Date:  August 15, 2013  |   Story: Rosemary Hallmark  |   Styling: Mandy Keener  |  

With a few key ingredients, there’s a sporting chance you’ll be named a tailgate MVP this fall.

No matter which team you root for, tailgating is truly anyone’s game. However, no party setup is complete without a few essential elements. Toast a touchdown or drown your sorrows with an Arkansas specialty brew that packs a punch, and arrive prepared with easy-to-make and even-easier-to-transport zesty snacks.

Rock Town Distillery’s Arkansas Bourbon Punch

Recipe yields one gallon

INGREDIENTS:

8 cups sweet tea

4 cups lemonade

2 cups orange juice

2 cups Rock Town Distillery Arkansas Young Bourbon Whiskey

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and serve over ice. Garnish with an orange wedge.

Rock Town Distillery, Little Rock, (501) 907-5244, arkansaslightning.com

Hand-stitched cocktail napkins. White Goat, Little Rock, (501) 603-9460

Antique hotel silver bowl. Clement/Sweet Home Antiques, Little Rock, (501) 539-1473, sweethomefurnishings.net

Catering to You’s Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers

Recipe yields 40 stuffed peppers

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound mild ground sausage

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

20 whole jalapeños

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a skillet, cook the sausage until done, and then drain excess oil. Mix cooked sausage, cream cheese and Parmesan in a large bowl until combined. Slice each jalapeño lengthwise and remove seeds and ribs. Pack the sausage and cheese mixture into the jalapeños, then bake, uncovered, for 8 minutes.

Catering to You, Little Rock, (501) 614-9030, cateringtoyouinlittlerock.com

Vietri silver serving tray. The Full Moon, Little Rock, (501) 663-4367