Tailgating Essentials - What's on your menu?

I was recently lucky enough to get my hands on a couple Pittsburgh Steeler tickets for today's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. I know, I know - it's only preseason, the fourth game doesn't matter, we'll probably rest the starters, blah blah blah the game will suck blah. But trust me, that doesn't mean I don't plan on having a rock-awesome time... during and especially BEFORE the game.

Parking lots open five hours before kickoff, which gives plenty of time for tailgating shenanigans - and by shenanigans I of course mean food and adult beverage consumption. And cornhole... I really like playing cornhole (bean bag toss game). But really, it's about the food and brew.

I've got a pretty sweet little menu today, if I do say so myself. Today we'll be indulging in some slow cooked Italian Beef, creamy macaroni salad and salt and vinegar potato chips. Believe me when I tell you, this beef melts in your mouth. And it's so easy (1 lb. lunchmeat roast beef from deli, italian dressingseasoning packet, jar of sliced pepperoncinis (drained) and jar of beef broth - slow cooker for a few hours - heaven).

My question today is what are some of your favorite tailgating foods? As you can see from my menu, I'm not messing with bringing a charcoal grill out to the middle of a parking lot when it's 90+ degrees, so the opportunities are endless. Below are my five faves, based on the following characteristics: not too expensive, not too hard to transport, not too time-consuming to make and good with beer. Allow me to apologize in advance to any vegetarians - you're cool, but I like meat (thatswhatshesaid). Here you go...

Kielbasa and Saurkraut
I like it best when you slow cook in with brown sugar and caraway, then finish it on the grille if possible, just to get some char on there.

Cocktail Meatballs
So many possibilities: sweet and sour, barbecue, italian... my wife makes a killer meatball sauce that is sort of a hybrid between sweet and sour and barbecue. My mouth is currently watering.

Burgers and Dogs
Simple, classic, delicious. The only thing I don't like about these American staples from a tailgaing sense is the necessity for condiments.

Sloppy Joes/Ham BBQ
I'm not sure why these go together, but they do for me for some reason. Like my Italian Beef, they can be made early, put in a slow cooker and busted out in the parking lot, ready to enjoy.

Homemade Dips
A few of my favorites are buffalo chicken, sloppy joe, spinach and mexican. Again, all can be made early and make for an awesome side or appetizer.

It would be great if you would add to this list, friends, winkwink. I'm positive you have better, more creative ideas that can help this wonderful little community get their eat on before gametime.

Until next time, let's go Steelers, hugs and kisses all around. Come back at 4 p.m. for your Ride links.

...For The Ride Home: LeBron has a list, college degrees you shouldn't go after and Ms. Mavis Staples

Finally getting back to my Netflix, I watched this the other night. Only put it in the que because it has a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt as its star. It was...not all that good. You know what it reminded me of, though, in a completely odd way, of course? "Synecdoche, New York." The film itself is simply being different for the sake of being different. I understand the art aspect, and I also understand how cool it can be to be pretentious. But sometimes, it's just a bit much, as was the case in these two movies. Next up? "Crazy Heart." Hello, Thursday, how do you do? One more day until the weekend, and we won't stop until we get there (even if the gas gets low). Bought two tickets to see Hanson yesterday. Yes. Hanson. Judge me now, not later. Feel a bit squirmy about being surrounded by thousands of teenage girls screaming for the boys while singing every word of that new album, but hey, nothing a few beers can't cure, right? Wait. Do they sell beer at Hanson concerts? Ut oh. Anyways, we offer the following links in nothing but good spirits, and from all of us here at The Unusual Suspects headquarters, we sincerely hope that you, the wonderful reader, have a fantastic rest of your day.

From the “we have way too much time on our hands department,” we offer you 200 beer bottles opened in 80 seconds. (Deadspin)

There will now be coupon inserts in your copy of the Wall Street Journal. Honestly. (Ad Age)

Hey about that guy who wants to buy Newsweek? Yeah, he’s not a billionaire. (Forbes)

The worst paying college degrees of the year. Super interesting read. I’m assuming Journalism was too low to make the list because a starting salary in that particular field doesn’t even sniff this list’s No. 1. (Yahoo)

A Tiny Desk Concert with Ms. Mavis Staples. Who else is excited-times-a-gazillion about this new record? Come on, now. It has Wilco attached to it. (NPR)

Saw this yesterday but didn’t link it. Thought about it a bit more, and thought why not. LeBron has made a list and he’s checking it twice. (Fox Sports Ohio)

Halle Berry is single and ready to mingle. (People)

Kanye West is going to perform at this year’s Video Music Awards. There are talks of a duet with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. OK. That second part isn't true. (MTV)

The hangover and the food that comes with it

Had a party this weekend. All the cool kids were there, and I'm fairly certain it was agreed upon by everyone that it was pretty much the best night of their lives. Party wise, at least. Hey, when you can rock that LCD Soundsystem record until five in the morning, while earlier in the night your record player sprinkled in some Tom Petty, Huey Lewis and Ray Charles, you know your party was better than just about everyone else's.

