In Real Life, February 6
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Hello, friends! It’s Monday again and I’m per usual regrouping and getting organized for the week. When do you get your life together? I find that every week I start out strong with a plan and by the end of it, I’m bouncing from one thing to another and adapting on the fly — but, thankfully, most of the time it works!
Last week, my sister-in-law and her husband were in town and we enjoyed visiting and catching up with them. She’s the sweetest, and every time she leaves I’m wishing she lived closer! While the guys were watching basketball on Saturday, the ladies had a hot tamale-making session and it was so much fun!
We served the tamales with my ground beef chili (that’s called a Full House) after the games and they were so good! I managed to snap a few process photos and as soon as I get my grandmother’s cryptic recipe transcribed, I’ll be sharing it here on the blog, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, today I’m sharing a recap of my cooking week PLUS some tasty appetizers you should make for the upcoming Super Bowl game.
What I’ve been cooking lately
BBQ Ranch Dressing
Combine your two favorite sauces to make the Best Homemade BBQ Ranch Dressing you’ve ever tasted! This sauce is super flavorful, sweet, savory, and tangy. This crowd-pleasing BBQ ranch dressing is the perfect dipping sauce for Chicken nuggets, onion rings, french fries, and so much more.
Lemon Dump Cake
This easy 4-Ingredient Lemon Dump Cake is creamy, buttery, rich, and bursting with citrus flavor! I don’t know about you, but I crave the unique taste of a sweet lemon dessert from time to time. There’s just nothing quite like it. The lemon brings a refreshing and summery flavor, while the creamier ingredients ground the strong citrus to balance it. Just divine!
Easy Coconut Shrimp Curry
One of my favorite rice bowls includes this sweet, spicy, and savory Shrimp Curry Recipe served over a bead of tender jasmine rice. Curry, coconut, lime, basil — in every bite! Doesn’t it sound so divine? The flavors of this simple shrimp curry are so complex that you wouldn’t expect the cooking process to be so easy.
Super Bowl party time!
Did your team make it to the championship game? I’m not much of a pro football fan, but I’ll still enjoy watching the primo game and all the fun that goes with hosting a Super Bowl party!! So if you’re gathering with friends to celebrate the big game, here are some delicious football party appetizers to take along!
Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
The ultimate snack or party appetizer, no matter the occasion!
Air fryer jalapeño poppers are wrapped in bacon and come out deliciously gooey! Skip the frozen aisle and make your own with fresh ingredients.
Italian Nachos
A fun appetizer for your next party that gets everyone involved! Make Italian nachos with homemade chips, creamy Alfredo sauce, all of your favorite Italian-inspired toppings, and plenty of shredded cheese.
Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili
This hearty bowl of chili has it all — meat, beans, and just the right amount of heat! Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili made with spicy Italian sausage is loaded with delicious flavor. Prepare this easy recipe for a weeknight dinner or for your next football party!
Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe
With this Chick-fil-A Nuggets Recipe, now you can have your favorite chicken nuggets at home on any given Sunday you please! Just imagine dipping deliciously tender and juicy bite-size chicken with a light, crispy coating in a zesty knock-off honey mustard barbecue sauce… are you drooling yet?
Smoked Chicken Wings
Learn how to get perfect results every time, plus a secret ingredient! Smoking chicken wings makes them tender and juicy on the inside with perfectly crispy skin on the outside. Serve as-is or add your favorite sauce!
Reader review
I love hearing from readers when they find a recipe they love! 💕 Be sure to rate and comment below any recipe you try and let us know what you think — curious minds want to know!
The BEST Chicken Salad
“Brilliant!!! Your chicken salad was just brilliant! I’m loving the tarragon! Definitely my fav chicken salad recipe!!! 5 Stars!” — Cathi
Inspiration from football legend, Lou Holtz
Lou Holtz was a successful head coach at both the college and professional levels winning many championship games and is well-known as a broadcast analyst, actor, and motivational speaker. Recently, I listened to a podcast where he stated, “No matter what you achieve, no matter how much money you make, no matter how many accolades you receive, if you’re not successful as a father and a husband, you have failed in life. My priorities are my faith, and then my family, and then of course, football after that.”
TIP: Lou Holtz’s book, Three Rules for Living a Good Life: a Game Plan After Graduation, would be a great gift for a special graduate this year!
Lou Holtz’s 3 rules
- Just do the right thing.
- Do everything to the best of your ability in the allotted time.
- Show your people that you care.
Ask yourself Lou Holtz’s 4 questions
- Can I trust you?
- Are you committed to excellence?
- Do you can about me?
- Who would miss you if you didn’t show up, and why?
Now, that’s thought-provoking, don’t you agree?
Thank you for being a faithful reader and supporter of Life Love and Good Food — it really means so much to me as a small business!
Have a blessed week, my friends!
About Sheila Thigpen
Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer
Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.
