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10 Minute Tailgate: Vanderbilt

By Mike Holmes | September 03
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Nashville Hot Chicken Bites and Tennessee Mules

The Hokies, for the first time this season, will kick off in Blacksburg as they face the Vanderbilt Commodores!  This will be a revenge game for Coach Pry and the Hokies as they try to avenge last year's loss in Music City.  The menu for the tailgate this week hopes to be slightly less aggressive while still rattling your taste buds!

For the food, I chose my own twist on the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich and turned it into a bite size portion that even the weakest pallets can tolerate! 

The Cocktail this week is a Tennessee Mule.  Just like the Chris Stapleton song, its smooth, as Tennessee whiskey.  The excellent balance of the Whiskey Ginger and Lime make a perfect combo for a balmy late summer evening in Blacksburg.

Cheers and GO HOKIES!

Nashville Hot Chicken Bites

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Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs Chicken Thighs Grilled
  • 1 tbsp Nashville Hot Seasoning
  • Dill Pickle slices
  • 8-12" tortilla
  • Toothpicks (for serving)
  • Lemon Garlic Aioli (Recipe below)

Lemon Garlic Parmesan Aioli

  • ¼ cup Mayo
  • 1tsp Lemon juice
  • ½ tsp Lemon pepper
  • ½ tsp Minced garlic
  • 1 tsp Parmesan Cheese grated

Procedure:

  • Grill Chicken Thighs to 175 Degrees, Remove
  • Slice into long strips, sprinkle with Nashville seasoning and toss to coat.
  • Spread thin layer of ailoi 1-1/2" wide across middle of tortilla, lay one layer of seasoned chicken strips on aioli
  • Space pickles across chicken strips, fold tortilla across and tightly roll to hold in place.
  • Score with knife, stab with toothpick, slice all the way through
  • Plate and Serve

Tennessee Mule

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Ingredients:

  • 2oz George Dickel
  • Ginger Beer
  • Juice of 1 Lime
  • Ice

Procedure:

  • Juice lime in glass, Fill with Ice
  • Pour Whiskey and fill with Ginger Beer
  • Enjoy
Hokie

I am a 5th Generation Hokie. I have Orange and Maroon blood coursing through my veins. I was lucky enough to attend VT from 1999-2003 and graduated with a history degree. I became a history teacher and football coach working my way to spending multiple seasons as Head Coach at schools in North Carolina and Colorado.


I now live in Colorado, with my wife and son and do what I can to follow the Hokies from afar. The outstanding team here at Sons of Saturday was gracious enough to let me talk some football and be able to impart some my knowledge gained from years spent on the sideline.


Aside from following the Hokies in all sports, I am a fan of the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Braves, and Carolina Hurricanes. I also try to play a lot of golf and enjoy skiing out here in the rockies!

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