The problem, though, with having such a gathering, is that I'm noticing how awful I feel the day after a night filled with drinking. This is an occurrence that only recently became commonplace, and needs to be fixed soon. Maybe its the wine, liquor and beer. Should probably stick to only one of the above, right? But a couple bottles of wine just don't do the trick by themselves, and shots always need to be taken in order to proclaim toasts. And you can't have a party and not toast to something. Goodness. The intricacies of properly consuming alcohol.

Anyways, laying on the couch with a throbbing headache warranted the following thought: What's a good food to consume the day after a night filled with friends and booze? What exactly goes well with a hangover that makes you feel as though you will never move from your bed (aside from the requisite Tylenol, Advil and occasional Gatorade, of course)?

That headache now gone, I thought I'd throw a few thoughts out there to see if any stuck. Considering everyone typically has their own remedies for such situations, it may be nice to leave a comment or two, offering your own advice because mine clearly isn't full-proof, not even for me. That said, though, here are a couple examples of food I take solace in while feeling as though an 18-wheel truck is spinning through my brain.

Hamburgers and French FriesYeah, that sounds risky, I know. But I made an art out of waking up dizzy and still finding my way to McDonalds throughout my time in college. It's essential. The grease. The carbs. The complete awfulness of knowing you are eating processed food that was probably dropped on the floor three times before it hit the wrapper you see it in. Hey, if nothing else, eating such materials has been known to induce the act of vomiting. And remember what they always say about a way to make you feel better...

Pizza
This one is sort of odd, but the more I find myself in this predicament, the more I crave a slice of pizza by 5 'o clock. Now this can be tricky simply because of the varying pizzas that happen to be offered. Pizza Hut? Only if it's a personal pan because you sometimes roll the dice with how they may cook it. Dominoes? That can get a bit too cheesy. Same with Papa John's. A local joint? That's probably the best bet, though you know the local spots tend to be more inconsistent than any mainstream chain. That's OK, though, if you happen to love the smell of the pizza place. Because let's be honest. Stepping into a local pizzeria can instantly make anyone feel better based on smell alone. The big guys? They smell like garbage and dead cats. Not good for a hangover.

Tea
Only here because of my love for tea. It's hot, though. That helps.

Bread
People always seem to suggest toast and bread in these situations. Why? Before you know it, you have eaten eight slices of bread, put on six more pounds and you seem to wonder why you are still hungry. Still, bread is the perfect gateway food. It can lead you to finally gain an appetite for something more substantial - something that may just help. Besides, it's bread. Who doesn't have a loaf of bread just chilling out, always ready to help your hunger needs?

Chinese Food
Because it makes you sleepy, silly.

And of course...

Actual Breakfast Food
You are lying if you say you've never once woken up after a late night and went out to get pancakes, eggs and bacon. Me? I hate breakfast food. I'll go with you, but I'll opt for a burger. But just because I've never sat well with such foods doesn't mean we can ignore the fact that everyone seems to love the stuff. Goodness, the obsession you people have with syrup and butter. Always have to try and keep it local, but if you happen to be near a Perkins or Eat 'N Park, at least you'll be able to look at those attractive pies while you wait for your meal. And if you can't go to any of those, word is these things seem to generate some serious excitement within you breakfast food-eating-people bunch...

Signs of Summer: Bud Light w/Lime

Despite the agonizing fact that the official start date of summer isn’t until June 23, we’ve already had a few waves of summer-like weather in my neck of the woods. Its days like these that energize and invigorate the lion’s share of us who live in areas with over 225 days a year of “gray” weather, and these nice days deserve their due.

With that said, every Tuesday and Thursday until the official start of summer we’ll bring you an ode to the signs of summer, one marvelous item at a time. And PS - we would love it if you would pepper in your thoughts as well.

Today we pay homage to Bud Light w/Lime.

It would be an absolute anomaly to even consider drinking eggnog on the Fourth of July - and the same could be said about drinking Bud Light w/Lime at Thanksgiving. But the second the thermometer hits 68 degrees I start craving this elixir from the gods.

In what can only be described as an utterly refreshingly-tastic experience, Bud Light w/Lime can be consumed as easily as Kool-Aid while still giving you the light summer buzz that perfectly accompanies burgers and dogs on the grill. If my grill had a “preferred wine selection” to accompany each entrée, every single preferred wine would be Bud Light w/Lime.

I’ve been ostracized in the past for my love/obsession with this sweet nectar, the lightest of light beers. Friends have asked if I have anything other than “Aquafina” to drink and I’ve been called more than a few girls names - but I don’t care. It's light, it's delicious, it's versatile, it's AWESOME.

Here are a few OTHER things that Bud Light w/Lime is:

- It’s sitting on my deck as the sun goes down, playing cards with friends and loved ones
- It’s warped tour tailgating at 9 a.m.
- It’s a sweaty, shower-less weekend at Jamboree in the Hills
- It’s taking in an evening baseball game
- It’s a pathetic round of golf on a Sunday afternoon
- It’s sitting on the beach in the Outer Banks, even though you’re not allowed to have bottles

Most of all though it’s summer, and dammit do I love summer.

Come back for your Ride Home links at 4 p.m. - then go get a 12-pack and kick it.