Fall is in the air and you know what that means?

Erin: My tailbone is permanently glued to my carpooling driver’s seat?

Ellen: No! Well yes, but what I was thinking of was FOOTBALL!

Erin: And that makes me think of tailgating.

Ellen: Gone are my college days where that word meant a keg and a bag of donuts.

Erin: I’m sorry to see those days of tight skin gone, but I am happy that we’ve entered the age of more refined parking lot soirees. And pure yumminess. Did the donuts always seem stale to you?

Ellen: I think stale was the best case scenario for those pastries. But let’s not forget, you don’t have to be eating out of the back of a minivan to enjoy this menu.

Erin: These eats are perfect for your living room too . . . even if you’re watching soccer.

Ellen: So whether you’re tailgating, couchgating, or just need dinner, tuck in for some deliciousness.

So first the APPETIZERS . . .

Lazy Girl’s Black Bean Cream Cheese Dip

This dip has four ingredients: cream cheese, black beans, salsa, and shredded cheese. The most involved step is draining the black beans. We have found it ups the appeal to use gourmet salsa, but really that’s like saying the red convertible made the Homecoming Queen even more popular. This dip is always the first to go. Just make sure you buy enough tortilla chips because people have been known to clean the dish out with a spoon. Or their tongue. And no one wants to see that.

Full printable recipe

 

Ellen’s Buffalo Chicken Dip

I make this all of the time, but there is still no picture because it goes too quickly! The secret to the scrumptious-ness of this dip is cooking the chicken in the crock pot the day before or earlier in the day. You MUST cook the chicken this way to get raves; if you just use plain shredded chicken, I can’t be responsible for the yawns you will incite.

And now the recipe is even better. I use to recommend a baking step, but that step has been punted. Now, I do EVERY step in the crock pot. Maybe “lazy” should be in the title of this recipe, too.

Full printable recipe

 

On to the MAIN COURSE . . .

Alright, so everyone is wowed by the appetizers. Time to kick the laziness up a notch.

Erin: Still lobbying to switch from “lazy” to “smart.”

Ellen: Oy! Well, since this is a new “recipe” we’re sharing, I’ll humor you.

The Smartest Crock Pot Pulled Pork

There will be no printable recipe , because you’re a smartie and we believe in you.

Three ingredients: 5 – 8 pound pork tenderloin, package of dry onion soup mix, and one 16.9 oz bottle of Coke.

Throw it in the crock pot and let cook for at least 7 hours. Shred the meat with a fork.

You can do it!

Ellen: Alright, we may be lazy, but we can’t throw health completely to the wind. Gotta have some veggies.

Erin: See! That’s smart!! Seriously, we should drop the lazy.

Ellen: How about we call this recipe “Switzerland” and just go with the title it already has?

 

Crispy Colorful Vinaigrette Coleslaw

This cole slaw is the best, because it doesn’t have a drippy, creamy dressing. It perfectly tops the pulled pork on a bun or takes the heat away from the Buffalo Chicken Dip. The recipe calls for some chopping of vegetables, but if you want a lazier smarter version, you can just dump a bag of shredded cabbage, a bag of broccoli slaw, and a bag of shredded carrots in the bowl and call it a day.

Full printable recipe

 

Can’t forget about DESSERT . . .

Oreo and Peanut Butter Brownie Bites

You can whip these up in minutes to be declared the MVP of all time of all tailgating parties . . . or couchgating Sundays. Yes, they are that good. Brownie mix, Oreos, and peanut butter: three ingredients that make your taste buds go boom!

Full printable recipe

 

And a little LIBATION to wash it all down. . .

Ed’s Whiskey Sour Slush

You’ll have everybody cheering for YOU after you show up with this delicious drink to share. Erin’s dad keeps AT LEAST one batch in the freezer at all times and our friends clamor for it constantly. It’s a breeze to put together, but because it’s a slush, you need at least 12 hours to really get your chill on. Make it the night before the big game and you’re not just golden but the belle of the ball, if you will. Get it?

Full printable recipe

With these recipes, you’ll have a party fit for the back of a minivan, a last minute neighborhood get-together, or a Sunday in the living room with your family. Less time spent worrying about what you’re going to serve means more time to practice your cheerleading moves. Go, Team!

-Ellen and Erin