You Know How to Whistle, Don’t You?

It’s early October and if I were only 42 years younger, I would be back at school.

But I’m not and its football season, time for tailgating, beer and hot wings. Ok, we gave up our Dolphins tickets (good decision this year) and we are not tailgating any more. HOWEVER, I make these grilled buffalo wings that will knock your socks off. (I personally don’t wear them often, mostly sandals and I am not old enough to wear socks and sandals.)

Ingredients:

  • 8 small drumsticks (single serving)
  • 1 cup Louisiana-style hot sauce
  • 1/2 can of Coke (I use Coke Zero as I am so health conscious)
  • Cayenne and black pepper to taste (more than 1/4 teaspoon is a lot, I use about 1/2 teaspoon of each.)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
Warm the sauce (I used the extra burner to the left, but then move it to part of the grill. The burner is too hot and it boils constantly causing the sauce to thicken too much.) Soak the wings in the sauce for 10 min, then grill on low for 10 min. Repeat 5 cycles (I CANNOT stand underdone chicken. 90+ min is fine with me.)
If you want your wings milder add more soda and don’t put the wings back into the sauce when you take them from the BBQ the last time. If you like them HOT put them back in the sauce as you bring them inside.
Choose your home-brew/wings pairing (for me it was a Big Honkin’ Stout, bottled May 28, 2011 and wings.)
Now, after the last wing your beer should be gone. At this point you may want to form your lips as if you were going to whistle, instead, breathe in, then relax and exhale, Repeat for a while, you will be fine.

Pies, Pies, Pies, Pies….

Raspberry

What do you do when left home alone for a week? It obvious isn’t it? You cook whatever you want! I decided this would be desert week (plus one “Dave’s Dinner” that I only make when Fran is not home.)

This week was pies. To not be gluttonous, I decided to make mini-pies in little 5″ pie plates. The recipes all come from Allrecipies.comand I did not change them at all. I made a raspberry, a blueberry, a raspberry/blueberry and

Granny Smith Apple

an apple pie. It was a good time to learn how to lattice the crust of a pie. (Alone time is good for experimentation and practice, practice practice.)  Double wrapped in  Darnel wrap, they froze perfectly. I defrosted at 350 until no longer frozen, then nuked the serving for that night separately.

Blueberry

Blueberry/Raspberry

Garlic and Pepper Chicken

I remember we had some peppers in the fridge and I wanted to use them before they spoiled. While driving home i thought, why not cook them up with some chicken and plum tomatoes then throw in some fettuccine to make a dinner.

A little EVO in the skillet, burner on med-hi add the chicken and peeled tomatoes (Do you score an X in the end of the tomato and toss them into boiling water until the skin curls? Works great for peelin.) along with a little garlic, salt, pepper and any other spices you think will complement the dish. I used a Cajun blackening on the chicken before tossing it in the skillet. Let the chicken cook and tomatoes reduce (I drain some of the liquid off after 15 – 20 min) before adding the sliced peppers. I wish I had some green peppers for color, but I always use what is in the cupboard and fridge.

I cooked the fettuccine for about 8 of the suggested 10-12 min then threw it on the skillet on top of everything, cover and simmer for another 10 min or until the fettuccine is done to your liking

Valentines Day Flower Bouquet

I decided to make a bouquet of Flowers for my Jersey Girl for Valentines Day last spring. (I really don’t need a reason to give Fran flowers, but this was a good excuse to practice, practice, practice)

I made a variety of flowers based on a picture I found online. This took some time and the little white flowers and red berries tried my patience. But it was worth it. I don’t think I have made any this nice since last spring.

Break the Fast 2010 (5771) Cake

This cake served a double purpose. It was for the Break the Fast meal at the Fink’s in 2010 and to celebrate the pending engagement of our friend Don P.

The cake was white velvet, butter cream crumb coated and covered with fondant. The flowers are both gum paste and  drawn with paint made from petal dust in a vodka solution. You will notice throughout I am NOT an artist.

Daniel and Frances’ Post Wedding Cake

Daniel and France's Post Wedding CakeMy first wedding cake and the reason I started baking and decorating cakes. The cake is comprised of a chocolate layer (for Daniel) a white velvet layer (for Fran) and topped with a Heavenly White layer (similar to angel food, for Frances.)

The cake was crumb coated with butter cream frosting and covered with fondant. The Stargazer Lillies are made of gum paste and are France’s favorite flowers. There are also yellow roses and calla lilies for variety.

Daniel and France's Post Wedding Cake, view 2Here is the back side of the cake showing the blue of UFL and maroon of BC as ribbons draped across the cake.