A recipe for great tasteful tailgating
Issue date: 9/30/04 Section: Sports
It's tailgating time. And this season, rather than the usual wings and chili, think about treating your fellow fans to pizzas on the grill.
Portable grills have made it easy to cook great meals in stadium parking lots. If you really want to wow your gang, cook individual pizzas on the Freedom Grill. It attaches to the back of any vehicle with a standard 2-inch receiver hitch, locks into place while traveling, and leaves room in the SUV for all the food.
The Freedom Grill (you can check it out on the Web at www.freedomgrill.com) sells for about $800, but there are less expensive grills, such as the Thermos Char-Broil Grill-2-Go portable propane grill and the Weber charcoal Go-Anywhere grill.
If you've got to have the latest gadget, pick up the new Zagrill, which sits on the grill grate for cooking homemade pizzas. But if you just want some good-tasting pizza at the stadium, any charcoal or gas grill can make terrific pizza.
To save time, cook meat and vegetables on the grill at home and cut into bite-size pieces. Almost any topping can be used. If choosing meats, fish or shellfish, be sure they are fully cooked before adding them, as the pizzas are not on the grill long enough to cook thoroughly, according to James McNair, creator of Pizza Deck, a box of 50 recipe cards and tips for making the perfect pizza at home.
Ingredients for toppings can be in separate containers, and your tailgate buddies can make their own pizzas. Or, you can have everyone bring different toppings.
McNair recommends freshly made dough, but not everyone has time for that. Many recipes suggest using Pillsbury refrigerated pizza crusts. Tote the cans in the cooler; one pop-open container can easily make two small circles. Or you can roll out the crusts before leaving home. Separate the circles with waxed paper, spray with non-stick spray, and keep in a cool place. Rounds of puff pastry make a good base for lighter toppings such as artichokes, goat cheese and fresh herbs. This chars quickly, so watch it, but it has the best flavor.
Portable grills have made it easy to cook great meals in stadium parking lots. If you really want to wow your gang, cook individual pizzas on the Freedom Grill. It attaches to the back of any vehicle with a standard 2-inch receiver hitch, locks into place while traveling, and leaves room in the SUV for all the food.
The Freedom Grill (you can check it out on the Web at www.freedomgrill.com) sells for about $800, but there are less expensive grills, such as the Thermos Char-Broil Grill-2-Go portable propane grill and the Weber charcoal Go-Anywhere grill.
If you've got to have the latest gadget, pick up the new Zagrill, which sits on the grill grate for cooking homemade pizzas. But if you just want some good-tasting pizza at the stadium, any charcoal or gas grill can make terrific pizza.
To save time, cook meat and vegetables on the grill at home and cut into bite-size pieces. Almost any topping can be used. If choosing meats, fish or shellfish, be sure they are fully cooked before adding them, as the pizzas are not on the grill long enough to cook thoroughly, according to James McNair, creator of Pizza Deck, a box of 50 recipe cards and tips for making the perfect pizza at home.
Ingredients for toppings can be in separate containers, and your tailgate buddies can make their own pizzas. Or, you can have everyone bring different toppings.
McNair recommends freshly made dough, but not everyone has time for that. Many recipes suggest using Pillsbury refrigerated pizza crusts. Tote the cans in the cooler; one pop-open container can easily make two small circles. Or you can roll out the crusts before leaving home. Separate the circles with waxed paper, spray with non-stick spray, and keep in a cool place. Rounds of puff pastry make a good base for lighter toppings such as artichokes, goat cheese and fresh herbs. This chars quickly, so watch it, but it has the best flavor.