Keeping things simple with a smidge of Southern charm
With the new year kicking off soon, I’ve been in the process of shifting gears from all of the holiday madness to game day central in my my house. Some of the biggest football games of the year are happening very soon, and my family is pumped to be rooting on our favorite team in a bowl game at the start of the year!
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These few weeks that are nestled right in between Thanksgiving and Christmas day are always the busiest weeks of the year for our family, no doubt about it. Just when I think I can’t squeeze anything else into my calendar, one more event pops up that I really want to attend, so I buckle down, shift gears and do everything I can to make sure our holiday season is a holly jolly one! But it often comes at the price of feeling a little lackadaisical by mid-morning each day, and my creativity tends to tank when it comes to preparing meals for my family that are quick, delicious and simple.
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What seemed like a brief glimpse of glorious fall temperatures here in south Alabama last week has been completely diminished by these not-so-lovely 90+ degree temps this week. You know it’s hot outside when you break a sweat going out to your own mailbox! And even though we’re still experiencing wave after wave of this horrendous heat, I’m not letting it get me down. Instead, I’ve been feeling a little bit inspired to bring an extra element of heat into my cooking this week, and what better way to add a little spice into your life than by combining it with a twist on a true southern staple dish!
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It’s no secret that football season in the south is a really big deal. It’s all about those big games, big traditions, big victories and of course we have those big appetites to go along with it all! That’s why during the heart of football season, I make sure to head out to my local Walmart to stock up on all of those mouth-watering game day grub favorites.
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It’s no secret that football in the south is a pretty big deal. Everyone is always counting down the days until their favorite team kicks off the first game of the year, and couples are busy planning their wedding ceremonies around game times on Saturday afternoons. I personally know people who have named their children after famous football coaches, and every Friday night you can find these football fanatics filling the bleachers at their local high school football stadium to cheer on their hometown teams.
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You know what’s totally throwing off my groove at the moment? All of this back-to-school buzz that’s been piercing my ear lately. I mean, didn’t summer just get here? Why do we have to start thinking about getting back into the school time routine already? I need it to be summer ALL of the time! I’m just going to sit over here and cling to every little heavenly piece of summer I can get my hands on and savor it…and I’m starting with a gigantic plate of these Spicy Smoked Sausage Nachos with fresh Pineapple Salsa on top!
Go ahead and put those sun shades on and pull up a lawn chair, you’re going to want to sit back and bask in all of this sweet and savory summertime deliciousness, guaranteed!
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This recipe for Buffalo BBQ Baked Bean Bacon Cups is the perfect appetizer to serve at your next outdoor barbecue shindig, and it’s made even greater with Frank’s RedHot Buffalo, which is perfect for Summer. Check out their Buffalo Chicken Sandwich recipe and visit their site for inspiration.
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, I decided it was time to step up my BBQ game and come up with a fun and flavorful dish that’s sure to be the star of any backyard barbecue party! There are few foods on this planet that make my mouth want to jump right off my face and give myself a big ol’ kiss like barbecue does. I love it any and every kind of way. You just can’t go wrong with it! Just to give you an idea of how much I love it – I served it at my own wedding 5 years ago. It’s safe to say I’m a big fan, y’all. BIG fan!
So when it comes to playing around in the kitchen and coming up with a new way to use it, you know I’m ready to get down and get my grub on!
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It seems like the month of May is always one of the busiest times of the year. Schools are closing for the summer, graduation ceremonies are taking place, wedding season kicks it into high gear, little league games are coming to an end and parents are trying desperately to transition their schedules from kids being at school to kids being at home. No matter what the situation is, you may find yourself in a frenzy at one point or another, trying to balance work, school events, extracurriculars, and herding in the family around the dinner table to enjoy a balanced meal together.
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Yesterday was a day, y’all. My toddler was giving me a rough time for most of the morning. I patiently waited for the first sign of sleepiness in her eyes, and I pounced at the opportunity to put her down for a nap so I could have some me time where I wasn’t being bullied by a strong-willed almost 2 year old. That may sound bad, but yesterday I was really in the trenches, and I know ALL parents have those days.
Once she went down, I grabbed a cookbook off of my shelf and sat down and thumbed through it to unwind and get my mind off of the whirlwind of a morning I had been having. Plus, I was getting pretty hangry, so I needed a little inspiration for lunch time.
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Every Sunday afternoon, my family heads across the street from our church after worship service and gathers around the dinner table at our Mema’s house. Mema cooks an incredible meal for us every week, and it’s always something so scrumptious that you daydream all week about what you’ll get to have next!
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