Game Time Snacks

About the Guest Blogger: Taylor Bradish

This week's guest blogger is a man of many talents... mover, shaker, butcher, baker, lover, fighter, wild bull rider. He also really knows his way around the grill.

So, Super Bowl time is here... yeah, can’t say that I’m a real big football fan, but there is just something about championship games that I like... it's probably all that “football food” I eat in just four short quarters.
There are three menu musts when it comes to THE BIG GAME: An overstocked beer fridge, for starters. Then the ever vital, nachos, and, most importantly, chicken wings.

 

When it comes to wings, I prefer to cook a nice, large batch. No messing around- there needs to be enough wings to make it through the entire game.

I start my wings at 350° in the oven for 20 minutes, then finish them off on an Outdoor Gourmet Alder Grilling Plank for perfect texture and a smokey finish. If you've never planked chicken wings, it's a must do. Best. Wings. Ever.

I plank one small batch at a time- the first batch is hot and ready for kick off and then I skip the half time show in favor of having a fresh batch of wings in time for the third quarter.

 

When it comes to wing flavors, I like variety. New and interesting flavors are fun, but the classic mixture of straight-up Franks Wing Sauce and Litehouse Dressing’s Bleu Cheese is always the best.

So, after your wings' preliminary oven time is up, on to the grill they go! Throw your classically-marinated game time treat on a smoking alder plank for 10 minutes and enjoy the winter sunshine while you wait.

 

Once they are good and done, garnish with carrot, celery sticks, and extra bleu cheese dressing and quickly grab your favorite IPA. Maybe the second batch will be ready in time to enjoy the ever-entertaining halftime wardrobe malfunctions.

 

If the classic oh-so-orange wing sauce doesn’t do it for you, well, you probably aren’t much of a football fan. But for you Puppy Bowl fans, Spicy Peanut Glaze may be more your style? Just a guess.

 

 

You could buy your favorite peanut sauce and baste away, but that takes all the fun out of it. Try this homemade peanut sauce (great in any stir-fry or as a spring roll dipping sauce!) …

Ingredients:

1 cup water

2/3 cup sugar

red pepper flakes (to taste, but don’t we a wimp!)

2 tablespoons peanut butter

¼ chopper peanuts

Juice from ½ lime

1 teaspoon corn starch mixed with 3 tablespoons cold water

Cilantro and pickled ginger for garnish

First- add the water, sugar, lime juice, and crushed red pepper flakes to a saucepan on medium heat.
Once the sugar has dissolved, add the peanut butter and chopped peanuts.

Then- simmer for 5 minutes then add the mixture of cornstarch and water. Depending on how you like your sauce, add more corn starch for thicker sauce. Continue to simmer for 5 more minutes stirring occasionally, then use to smother wings while on smoking alder plank.

Finishing Touch- sprinkle with sesame seeds and garnish with cilantro and pickled ginger.

Enjoy the game! Or the commercials!