Tailgating Must-Haves | Green Palate Life

Breakfast, Holiday Eats, Recipe Box, Snacking, Sweet Tooth, Tailgating Must-Haves

The Best Ever Banana Nut Muffins

October 23, 2015 by Melissa

I know what you're thinking.. "the best ever banana nut muffins, really, the best ever?" But trust me on this, I do not use "the best ever" lightly. The muffins will convince you on your first bite; moist and cakey on the inside, a bit of crunch on the outside, all while staying nice and soft for days after baking! One of my friends at work asked me to make him some banana nut muffins, and since I never turn down an opportunity to bake, I dusted off an old bread recipe of mine and turned it into muffin form. I actually didn't tweak anything, but it cut the baking time in 1/2 so I actually prefer this much more than the bread. Muffins are great; they're small enough where you know what a…

Healthy & Hearty Fall Soup

October 18, 2015 by Melissa

Smokey turkey kielbasa + fresh veggies + hearty beans & potatoes = the perfect brothy, nutrient packed, and filling fall soup. When the weather cools down, I tend to gravitate more towards the warming comfort foods. Soups, oatmeal, fresh hot muffins, crock pot meals... You get the gist. :) This soup is the perfect balance of light yet hearty. My meat & potatoes loving boyfriend even loves this dish (most likely since there is actual meat and potatoes present ;) ) and will bring a Tupperware for lunch or heat up a bowl for a quick dinner. The best part about this easy peasy recipe is that you can portion it out and freeze to grab in the mornings and be thawed and ready for lunch. Meal prepping is something I swear by, but…

Pulled Zesty Pineapple Chicken [in the crock pot!]

October 10, 2015 by Melissa

This week, I dusted off my crock pot. It's a "chilly" 70 degrees in Florida, and finally feeling like fall. Autumn to me means a few things: Soups Pumpkin Oatmeal & most importantly: crock pot recipes Sunday morning, I woke up early with an unusual amount of energy. I went on a 20 minute run, cleaned my apartment, did all the [masses] of dishes, and even prepped lunches & dinners for the work week. Crock pots are magical for this very reason. I love when I can throw a meal together and just forget about it. I've created a similar shredded taco chicken in the past, but this has a more citrus-y kick to it! The chicken is amazing paired with some brown or wild rice and veggies. [I used broccoli, corn, & carrots!]…

Skinny 7 Layer Taco Dip – Tailgating Thursday

October 1, 2015 by Melissa

I'm the queen of dips. The favorite buffalo chicken dip... the classic french onion dip with a healthy twist... or the ever so simple creamy roasted garlic homemade hummus... and now this skinny 7 layer taco dip are all a staple in my presence, especially when football is involved. I'm one of those people who can't show up to a gathering empty handed. If someone, no matter who they are, is having a get together, count me in to bring my favorite bottle of wine or better yet, a dish to share that I know mostly everyone will be a fan of. 7 layer taco dip is something I'm 99% sure everyone has heard of and most enjoy. As you know, I love taking classic comfort recipes and giving them a light twist, which is exactly what…

The Tastiest Baked Brie – Tailgating Thursday

September 24, 2015 by Melissa

I understand that "the tastiest baked brie" is a bold statement, but I am fully ready to stand behind this dish. ;) I also should add that this is the EASIEST. RECIPE. EVER. Brie has a special place in my heart, which may seem like a silly thing to say about cheese, but then again, I feel that fellow cheese lovers would agree. I mentioned in my first Tailgating Thursday post that not every recipe posted would be healthy- and this is one of those "treat yourself" ones! However, to be 100% perfect all the time would be 100% boring, so take some advice from me and make this cheese for your next party. Or when you have a night alone with Netflix and your bed.. this is a judgement free zone [especially when…

Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Pizza Bites – Tailgating Thursday

September 17, 2015 by Melissa

Zucchini Pizza Bites - healthy tailgating food

FOOOOOOTBALLLLLL SEASON HAS ARRIVED! *dancing girl emoji* Football season is my favorite time of year. Mostly because it represents fall & I love all things fall related. Seriously: Pumpkin flavored baked goods The return of hot coffee lattes Changing leaves Leggings & long sweaters I could go on and on... Tailgating is a hobby in West Virginia, so it's something that I've had loads of practice at. I enjoy creating new bites to bring along to a watch party; and if I can make those typical football foods have a healthy twist, I'm even more about it! I thought a fun way of celebrating football season this year would be to share with you a favorite tailgating recipe every Thursday that you can make for the upcoming weekend! These recipes won't all be healthy..…

Skinny Classic Chili

August 25, 2015 by Melissa

I'm one of those people that believes soup & winter foods can be eaten at any point of the year. Especially when it is something as tasty & comforting as chili. Chili brings me right back to when I was a student at West Virginia and my roommates and I would make a big batch and eat on it throughout the week. [We would flip between classic chili & this equally tasty Zesty Fiesta Soup!] WVU still brings up so many feelings of nostalgia for me that the best way to help with the homesick feeling is to bring back tastes of home. Of course, the fact that chili is ridiculously tasty helps a lot, too. Classic chili isn't that bad for you, but I like to keep challenging myself to find ways to…

PB & J Thumb Print Cookies

August 16, 2015 by Melissa

Holy moly. I don't even know where to begin with these cookies. I made them yesterday and have already eaten the entire batch of 6. I started to tell myself to slow down- but... wait for it... they're healthy for you! So no, you don't need to slow down ;) This weekend, I wanted to challenge myself to stay *mostly* healthy. This meant, eating out less, drinking less, and lots of experimenting in the kitchen! I have a lot of tasty recipes coming your way due to this healthy weekend, but my gold ribbon winner were these cookies. They're perfectly chewy & soft on the inside with a crisp outside, hints of cinnamon, minimal ingredient list, and packed with that classic PB&J taste that I love. Here's what you need: [to make 6 cookies] 1…

- Category: Tailgating Must-Haves -

The Best Ever Banana Nut Muffins

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Healthy & Hearty Fall Soup

Read more

Pulled Zesty Pineapple Chicken [in the crock pot!]

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Skinny 7 Layer Taco Dip – Tailgating Thursday

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The Tastiest Baked Brie – Tailgating Thursday

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Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Pizza Bites – Tailgating Thursday

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Skinny Classic Chili

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PB & J Thumb Print Cookies

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