'Chopped' Champion Angie Mar Fires up 32 Burger Recipes for NFL Homegating Season

Uniquely inspired by each NFL team, these recipes help fans show their team pride



With the NFL season underway, NFL Homegating is calling all grill masters to grab their aprons and turn up the heat. Angie Mar, Chopped "Grill Masters" Champion, NFL Homegating "Burger Maestro," and Chef and Owner of New York's celebrated Beatrice Inn, has tapped her culinary expertise, love for mouth-watering burgers and enthusiasm for NFL Homegating to create 32 diverse and delicious burger recipes, inspired by each NFL market, for fans across the country to cook and enjoy with their friends and family on game day.
An NFL Homegating party is an authentic celebration of food, drink, tradition and fun with friends and family that brings the celebration and tradition of a stadium tailgate to the comfort of home. The NFL Homegating product line includes team branded cookware, drinkware, serve ware and décor designed to transform any home into a game watching headquarters and help fans show their team spirit all year round.

Mar's creative and easy-to-follow recipes vary from sweet and savory to unusual and exotic. Each recipe incorporates an element of each team's hometown, with signature ingredients representative of the region.

Here's a snapshot of all 32 unique NFL Homegating burger recipes:

• Arizona: "Southwest Slam," featuring diced jalapeños, crumbled cotijia cheese and chopped tomatillos
• Atlanta: "The Dirty Bird," featuring Cajun seasoning, American cheese and bacon on breaded chicken breasts
• Baltimore: "Baltimore Harbor Master," featuring soft shell crabs and cheese
• Buffalo: "Buffalo Winger," featuring Bison burger patties, buffalo wing sauce, celery and bleu cheese
• Carolina: "Carolina Pork Primer," featuring boneless pork chops, pickled onions and barbeque sauce
• Chicago: "Chicago Classic," featuring beef patties, pickles, beefsteak tomatoes and cheese
• Cincinnati: "Cincinnati Chili Burger," featuring patties made of ground beef and chili, dark chocolate and cinnamon
• Cleveland: "Dawgpound," featuring kielbasa links, sauerkraut and barbeque sauce
• Dallas: "The All-American," featuring diced jalapeños, hot sauce, hickory smoked barbeque sauce and cole slaw
• Denver: "Colorado Crush," featuring queso fresco, chopped jalapeños and cilantro
• Detroit: "Motor City Mother Lode," featuring horseradish-aged cheddar and hickory-smoked bacon on an English muffin
• Green Bay: "Cheesehead's Delight," featuring a fresh cranberry glaze, arugula and Wisconsin aged cheddar
• Houston: "Bulls on Parade," featuring beef patties, nacho cheese and chunky red salsa on challah rolls
• Indianapolis: "Indy Insanity," featuring veal patties, horseradish mayonnaise and beer-braised onions
• Jacksonville: "Jacksonville Delight," featuring alligator meat, adobo mayonnaise, peaches and white cheddar
• Kansas City: "KC Cook-Out Burger," featuring brisket basted in spicy molasses topped with flavorful potato salad
• Los Angeles: "LA Pacific Perfection," featuring classic condiments, pickles, American cheese and sesame buns
• Miami: "Crispy Cuban," featuring pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles
• Minnesota: "Minnesota Muncher," featuring flavorful onions, Cambazola Black Label cheese and grilled potato buns
• New England: "The Colonial," featuring lobster, hot sauce and celery
• New Orleans: "Big Easy Burger," featuring crawfish, red beans, cayenne pepper and andouille sausage
• New York: "New York Melt," featuring dry-aged beef, pastrami and fresh thyme on thick-cut rye, and the "New York Colossal Crunch," featuring beefsteak tomato, crispy bacon and potato chips
• Oakland: "Blackhole Burger," featuring brie, grilled onions and a squid ink aioli
• Philadelphia: "The Philly Remix," featuring dry-aged ribeye, tellegio cheese and spicy calabrese peppers
• Pittsburgh: "Steel City Stacker," featuring fried eggs and D'affinois cheese on a brioche bun
• San Diego: "San Diego Seaside Burger," featuring beer-battered halibut, crushed tomatillo, corn and cilantro
• San Francisco: "Bay Area Burger," featuring crab cakes, chopped cornichon and pickled onions on a sourdough English muffin
• Seattle: "Seattle Sauerkraut Slam," featuring patties made of pork, veal and beef; Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and potato chips
• Tampa Bay: "The Tampa Bay Roll," featuring Swiss cheese, kimchi and a sourdough roll
• Tennessee: "The Tennessee Brisket Burger," featuring brisket, barbeque sauce, and bread and butter pickles on flaky biscuits
• Washington, D.C.: "Orchard Burger," featuring avocado, gruyere cheese, diced apples and cole slaw

Each of the 32 burger recipes are available on the NFL Homegating Pinterest board and include easy-to-follow directions for crafting the perfect burger to take your NFL Homegating party to the next level or for celebrating your team on any day of the year.

