Category Archives: Traditions

Tailgate Level: Pro

We’ve learned a thing or two about how to throw a professional tailgate party at Figi’s Gifts in Good Taste. If you’re looking for ways to spice up your pre-game ritual, we’re here to teach you what you need to know with 3 simple rules.

Rule #1: Excite the Crowd

Part of your job as tailgating host is to get your team’s fans in the right mindset for the action. This can mean bringing music, games and drinks to get the party started, but the most important part is, of course, the food.

You’ll want to serve something that’s easy to make, will keep everyone’s energy up even in the cold, and won’t settle like a brick in your stomach. This brings us to Rule #2.

Rule #2: Food in Hand

Remember, you’re not organizing a mobile 5 course meal here. The food just needs to be hot, quick, and delicious – forget the fancy fixin’s so everyone can focus on the game. Handheld and finger foods, wraps, burgers and simple sides are going to be your staples for quality fan fodder before the main event. Here are some simple game time recipes that will really take your tailgate to the next level.

Photo Credit to Figi’s Gifts in Good Taste

Brats

An absolute essential for game time fare, bratwursts and sauerkraut come off the grill perfectly plumped and ready to eat. Opt for a better brat with unique Wild Game blends or try a collection of authentic German Fest sausages paired with smoked applewood bacon kraut!

Photo Credit to the Cozy Apron

Burgers & Sliders

Probably the oldest tradition in tailgating history involves grilling the perfect game time burger. The very best burgers are handmade, juicy patties prepared the night before the big game – doing so helps the flavors mesh together and takes the work out of Sunday morning. If you’re looking to put a new spin on the classic patty, try your hand at a pork and beef blend, or better still, grill up bite sized Wild Game Steak Sliders. With a bit of blue cheese or aged Wisconsin Cheddar, you’ll have a quick meal that will bring out the animal in everyone.

Photo Credit to Life’s Ambrosia

Skewers

Another great addition to your menu on game day, skewers provide a simple way to feed your crowd without much hassle. You can get creative with your ingredients here to really get into the game; if your team is playing the Bills, add chunks of buffalo steak to your sticks! Prep your skewers before the game so all you have to do is light up the grill and roast up some flavor. If you’re planning to use wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in salt water before putting them on the grill so they don’t burn through.

Rule #3: Bring it all Together

Now that you have the essentials, consider what else might help bring it all together. Chicken & wings are a great alternative to red meat if you have any particular eaters, and a simple electric deep fryer can handle most of your heavy lifting – even appetizers like mozzarella sticks, cheese curds and jalapeno poppers!

Still need more ideas? Stop by Figis.com and take a look through our unique gifts for men for more great game day treats, or build a gift basket for your favorite fan that’s packed with snacks for the next home game. Even if your team loses, we’ll make sure the tailgate will be one to remember!

If you are a long-time Figi’s customer, more than likely you are familiar with the Americana Barn Collection.  For the past 21 years, Figi’s has added a new collectible barn to the Americana Barn Series.  A beautiful ceramic barn comes with one of our award-winning Creamy Country Cheese Spreads.

While we love all of our barns, the 2012 Americana barn is extra special because it is inspired by a working dairy farm only 11 miles down the road from the Figi’s Corporate Office.

This historic barn is owned by Linda and James Gilbertson. While the couple has only owned the barn for a short period of time, it has been in the Gilbertson name since 1955.  James’s father, Vernon, purchased the property after he returned from the Korean War.  Vernon and his wife, Virginia, started a dairy farm and raised seven children; three of which still farm today.

Today, the Gilbertson farm continues to be a working farm.  James, Linda and their youngest daughter, Emily, care for 50 cows.

This big, red barn has graced more than just our own catalog pages throughout its existence.  It has been photographed for multiple magazines including Fleet Farm and Farm & Ranch magazine.

We’re always on the lookout for incredible barns as inspiration for the next Americana barn, have you seen the next barn?  We’d love to hear from you! Email us at marketing@figis.com.

Photo Credit to Cherie Zogleman of the Marshfield News Herald

Like all months, June has many little known holidays associated with it, including Aquarium Month, Candy Month and Rose Month.  But the most important holiday to us at Figi’s and the rest of Wisconsin as well, is the designation of National Dairy Month.

Dairy Month first began as National Milk Month in 1937 in an attempt to promote the importance of drinking milk.  The name was changed to National Dairy Month two years later once the National Dairy Council began promoting the cause.   Today, it celebrates the many contributions the dairy industry has made to the world including feeding consumers, contributing to communities and enriching both the state and local economy. Did you know 90 percent of Wisconsin cheese is sold outside the state in major markets all over the country, bringing millions of dollars back into our economy? Learn more about the great impacts of the Wisconsin Dairy Industry.

Many cities in Wisconsin commemorate the month with a local dairy breakfast.  On June 1, Marshfield hosted one of the Wisconsin’s largest dairy breakfasts at the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds.  An anxious and hungry crowd was already waiting at the doors by 5 am.   Breakfast featured fresh cheese curds and “secret recipe” scrambled eggs.

It was estimated that approximately 1800 people had come through by 8:30 am.

The entire state is celebrating Dairy Month with dozens more dairy breakfasts happening all month long.  If you’re in one of the areas, we encourage you to take your family down to the farm for a hearty breakfast that is sure to appeal to your taste buds!

It’s finally spring!  The sun is shining, the birds are singing and your house… is a disaster.

Photo Credit to Joost J. Bakker

During the winter season, it is easy to push housework to the bottom of the to-do list.  From the middle of the October to the middle of January, you are preparing (then recuperating) from back-to-back holidays.

Now is finally the time to refresh your home, but you don’t have to set aside countless hours of cleaning.  Spring clean the fast and easy way by hitting all of the larger tasks.

• Pack away those winter clothes

As the weather continues to warm up, you won’t be needing those heavy sweatshirts and jackets.  Put those cold weather clothes in a moisture-resistant tote or airtight bag.  Keep them smelling fresh by adding a few dryer sheets.  If you don’t have room for another box, just do a little rearranging in your closet.  Move those warm clothes to the back.

• Carpet cleaning

As any homeowner knows, winter can take a major toll on carpet appearance.  It is recommended that you get your carpet professionally cleaned twice a year, but if you already own a shampooer, why not do it yourself?  This task may be the most time-consuming, but you will not be sorry.  Rather than using an expensive cleaning solution, you can use steaming hot water as a substitute.  In doing so, you will deep clean your carpet without leaving a sticky residue.  Be sure to wait until your floor is completely dry before walking on it again.

• Give your yard a seasonal makeover

Get out and enjoy the sunshine!  Warm spring weather gives you an extra opportunity to clean up your yard.  Get all that leftover winter mess raked up and fertilize your grass.  Avoid an extra nitrogen-rich fertilizer to keep the weeds away.

No one enjoys cleaning (we think), but it’s something that definitely needs to be done.  How do you get through spring cleaning?