I marched with my mother and millions of other wonderful, strong women last weekend in Boston. I have never been in such a large and lively crowd in my life.

The atmosphere was full of positive energy, and plenty of hope that our voices would be heard – and they were. But there is still way more that needs to be done, because now innocent people are also having their lives turned upside down when they’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.

I’m doing my best to channel my frustration into something useful, but outside of bugging our representatives, protesting, or donating to civil rights organizations, there’s not much else any of us can do but take deep breaths and keep doing our best to spread the love.

When the world is upside down and backwards, it’s important to keep enjoying the little things.

The Super Bowl is just around the corner, which means beer and outrageous dips will likely abound. These are the little things worth taking pleasure in when there’s not much else to celebrate. 

And while, like me, you may not be a huge football fan, there’s always some room for more snacks in our lives. So here’s a list of five amazing snacks you should make next weekend, whether or not you watch the Super Bowl. They are the snackiest of all the snacks. Enjoy!

1. Cheesy Sun Dried Tomato + Pesto Monkey Bread

Buttery, cheesy, and ah-mazing. The best monkey bread ever, if I do say so myself. (It’s also super easy to make.) ‘Nuff said.

2. Homemade Pita Chips

Savory olive oil + thyme pita chips? Or cinnamon sugar pita chips? Make ’em both and feel good about yourself. Friends will be impressed, but only you and I will know that they are actually a cinch to make. Go all out and make the pita bread yourself too – Martha Stewart ain’t got nothin’ on you.

3. Ginger Scallion Chicken Wings

This is one of my favorite recipes of Wei’s. While she is no longer here at Yin and Yolk, her recipes will stay with us forever. These wings are deliciously juicy and are bursting with flavor – they’re the ideal Super Bowl food. So don’t think about it, just make them. You’ll thank me later.

(Also check out Wei’s new creative pursuit – vlogging! She’s an amazing lady and I am oh-so proud.)

 4. Roasted Chickpeas

Here’s another one of Wei’s creations. For those who want something on the lighter, more vegan-friendly side of things, these roasted chickpeas are your new best friend. They’re roasted with cayenne, paprika, and cumin, with just a touch of olive oil. Not only are they a super quick snack to throw together, they’re also addictive as hell. So you should definitely double the recipe if there will be more than one pair of hands snatching these up. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

5. Chocolate Elvis Cupcakes

And here’s the best for last (at least to a dessert fiend like me): Chocolate Elvis Cupcakes. A moist banana cake filled with dark chocolate ganache, topped with a chocolate-peanut butter buttercream and sprinkled with peanuts and bacon. These are glorious and will be the biggest hit while you’re watching the big game. Because every party needs dessert, after all.