Fans can prepare ingredients on the Touchdown Cutting Board, then fire up the grill in the NFL Homegating Grilling Apron. Then, display the perfectly crafted burger on a team branded Ceramic Plate, and serve it up with your favorite beverage in a Glass Tankard.

Discover additional recipes, entertaining tricks and more ways to keep the party going in style on the NFL Homegating Pinterestboard. Show them off at your next NFL Homegating party with your favorite team products available atNFLShop.com/Homegating.

Put a Fresh Twist on Tailgating

Add some team spirit to your menu by stepping out of bounds this tailgating season. Score big points with your fellow fans by sharing new apps and snacks that put a special game day spin on traditional favorites.

Made with fresh chickpeas and tahini, hummus is the perfect smooth and creamy accompaniment for chips, crackers and veggies. But it's easy to take this delicious dip to a fan frenzy level by using it as an ingredient to reimagine your favorite tailgating treats with an option like Sabra Hummus, which is available in more than a dozen appetizing flavors.

Spinach and Artichoke Hummus Pull Apart BreadRecipe courtesy of PoetInThePantry.com

	Nonstick spray
2	tubes (8 ounces each) crescent rolls
1	container (10 ounces) Sabra Spinach and Artichoke Hummus
1	can (14 ounces) quartered artichoke hearts, drained
12	cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1	cup shredded cheese blend

Heat oven to 350 F. Spray 9-by-5 loaf pan with nonstick spray and set aside.

Lightly spray work surface and carefully unroll 1 tube crescent rolls, so it stays as close as possible to one piece. Pinch seams.

Spread half the hummus over entire surface. Sprinkle with half the artichoke hearts, spinach leaves and cheese blend.

Cut into 8 squares. Prop loaf pan up to vertical then stack 4 squares and place them in loaf pan. Stack remaining 4 squares and place them on top of squares already in pan.

Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Bake on center rack 55-60 minutes, or until browned on top and cooked through, rotating pan halfway through bake time.

Place plate over top of pan, invert, then carefully flip over to invert bread. Serve as-is to pull apart, or slice for easier eating.

Twice Baked Potato JacketsRecipe courtesy of Smithbites.com

8	small Yukon Gold potatoes
1	cup Sabra Classic Hummus
	salt, to taste
	pepper, to taste
	extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
2	tablespoons chopped rosemary

Heat oven to 425 F.

Scrub potatoes and poke with fork 2-3 times to allow steam to escape while baking. Place whole potatoes on rimmed sheet pan and bake approximately 25-30 minutes, or until potatoes are soft; cool 10 minutes.

Carefully slice potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop out insides into bowl, leaving 1/4-inch ring of potato around edges.

Lightly mash potato chunks; add hummus and stir until combined. Season mixture with salt and pepper; taste and adjust, if necessary.

Using spoon, divide potato-hummus filling evenly between potato jackets. Drizzle with olive oil and broil 5-7 minutes, or until tops are golden and crispy; watch closely as they will burn quickly.

Remove from broiler and sprinkle with rosemary and pinch of salt.

Serve immediately.

Are you a Planner or a Moocher? BJ’s Wholesale Club Kicks off Football Season with Insights on America’s Tailgating Habits

Survey shows Buffalo wings rule, and a team’s loss can affect tailgaters for the whole week

Break out the face paint, a funny wig or team jersey, football season is here and that means it’s time to tailgate. New research from BJ’s Wholesale Club tackles the question of America’s tailgating habits, showing that for almost half of Americans

(45 percent) tailgating is more important than the game. And 60 percent of us are diehard tailgaters, showing up for the pre-game party rain, sleet, snow or shine.

According to an online survey conducted by BJ’s Wholesale Club of more than 1,000 tailgaters on the East Coast, when it comes to sandwiches, burgers (49 percent) are the clear winner among pre-game partiers, followed by pulled pork (24 percent) and hotdogs (21 percent). And according to the research, the most important item for a tailgate is the cooler and ice (71 percent), followed by the grill (57 percent). The most forgotten items are bug spray (15 percent), with sunscreen (11 percent) and trash bags (10 percent) a close second and third.

