One of our kids came home wanting to talk about a situation, but if you're like us, walking through the door is probably one of the most impossible times to sit down for a conversation.  Car keys flying, mail everywhere, refrigerator and cabinet doors pounding open and shut between ravenous boys...not the best time for a one on one. 
​    "Mom..."  
    I heard the voice, but didn't listen.  
​    "MOM."
​    I knew that one.  The different one.  The voice that says "I really need you and would you please stop and listen."
​     How often do we do it though?  How often do we respond with a, "Hey, okay - give me a minute and I'll be right there" while we shovel on with a thousand different things.  
​     I'll never forget a story a friend of mine from Texas told.  She went on about how it was a thousand degrees outside and her girls kept running in and out of the house.  It was driving her mad as she worked on getting dinner ready, until one of her daughters ran in behind her, pulling her shirt.  "Mommy", she repeated as her mom busied herself with ingredients.  "Mommy, look!"
​     Completely annoyed, her mom spun around snapping, "WHAT?" only to find a bewildered little girl standing alone with flowers she had picked for her in the yard. 
​      It's hard.  Sometimes impossible to juggle everyday life but I strongly believe if we not only hear, but try our best to listen...it makes a difference.
​      Even the smallest things that might seem insignificant to us, can be overwhelmingly difficult for a child.
​      Kind of like the buffalo and the butterfly.  A tiny pebble isn't noticed on the back of a buffalo.  He doesn't begin to feel it's there...but put that same pebble on the wing of a butterfly and the same does not apply.
​       In this hurriedly, overwhelmingly busy thing called life, it's important to make the time to stop and listen.  Pay attention and appreciate the ones you love.  You never know when there might be someone standing behind you, with a thought, a concern...or simply holding the flowers they've picked...just for you.     

     I worked my way through graduate school at an awesome restaurant back home called, Damon's.  I can still smell their ribs to this day.
​     At the time, I didn't know how to boil water - so I would study and find it fascinating to watch how fast (and how mouth wateringly) the cooks made everything look.  From potato skins to buffalo wings, it was hard not to drool as I delivered each plate.
​     Fast forward and it was probably the best job I ever could've had in learning how to quickly tend to a pack of ravenous wolves - all while keeping a thousand things going at once - and while carrying piping hot plates up my arm.
​     That being said, some of the best items off the menu - tie the cornucopia of heavenly appetizers into the Greatest Super Bowl party deliciousness on earth.  
                       Potato Skins
Potatoes
Oil
Shredded Cheddar cheese
Bacon
Sour Cream
Chives
Salt
Wash and pierce potatoes, then bake in 400* oven for approximately one hour, or until tender inside.
Cool to handle
Fry bacon and crumble when cooled.
Slice potatoes in half, lengthwise, then scoop out inside of potatos, letting some remain. 
Heat oil in large pot or deep fryer, fry skins in batches.
On lined baking sheet, arrange skins, filling inside with shredded cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon.
Set oven to broil, place inside oven for approximately 4-5 minutes.
Sprinkle salt, sour cream and chives to taste.

                      Buffalo Wings
5 pounds chicken wings
1 cup hot sauce (we like Frank's Red Hot)
2/3 cup melted butter
oil
Heat oil in deep fryer or deep pot until approximately 375* (when the handle/back of a wooden spoon bubbles when you put it in, then it's ready)
Add batches of wings in hot oil for approximately 10-15 minutes then remove.  (Check the inside for pinkness)
Combine hot sauce and melted butter in large bowl, add wings to bowl.  Cover wings with sauce and serve with ranch or bleu cheese dressing and celery. 
​Editor's Note: You can bake wings at 400* for approximately 40-50 minutes instead of frying, then coat with buffalo sauce, BBQ, teriyaki, etc.  

                 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
2 (16 ounce) blocks of Mozzarella cheese, cut into sticks
1 1/2 cups Italian bread crumbs
1 1/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs, beaten
oil
Marinara Sauce

Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and salt in bowl.  In another bowl, stir eggs.
Cut cheese into sticks, dip sticks into eggs, then coat with bread crumb mix.
Place breaded sticks on baking sheet, cover and freeze at least one hour.
Heat oil over medium heat.
Working in batches, fry the cheese until golden brown.
Serve with Marinara sauce.

​The next two items weren't at the restaurant, but are a Super Bowl favorite.

Buffalo Chicken Dip
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (canned)
1 (8 ounce package) cream cheese
1/2 cup hot sauce
1/2 cup ranch or blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup crumbled bleu cheese or your favorite cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350*
Combine all ingredients and place in shallow 1 quart baking dish.
Bake 20 minutes and serve with Pita Chips.

Crock-Pot Meatballs​
2 (12 ounce) bottles Chili Sauce
1 (32 ounce) jar grape jelly
1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
3 to 5 pounds of frozen cocktail meatballs
Combine the first three ingredients and stir into Crock-Pot. Dump meatballs in crockpot, turning with spoon and coating with sauce. Cook on low 3-4 hours.