The Super Bowl has come and gone. These special times like the Super Bowl are looked forward to by many with parties and gatherings. Along with watching their favorite teams and cheering them on to a victory, snacks and munchies are necessary, even if it is only a meat and cheese tray prepared with crackers.

To help you celebrate, I have gathered a few favorite recipes that are great for game day. It is always nice to be prepared for those times. These recipes will work for other gatherings at your home as well. One tip that I will continue to endorse is to use your slow cooker when you can as it helps to ease the work on the host. Those crock pot liners are a wonderful product to use. No cleaning a baked on crock pot, simply pull out the liner and toss in the garbage.

Nachos

Nachos are simple and mouth watering and are very simple to make. Your friends and family will love them. Nachos can even be made into a full meal if you want. This recipe takes no measuring and only a few minutes to put together.

Nacho ingredients and instructions

Start with tortilla chips, any brand you prefer. A thicker brand is recommended. Pour the bag of chips onto a cookie sheet. Next take a pound of cheese, preferably cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack or mozzarella. Grate your cheese, as this is the key to the melting of your cheese. Spread evenly over the chips.

Next, take your toppings, which are at room temperature. Add ground beef, shredded chicken, or whatever you like. Next add black olives, tomatoes, corn, onions or whatever you choose.

Bake in a 350-degree oven until the cheese is melted, which can be from 3 to 15 minutes. The actual length of time depends on the number of toppings placed on top. After it has finished baking, serve with sour cream, salsa, refried beans or guacamole on the side.

Suggestion

If you have guests that do not like all the same toppings, place the toppings in serving bowls and let them put the toppings on themselves after the chips and cheese are melted and out of the oven.

Taco Dip

Ingredients

1 can refried beans

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 pound hamburger

2 cups chopped tomatoes

1/2 head lettuce

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese

Directions

Spread refried beans into a 10-inch-by-15-inch cookie sheet. Spread mixture of sour cream, mayonnaise and taco seasoning over beans. Layer with fried hamburger, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Eat with plain corn chips.

Easy Grape Jelly Meatballs

This recipe makes the meatballs very juicy. The sauce has three ingredients and it is very easy to make. This recipe also works well for the holidays, game nights and even for a dinner, serving the meatballs over rice.

Ingredients

1 32-ounce frozen fully cooked meatballs

1 cup grape jelly

1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce

Directions

Add frozen meatballs, grape jelly, barbecue sauce, and chili sauce into the base of a slow cooker. Mix until well combined. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours, stirring halfway through cooking. Keep covered and in a warm setting until ready to serve. Garnish with parsley or chives.

The chili sauce gives the meatballs a slight kick. Be sure to include a barbecue sauce that your family will enjoy and also to have the toothpicks handy for serving.

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

Ingredients

16 ounces cream cheese

8 ounces red hot sauce

3/4 cup chopped celery

2 cups shredded chicken

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the cream cheese, hot sauce, and celery. Heat in the microwave until melted. Add the chicken and cheese. Mix and top with more shredded cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve with crackers or chips.

Cooking Tips

1. Use a paper towel to preserve vegetables. Prolong the life of your vegetables by wrapping them loosely in a dry paper towel and placing in a resealable plastic bag. Oxygen is not a friend of vegetables, so be sure to get as much air out of containers and bags before sealing.

2. Trick to great eggs, do not overcook them. Whether frying, scrambling or poaching them, always turn the stove off a little while before they are done. They may look a bit runny. The remainder of the heat will cook them to perfection.

Loretta Krahling is a columnist with over 30 years of newspaper experience. If you have any lower calorie recipes or other favorites, email her with your recipes and why they are your favorite to krahling93@gmail.com.