“Football fans might be even more passionate about their tailgates than their teams,” said Bari Harlam, executive vice president, marketing and membership at BJ’s Wholesale Club. “For our Members, tailgate parties are a family tradition. BJ’s Wholesale Club offers great value on everything fans need for the perfect tailgate party, whether you’re a Patriots fan craving wings or a Gators fan grilling a pre-game burger.”

Key survey findings reveal:But for some tailgating comes with a downside. About 40 percent of fans say a loss by a favorite team affects them all week -- but there’s always another tailgate to look forward to.

Planner or a moocher?

• Half of tailgaters (50 percent) say they are planners, while two in five (39 percent) prefer to wing it, putting things together at the last minute. Only one in ten (11 percent) consider themselves moochers, just waiting to enjoy what the planners bring.
• Almost half of tailgaters (45 percent) say they would have no problem tailgating and not attending a game.
• Three to four hours before is when over three in five (62 percent) tailgaters start.

Most popular foods

• Overall, appetizers and wings are the favorite foods.
• For over half of tailgaters (56 percent), it’s got to be Buffalo-style wings followed by barbeque at 44 percent.
• Beer is the beverage of choice for 73 percent of tailgaters and almost half say they also need soft drinks/soda (49 percent) and water (48 percent) on hand.

Tailgating Type

• Thirty-seven percent of tailgaters say they are diehard fans because when their team loses, they feel lost all week.
• Three in five (60 percent) tailgaters throw the football around while over half (53 percent) prefer to play cornhole.
• When it comes to the most enjoyable football games, it’s almost even across the board. One-third (34 percent) find professional football games more fun for tailgating, one-third (33 percent) say college games are more fun and one-third (34 percent) say both are equally as fun!

And finally, when it comes to showing spirit, most tailgaters go with a team jersey (82 percent), while 13 percent choose face paint and five percent pick body paint. Only two percent opt to wear a team wig.

Tackling a Touchdown Tailgate: Cost-effective tips from DIY experts

Whether you're a die-hard gridiron fan or prefer to enjoy the food and festivities from the sidelines, everyone can agree that a successful tailgate is key to any memorable game day get-together. According to a recent Bank of America survey, 34 percent of Americans plan to attend a professional or college football game or tailgate this fall, and 20 percent plan to host a tailgate or viewing party themselves.

As fall settles in, the air gets crisper and the kids head back to school, many Americans eagerly anticipate one thing: football season.

While many love planning out meals, decorations and activities for friends and family, the costs can easily add up and make hosting feel like an underdog game. So how can fans plan a tailgate that stays on budget and impresses any crowd – home or away?

Home design and DIY experts Ben and Erin Napier teamed with Bank of America to provide these cost-savvy tips for pulling off a memorable tailgate that fits the bill for every fan on game day.

Get in the Competitive Spirit
Whether you're grilling outside the stadium or spending halftime hanging out in your backyard, Ben recommends laying out a variety of games for guests to enjoy.

"We take college football season very seriously," Ben said. "For some friendly, competitive fun before kickoff and during halftime, create a larger-than-life wood-block game."

Follow these simple steps:
1. Sand down wooden four-by-fours.
2. Cut into 48 pieces, each 18 inches long.
3. Stack pieces into a tower.
4. Take turns pulling pieces to see who knocks the tower over first.

For added flair and personalization, Erin suggests painting the wooden blocks your team colors.

Bring the Stadium to Your Living Room
If you missed out on tickets or your home team is on the road, you can still make your home feel like a day at the stadium.

"During tailgates at home, we try to make our friends feel like they're actually at the game and having as much fun as possible," Ben said.

Decorating your home with the team's colors – such as creating DIY wall art with framed jerseys – is a simple, cost-efficient way to capture the tailgate essence.

Ben suggests setting up a big screen TV on the deck or outdoor living area with speakers to mimic the feeling of watching a game outside in the stands. For inexpensive, comfy seating that will help welcome guests and add another pop of team spirit, try purchasing throw pillows in your team's colors from a wholesale club or superstore, but make sure to weatherproof them first using fabric protection spray.

"We also like to play recordings of our college band before kickoff if we can't be at the pep rally in person," Erin said.

Create a Tailgating Space that Stands Out
One of the best parts of tailgating at the stadium is being surrounded by fellow fans. Try sprucing up your car or tent to create an inviting space that showcases your team pride.

