inspiration

I listened to a sermon this week about friendship and how as a friend you don’t hold your friends hostage to meet your needs. Sounds kinda strange, the idea of holding friends hostage, but he was explaining that you’re intentional and always looking out for their best interests and that means letting go. Allowing them to pursue interests you may not share with them, them spending time to develop other friendships. It’s a caring but relaxed approach. How does this relate to food?

My cooking class instructor last week was talking about cooking with love and how food just tastes better when you’re feeling relaxed, not rushed, and it’s a feel-good process, not a stressful one (she added that drinking wine while cooking makes it even more feel-good and I would agree). It’s intentional but not burdensome. I feel that way when I’m making these chicken wings because it takes about and an hour and a half, which means I don’t make these very often. There’s no marinade that it has to sit in overnight or a crazy sauce that need to be made. It’s simple food and ingredients with a glaze near the end. Relaxed but intentional. This is one of my favorite dishes to make for friends. The feedback I get is… silence because they’re too busy eating and licking their fingers.

honey and lime chicken wings
18 chicken wings, split
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
salt and pepper

glaze
¼ cup honey
zest and juice of 2 limes
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced

 

 

1.    Preheat the oven to 400F. Season the chicken wings with salt and pepper on both sides. Dump the flour in a large Ziploc bag and shake the chicken wings until fully coated.
2.    Lay out the wings on 2 baking sheets and put into the oven for 45 minutes or golden brown on the bottom side.
3.    While the chicken is in the oven, in a mixing bowl combine the ingredients for the glaze. Taste to see that it has the right balance of sweet and tangy that you want.
4.    After 30 mins in the oven, remove the baking sheets and flip the wings over (careful, they’re hot and possibly stuck to the baking sheets). Roast for another 15 minutes.
5.    Remove the wings and generously brush the glaze on the wings and enjoy.