BBQ Warms up Winter Game Days

(Family Features) - Tailgate parties and backyard barbecues are famous for bringing people together in the name of sports. Sharing delicious food and bonding over your favorite sports team are key to making these outdoor parties memorable. This winter, don't let cold weather discourage you from throwing a tailgate-inspired party. Keep the sporting-spirit alive by recreating the fun inside your home with these easy tips:

Bring the Outside, Inside - Bring all of your favorite outdoor elements to your indoor party. Hang strings of colored lights that match your team's colors on plants and mantles as well as your team's banners and flags throughout the house. Decorate your truck or car in the driveway as a spirited welcome to guests.

Play Indoor Sports - Mom always said no playing ball in the house, but virtual balls won't break any lamps. These days, video games aren't just for the kids. During commercial breaks, ignite that competitive spirit with a quick game - pop in your favorite video game and play a round while you're waiting for the real game to continue.

Go Team Green - Tailgate parties can create a lot of trash. Help reduce the amount of waste by using inexpensive and re-usable plastic plates and cups in your team colors. Serve finger foods that don't require utensils. Buy your chips and condiments in bulk, rather than individual bags and packets to cut down on trash and save you money. And, where possible, buy locally-produced foods for your party snacks. Transporting foods to stores across long distances can add up to a lot of unneeded pollution.

Waking Up the Winter Barbecue - A home tailgate party gives you many cooking options. With easy access to an oven and other appliances, your menu can feature the most unique barbecue creations. Use an authentic sauce, like KC Masterpiece Sweet & Tangy Barbecue Sauce, as a simple way to bring the tailgate food experience to life. Get the smell of barbecue wafting throughout the house with this oven-style take on traditional pulled pork:

Pulled Pork Sloppy Joes

1-2 bottles (16 oz. each) KC Masterpiece Sweet & Tangy Barbecue Sauce
2 (3/4-lb. each) pork tenderloins, trimmed
1/2 cup red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
2 teaspoons butter
6 Kaiser rolls (or 12-16 mini-rolls), toasted

Preheat oven to 400°F. Season pork tenderloins with salt and pepper. Place pork in roasting pan and cook until 160°F, or about 35 minutes. Remove pork from oven and allow to cool slightly. Using a fork, shred meat into long, thin strands.

In a saucepan, sauté onions in butter until translucent. Reduce heat; add one bottle KC Masterpiece Sweet & Tangy Barbecue Sauce. Cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Pour sauce mixture over shredded pork and toss until meat is well coated; if necessary, add more barbecue sauce to achieve desired consistency. Serve shredded pork "Sloppy Joe" style on toasted Kaiser rolls.

TIP: Serve Mini-Joes on smaller rolls instead of full-sized buns. Serve with coleslaw or potato salad on the side.

Serves 4-6

SOURCE: KC Masterpiece