Baseball Tailgate Party

Baseball's timeless appeal calls for classic picnic food--perfect accompaniments for whatever your pals bring to the grill.

Old Fashioned Potato Salad: Step up to the plate with this crowd-pleaser.

Down Home Baked Beans: It's a whole new ballgame when you bake your beans with bacon and chili sauce. (Note: Depending on the beans you start with, you might prefer a little less sugar than the recipe calls for. Want to use your slow cooker? After cooking the bacon, you can throw everything together and let it simmer for 8 hours on Low or 4 hours on High.)

My Amish Friend's Caramel Corn: Sweet, salty, popcorn, peanuts…this addictive snack mix covers all the bases.

Gourmet Root Beer Float: Hit a home run with root beer floats worthy of the majors.

Tailgating--it's not just for football anymore. Baseball tailgate parties are the next big thing, so organize one of your own and show just how ahead of the curve you are.

• The plan. You've got your majors, you've got your minors, you've got your sandlot leagues. Pick a baseball venue and round up the usual players for a gameday cookout. You bring the sides and the cold frosties, and your friends bring whatever they want to throw on the grill. Be sure to stock up on condiments to go with burgers, dogs, steaks, ribs, or whatever else you know might show up. Start your party early enough so you can get to your seats in time for batting practice. Speaking of seats, you'll want to buy a block of tickets well ahead of time so you can all sit together.
• The fun. Suit up in team colors and bring your gloves so you can snag those foul balls come game time. Hold a baseball trivia contest--check out funtrivia.com for loads of great baseball Q&A. The winner gets a team shirt, a hat, or a pair of tickets to the next game. Does the ballpark have a big message board? See if you can have the name of your party flashed across the screen.
• The details. If it's baseball season, chances are the weather is on the warm side. This puts food safety front and center in your party plans so you'll need lots of ice to keep food properly chilled. You'll also want to bring plenty of sunblock because friends don't let friends fry.
• The swag. Buy a load of regulation baseballs and personalize them with the date, a stamped-on image, or a clever message. Pass them out as party favors.