Lisa's Tennessee Vols Buffalo Chicken Dip

Sorry if I get a little wordy on this post...but Tennessee football season begins tomorrow and I just have to supply a little background before the recipe for this awesome tailgating dip shared with me by my fellow co-worker and Alabama fan Lisa Powell.

When I was 12 years old, I used to babysit the Vanzant kids on the weekend while their Momma worked at the hospital and their Daddy did farm stuff and hung out at Chicken Holt's store down the road. Those folks, like we say down here, "were eat up with Tennessee Volunteer football". Charlie would come in for lunch and the first thing he would do would flip on the little radio in the kitchen to WKSR. Tennessee football and Rocky Top would be blaring loud enough you could hear it a mile away. The boys were as involved with each play as their Dad and everyone would be hooping and hollering with joy or anger....depending on how each play turned out.

One time Charlie talked me into driving the straight shift farm truck while pulling a trailer of hay. I was probably 14 and had Jenny riding with me in the cab and Charlie and the boys threw hay off to the cattle. There was a dusting of snow on the ground and it was colder than kraut. But those windows were rolled down; the radio was blasting and we were all cheering on the Big Orange! Everyone survived my lack of driving skills and the Vols brought home another VICTORY!

The first game I saw in Neyland Stadium (1979) just sealed the deal. By then I knew my blood ran orange. There have been plenty of ups (1998 Championship) and downs...but I will never change my colors.

As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing better than SEC football. It doesn't matter who plays who, it's pretty much gonna be one heck of a game. Tennessee-Alabama, Tennessee-Florida, Tennessee-Georgia, Tennessee-South Carolina, Tennessee-Vanderbilt, Tennessee-Kentucky and every fourth year Tennessee-Auburn can raise some pretty intense emotions in living rooms all over the South. Wins are pretty much hard-earned regardless of the final score. After 37 years, my yelling, clapping and jumping ability has been perfected...much to the shame of my children. I am ready for a new season!

"Which SEC team do you follow?" ranks up there with, "now, whose your family?" when a newbie comes to town. The correct answer, besides Tennessee, is anyone playing against Alabama, Georgia or Florida. Avoiding a house-divided is a must. Me marrying an Alabama boy would never happen in my lifetime! It just goes against my beliefs! As I stated earlier, Lisa is a Bama fan through and through. Just look the groom's cake she had made for Michael when they married.

As I said, we're pretty hard core around here.

Why the other day, she posted this nasty picture on my Facebook timeline. Can you believe it? Mmmmmmm. They're rolling high now, but every dog has it's day. I just wish ol' Smokey's days were a little better.

Then there's the Bama balloons she and Tracy gave our boss David for his birthday. Having been born to Tuscaloosa natives and lifelong Alabama fans/alumni was tough enough for this Tennessee-born Vols fan.

So he returned the favor next pay day! However, the one prank played by Meredith has been impossible to top. You just don't mess with someone with Photoshop skills.

Now, having said all that, Tennessee starts up the 2012 season Friday, August 31st against North Carolina State at 6:30 p.m. Will I be watching? ABSOLUTELY! I will also be dipping into this killer Buffalo Chicken Dip. Lisa brought a batch to work the other day and it was so good I had make some for Andy. After a few scoops, I noticed the color was looking pretty close to Tennessee Orange. So here is my choice for an appetizer while watching the Vols play!


INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large cans all white chicken
• 2- 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
• 6 oz. Frank's Hot Wing Sauce
• 1/2 cup Ranch dressing
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups cheddar cheese
• Frito Lay Scoops

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl. Spread in a small baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until nice and bubbly.

GO VOLS!!