt chocolate. Combine cream cheese, sugar and eggs (or equivalent egg substitute) in food processor.
Add vanilla, orange-flavored liqueur, melted chocolate and grated orange zest. Process just until combined, on "pulse" setting. Add toasted walnuts. Process/pulse briefly.
Pour into football mold and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 35 minutes. Decorate with white frosting or cream cheese to resemble a football.
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