The Smoking Musket Tailgate Menu: Big Noon Hors d’Oeuvres

West Virginia is playing its sixth noon game of the season this Saturday, Nov. 14. In a season altered by the coronavirus pandemic, this kickoff time has actually pleased Mountaineer fans who, instead of making the weekend journey to Morgantown, have had to stay home to watch their team play.

For those of us who love a tailgate, this is a weird season. Tailgating has been stricken from gameday schedules in college towns but we are still able to create that magical atmosphere at home. As TCU comes to Touchdown City, let’s load up on some tasty finger foods to give us a feel of these fall games in our beautiful state.

Steak and Egg Breakfast Cups

Muffin tin egg cups are nothing new. People have found these to be time-saving creations for their morning routines but they also make the perfect sharable finger food for a tailgate.

If you have leftover steak, you can use that for these cups. However, use a cheap cut like flank or skirt if you’re starting with raw steak. This recipe doesn’t say to do this, but you can use fajita seasoning in the pan while cooking the steak to inject some extra Texas flavor. You’ll want to sear the steak on both sides but not cook the inside too much, getting the steak just to rare before removing it from the pan. The steak will be cooked again in the egg mix in the oven, so undercooked steak will turn out better in the end.

The vegetables in these cups are variable, but you’ll definitely want to use onion and peppers. You could even find a fresh pico de gallo to mix in. I would suggest beating the eggs, then lightly folding in the diced steak and vegetables before pouring into the muffin tins.

These two-bite egg cups will fill you up with just a couple of servings.

Bacon-Wrapped Pears

Fruit at breakfast is a welcome treat. Pears, with their fiber, potassium and vitamin C are a great morning treat to power you through your day.

Cool, let’s add bacon.

It takes just two ingredients to make these incredible irresistible hors oeuvre but they do take a bit of love and time. You’ll need four pears, quartered, per pound of bacon. Quarter and core the pear and wrap each slice with a strip of bacon.

Pop these into a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes and you’ll pull out crispy, sweet and savory breakfast appetizers everyone will devour.

Gin Apple Snap

For a gameday cocktail, we can embrace the fall weather that’s crept into the Mountain State. You can make a pitcher of these cocktails or allow your guests to make them individually. For a party drink, mix 1.5 cup gin, ¾ cup lemon juice, ¾ cup apple cider and a full ginger beer together in a pitcher, mix with ice. Set out apple slices to garnish.

Sip on this fruity, bubbly cocktail to feel classy whilst getting trashy.

It sucks that we can’t be there in Morgantown to tailgate for these home games. It really does. And, unfortunately, we’re staring a strengthening pandemic in the face. Take care of yourselves, and your families by staying safe out there, especially before Thanksgiving.

Wear a mask, wash your hands, and limit your social interaction circle to your household, or a few friends, to limit the spread of this virus. Please, let’s be smart but, as always, let’s win the tailgate!