While we work on some special entries for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we wanted to offer up some tips for a better tailgate party.

Stay safe and be sure to check out a bunch of great outdoor recipes here, some more videos, or a ton of info on the world of outdoor cooking here!

Ten Tips to a Better Tailgate Party

Know your menu. The last thing you need on game day is to realize you’ve left a key ingredient or tool at home. Decide on a menu in advance and create a checklist of items necessary to execute it on site.

Home base. Whether mixing a batch of chili or pre-slicing vegetables and meats for kebobs, you can minimize on-site mess and leave yourself more time to enjoy the experience by doing as much prep work as possible at home. Place items in marked zip lock bags, place in the cooler, and you’re ready to rumble.

Survival kit. Before the first game of the season, fill a plastic bin with a variety of essentials including a small fire extinguisher (better to be safe than sorry), tin foil (to be used for everything from cleaning a grill grate to creating a pouch for steaming vegetables), extra batteries (for portable lights, radios, etc.), ponchos (in case of rain),bleach wipes(for quick cleanups), etc.

Strapped down. A gust of wind can quickly turn EZ Up canopies into projectile objects, leaving you with a large bill for damaged property, broken bones or worse.  Invest in a set of ratchet straps and/or bungee cords then attach each corner to a cooler, a water filled collapsible jug or other weighty object.

Cleanliness first. Just because you’re cooking outside doesn’t mean you don’t have to exercise proper food safety.  Keep raw meats in different coolers than vegetables and beverages and designated different colored cutting boards for different foods.   Disposable food safe gloves (available at restaurant supply stores and most big box retailers) are also great way to avoid cross contamination and pocket thermometers ensure meats are properly cooked.

We’ve got power. Available for under $200,small generators provide the added convenience of working electricity, whether for brightening up those themed party lights or powering up the blender.

Extend your reach. For taller individuals,preparing food all day on a folding table can wreck havoc on one’s back. Cut 2” round PVC pipe into four 18” sections and place each table leg into one to raise the overall height.

Light my fire. While countless individuals love to fire up their charcoal grills with a heavy dose of lighter fluid, an inexpensive charcoal chimney and a crumpled sheet of newspaper provides a much more effective starter and your food won't smell like a burning car engine. When in a bind, tightly rolled paper towels dipped in cooking oilcan be used as a fire starter as well.

Camped out. Camping supply stores are an excellent source of items designed to maximize one’s outdoor cooking experience, from collapsible water jugs and pocket sized rain gear to propane fueled hot water heaters and portable gas burners.

Don’t get burned. Practice extreme safety when it comes to open flames and open space.  Make sure friends and family keep a safe distance from hot grills and never leave a hot grill unattended, especially if you want to find your car intact after the fourth quarter.

- SmokeInDaEye.com, Home of Bigger, Badder, Bolder Competition BBQ ©