Ben recommends investing in a large, custom-designed vinyl or fabric banner for your tent. Not only can they be affordable to produce and last for many seasons, but they stand out in a crowd.

"Because the banner's durable, you can use it every year," Ben said. "Its unique design makes it easy to find after we walk around the tailgate to meet fellow fans."

Even when your tailgate screams "Go Team," it's important to make everybody – even the opposing team's fans – feel welcome.

"Experiencing a big game may be a once in a lifetime experience for them," Erin said. "Football fans should be all about hospitality, even toward the rival team's visitors."

Defeat Your Budget
"Planning for a busy football season doesn't need to be a 'loss' for your budget," Ben said. "Turning to a credit card that rewards you for everyday purchases is one of the easiest ways to 'win' this season."

Because tailgating throughout the entire football season requires many trips to the grocery store – often buying in bulk – using a card like the BankAmericard Cash Rewards credit card lets you earn 2 percent cash back at wholesale clubs and grocery stores. And 3 percent cash back when gassing up for away games – on up to $2,500 in grocery/wholesale club/gas quarterly spend. You also earn 1 percent back on all other purchases.

For more information, visit bankofamerica.com/creditcard.

Develop a Game Plan Before Cooking
When preparing meals for a large group, planning ahead and using simple recipes are key.

"We like to plan our meals ahead so that by the time our friends arrive and the game starts, we're pretty much done in the kitchen," Ben Napier said.

A simple, versatile marinade helps keep flavors fresh throughout the football season while avoiding additional costs.

"For our tailgates, we prefer to stick to the classics," Ben said. "When we aren't grilling hot dogs or burgers, we make a big pot of chili in our slow cooker – letting it simmer for a few hours before serving when the game starts. If we're tailgating at the stadium, we'll even throw the chili together in a cast iron pot straight on the grill."

Do-It-All Marinade
            3          parts olive oil
            2          parts soy sauce
            1          part Worcestershire sauce
            1          part balsamic vinegar
                        lemon juice
                        Dijon mustard
                        pepper
                        garlic powder

In small bowl, combine all ingredients then place in re-sealable plastic bag.

Drizzle marinade over chicken and let stand in refrigerator about 4 hours prior to grilling.

Spice Up Game Day with These Yummy Recipes

It's "game on" this tailgate season with taste sensations that add an extra kick of flavor and spice, without having to go into overtime in the kitchen. The perfect sauce is key to executing an effortless game day menu with a distinctive zing.

The winning combination of flavor and heat to quickly whip standard tailgate foods into shape can be found in Frank's RedHot sauces, and the newest varieties – Rajili Sweet Ginger Sauce and Slammin' Sriracha Chili Sauce – are the secret ingredient to victory. Leave a lasting impression on fellow football fans with two simple yet savory recipes – wings and pizza – which are amplified by powerful sauces.

Chicken wings coated with Rajili Sweet Ginger Sauce are sure to keep everyone's hands in the game. This crowd favorite packs a sizzling punch with exotic spices that make taste buds come alive.

Ditch the delivery and serve Sriracha Pizza. This homemade twist on a classic is covered with a blend of sun-kissed chili pepper and jalapeno, balanced by a slight tanginess and hint of smoke. Even meat lovers will crave this spicy vegetarian pizza.

The entire huddle will rave about these recipes long after the final whistle blows, but for more tailgate and game day refreshments that turn up the heat, check out FranksRedHot.com.

Rajili Chicken Wings
2 1/2	pounds chicken wing pieces
3/4	cup Frank's RedHot Rajili Sweet Ginger Sauce

On foil-lined pan, bake wings on lowest oven rack at 450 F for 30 minutes or until crispy, turning once.

Toss wings in sauce to coat.

Sriracha Pizza
1/4	cup Frank's RedHot Slammin' Sriracha Chili Sauce
1/4	cup marinara sauce
1	prebaked pizza crust (12-inch)
1 3/4	cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4	cup roasted vegetables (eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash), cut in 1/2 inch slices
1/4	cup sliced mushrooms
12	slices red onion
1	tablespoon pepperoncini, thinly sliced

Heat oven to 400 F.

Combine Sriracha and marinara sauce.

Spread crust with sauce, leaving 1/2 inch border along the edges. Cover with cheese, roasted vegetables, mushrooms, red onion slivers and pepperoncini.

Bake 8-9 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is crisp. Cut into 8 wedges.