Well I am now on stage 5 (Depression and Sorrow) of the 7 stages of grief. After watching my badgers lose to TCU, lets just say it wasn’t the way I wanted to stat out the year. Unfortunately, I was hoping that my first post of the year would be with a much different tone, but as the Rolling Stones say, “you can’t always get what you want”

Losing definitely leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

Anyway enough pouting. After tailgating all fall, I had not had a game day at home. I decided that with the game being in Pasadena and me being in Charlotte, I would make some tailgate food of my own. I wanted to create the ultimate Wisconsin themed meal. With the Badger state being known for beer, brats, and cheese, my menu had to include all of these.

I call these Badger Beer Brat Nachos. They are by no means healthy for you, well there are vegetables in the salsa, but I wasn’t going for healthy. My goal for these were to combine my love of mexican food and my love of Wisconsin beer, cheese, and brats. I think I succeeded in my mission. I took crispy tortilla chips and then topped them with salsa. On top of that I layered brats, Beer Cheese Queso, more chips, brats, queso and the topped with more salsa. Delicious. I realize that queso is Spanish for cheese, and it is redundant to say beer cheese cheese. I call it beer cheese queso, because I took my normal queso of Velveeta and rotel tomatoes and stepped it up by adding Wisconsin sharp cheddar and Wisconsin beer! I had never added beer to my queso before, and from now on, I don’t think I will ever not add it. Not only is it an excuse for me to buy beer, but it adds an almost bubbly texture and hoppy flavor to the queso.

Wisconsin Beer Cheese Queso

Ingredients
1 32oz package Velveeta Cheese (diced)
1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes (drained)
1/2 cup your favorite Wisconsin beer
1 cup shredded Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar Cheese

In a pan on medium low heat, melt Velveeta stirring occasionally, watch out for it burning. Add tomatoes. Stir. Add beer. Stir. Add shredded cheese. Stir until everything is mixed thoroughly.

Wisconsin Beer Brats

Ingredients

1 package brats
1/2 large onion chopped in large pieces
2 cans beer (or enough to cover brats)

In a medium size sauce pan combine brats, onion and beer. Add enough beer so that brats are covered. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove brats from pan and grill until finished. Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting into 1/4 inch thick slices.n Here is a visual of how to make Brats.

Combine your brats, queso, tortilla chips and salsa in any way you like. I have a favorite salsa that I used, but I am saving that recipe for the tailgating book. In addition to making nachos I also made a sharp and creamy pimento cheese spread and tangy, hot, and sweet Ancho Chili BBQ Chicken Wings. I am sending the proposal out to publishers this week, so these recipes along with many more inspired by my tailgating travels this fall will be in the book. Here are the sample pictures I took for the proposal.

Although day 1 of 2011 didn’t go the way I wanted, I have high hopes for the rest of this year. I am going to a recap of 2010, but haven’t had the time to put it together yet. Taylor Takes a Taste

s 1st Anniversary is on January 16th, so I am going to have the year recap then! I hope everyone’s New Year went well and I am very excited to see what happens in 2011! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!