<p>I’ve been asked to bring food for tailgating this weekend. The problem: there’s no electricity. The sign-up list is way short on main course items. Trying to come up with something I can contribute that doesn’t require warming prior to serving. I could do sub sandwiches, but they’d require refrigeration or a really big cooler, plus I’m afraid the bread will get soggy. Any suggestions??</p>
<p>I was thinking of doing buffalo wings or meat balls, but not sure how long they’d stay warm in a cooler. I need to keep them in the cooler 4-4.5 hours, including travel time. </p>
<p>Is there something to put in the cooler that will help keep the stuff warm–comparable to the way ice keeps things in a cooler cold??</p>
<p>For subs, you could just put the cold stuff in a cooler and then put the sandwiches together when you get there. That way others in your group could “customize” their own subs.</p>
<p>Someone on another thread suggested using big thermal jugs for warm foods. </p>
<p>You could do barbeque and have hoagie rolls. I don’t eat meat, so I make my barbeque with tempeh, but I find that barbeque is actually an easy tailgate meal. </p>
<p>Here’s another mix I make and put in the hoagie rolls - I chop artichoke hearts, jarred roasted red peppers, red onions, tomatoes, basil and balsamic vinegar & put in a tupperware container. I bring lettuce and provolone cheese for those who want it and when we arrive make a quick hoagie. This is a huge hit.</p>
<p>masslou - just tonight I bought an insulated carrier that’s meant to keep warm foods warm. The carrier I got is big enough to hold a 9" x 13" dish, and I picked it up at World Market. I’m taking a breakfast casserole into work in the morning and want to heat it up before I take it in and have it stay warm. This is what I got:</p>
<p>Pyrex also makes a Portables line that has an insulated carrier and a gel pack that you either heat in the microwave to keep dishes warm or freeze in the freezer to keep dishes cold. I’ve used them when attending family potluck gatherings where there has been a shortage on refrigerator and oven space for years.</p>
<p>If there’s no electricity or grill, perhaps you could use a chafing dish and keep your wings or meatballs warm with Sterno. My sister uses aluminum disposable pans and Sterno from Sam’s with for her tailgating events.</p>
<p>If you line your cooler with a blanket, and put something like a lasagna into the cooler and cover it with the blanket (covered first, of course), the lasagna will still be plenty hot five hours later. Insulation is insulation: it keeps hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold. Just don’t mix the two in the same cooler.</p>
<p>and if you look around you can get them for a lot less. They keep the food HOT (chili, soup, etc) through my 3 hour drive and the game (including shower time for the boys). Make sure to rinse with hot water before you put the food in.</p>
<p>Also - cold (room temp) pasta salads are always a hit. If you need it as a main course, cook up some chicken ahead of time; you can keep that cool and add it just before you serve it.</p>