Etsy Twitter Team: Homecoming Festivities: Day 2!

The Homecoming Festivities continue today with an apple cider that packs some serious tailgate punch, a chili that will keep your guests lingering in the parking lot, and more!

Did you know that the original incarnation of football rivalry ( Univ of MO Tigers vs Univ of Kansas Jayhawks) took place on neutral sites until 1910? A new conference regulation requiring intercollegiate football games to take place on college campuses spurred the first "Homecoming" celebration in 1911, in part to renew interest in the rivalry, and ensure good attendance at the new location. Some 10,000 alumni returned to the campus to enjoy the festivities and watch the game (which ended in a 3 - 3 tie).

What's the most widely attended and heavily recognized event of the Homecoming Festivities, at most major colleges and universities?

You guessed it- the tailgate party. The tailgate party often lasts through the game, with some extra luxe tailgate tents having television feeds of the game for those without tickets! So what goes into a good tailgate party?

How about a spicy tailgate cider that will keep you warm ( with or without alcohol):

Indiana Joe's Tailgate Cider

8-10 oz. spiced rum
8 cups apple cider
Juice of 1-2 large oranges
Juice of one large lemon
3 tbs. brown sugar
4 whole cloves
4 whole allspice berries
3 - 5 cinnamon sticks

Preparation:
In a large pot add all the ingredients except for the spiced rum.
Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes or so.
Add rum and keep warm over a low heat or pour into an insulated container to keep warm.
To keep your cider potable to nondrinkers, do not add the spiced rum to the pot of cider. Add 2 oz. of rum per cup afterward. Garnish with orange slices.

Or, if food is what you need, you can't go wrong with this main-dish Southwestern style chili:

Bulldog Chili

1 pound lean ground beef
1 large onion chopped (about 1 cup)
2- 3 garlic cloves, chopped, or about 1/2 T chopped, prepared garlic
1 can of tomato sauce (8oz)
Coarse ground pepper
1 medium green bell pepper
2-3 Tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon red pepper sauce such as Tabasco
1 can Red Kidney Beans (drained)
1/2 can black beans, (drained)

#for those who like it hot, add a cup of hot salsa, hot sauce to taste, or jalapenos (be careful of the seeds as they are very hot!)

Preparation
Cook and stir hamburger, onion, green pepper and garlic in a 3-quart saucepan until the hamburger is light brown. Drain.
Stir in tomato sauce, chili powder, salt, sugar, Worcestershire sauce and pepper sauce.Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
Stir in beans. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until hot (about 15 minutes).For thicker chili, simmer longer. For thinner chili, add a little water.
Garnish with chopped sweet onions, shredded cheddar, and corn chips.

The longer you can cook it, the better it gets, but will be ready to eat in about an hour.

Serves about 5 -6.

But there's more to Homecoming than food and football! Style plays a part too, whether you are headed to the game, cheering at the parade, or dancing your shoes off at the after-game festivities!

Have style, beauty AND warmth during the game when you wear neck warmers like these, from Tamdoll:

Free shipping on the items above! Use code " Homecoming" in Msg to Seller at Checkout.

Even if you can't be the Homecoming Queen, you can still look like one, wearing gorgeous hair accessories from Mikiye Creations:

Or to keep those stray hairs in line while you wear your varsity ponytail, try hair accessories with old-school, vintage flair from Firebirdhouse Designs: