Posts Tagged ‘football’





Wings of Champions

Friday, February 17th, 2012





>Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Wings Of Champions


Here in Okie Land, there is only one thing that we Okies would rather do than eat…and that’s watch sports. Sports is the one way that we can bring our large neighbors to the south – Texas – down a notch. There is a reason that the OU Sooners vs the UT Longhorns is called the Red River Rivalry. Sports is the way that we little southwest nobodies can whoop up on some northerners like the Boston Celtics or some west coast smarty-pants like the Lakers. It looks like we have the number one pro basketball team both in the Western Conference and the nation, you know! And even here in Prairie Country where winter lasts all of a month, we have a professional hockey team with its own ice arena. Shoot, on the Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City, we have boat houses where teams from all over the country suit up to compete with rowing teams on those long, skinny boats that look like something out of the Middle Ages powered by chained prisoners!


I have to say that I get pretty engaged in a good game if I have an interest in one of the teams. The Thunder’s games have become a regular show at our home and during the Fall with football weather, OU, OSU and Baylor (my niece attends Baylor) grab my attention. I am known to jump up and down and scream on occasion and Mr. Fix-It seems not to mind. He’ll let go with a shout every so often, but he is such a patient man.


One of my favorite pastimes concerning sports, however, is to write down the really stupid things that sports casters say. It’s like they have to be yammering throughout an entire game and don’t even realize that they sound really ridiculous. Here are some that I have heard in the past and also caught just recently at the Super Bowl and a few basketball games:

• “He’s not a normal human being!! Normal human beings don’t make a living of trying to get killed.” (I’ll second that)

• “He’s gonna fall off and drop back.” (Sounds like a recipe for injury to me!)

• “I wanna know what’s going on in that locker room!” (And then proceeds to tell us exactly what the coach is saying as if the sports announcer is really there!)

• “We can move the football.” (Doesn’t look like it so far, buddy!)

• “We have to move the football.” (That’s the object of the game!)

• “Look!! Look! He passed with his left hand!! He’s amphibious, you know!!” (Somebody hand him a dictionary!!)

• We’re going to get a double crack (That sounds painful)

• “It’s all about getting the ball down the court.” (Well, duh)

• “It’s about making points. If they don’t make those points, they don’t win.” (Another, “well, duh”)

Get out your pencil and pad and keep track of your own “Stupid Sports Comments” and you’ll get double the entertainment watching any particular contest! But as I said, second to sports in Oklahoma is eating, and so I thought I’d show you how I fix hot wings for Mr. Fix-It to munch on while he quietly holds in the normal male urge to jump up and scream as his OU quarterback races down the field for a touchdown. Someday, he’s just gonna let go and be just like me!!


MB’s Hot Wings



Brine
3 cups water
1 tbsp salt
Coating
1 1/2 cups all-purpose or whole wheat flour
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
Milk
2 to 3 dozen chicken wing portions


Photobucket



In a large container, mix salt into water to make a brine. Place the chicken wing portions into the brine and soak in the refrigerator for several hours.


Photobucket



Meanwhile mix flour with spices and stir until thoroughly mixed.


Photobucket



Drain the chicken (but do not dry) and place into flour mixture.


Photobucket



Toss to coat all chicken wing pieces


Photobucket



Fry pieces in oil that is about 1/4″ deep. You can use canola oil, olive oil or coconut oil for healthier oils.


Photobucket



Turn pieces and brown on the other side. Don’t worry if the chicken is not totally cooked when browned.


Photobucket



Place wing pieces on a rack (I am using old cookie racks) over a cookie sheet. Place in a 350º oven and bake for 35 minutes. This is a very important step. It helps to take out a lot of the grease from frying, cooks the chicken all the way through so that it just falls off the bone and seals the crust.


Photobucket



Remove wings from oven and allow to cool 10 minutes. Place into a large bowl.


Photobucket



Pour your favorite hot wing sauce over the wing pieces. Put just enough that when you toss the chicken, it will be covered but not saturated. I am using “Wing Time” brand Buffalo Wing Sauce (medium heat).


Photobucket



Toss the wing sections in the sauce, gently, with a large spoon or spatula


Photobucket



Place the coated wing sections back onto the rack and place back into the 350º oven for 15 more minutes.


Photobucket



Serve the chicken with blue cheese dressing and celery as a game snack. Or serve for dinner with mashed potatoes and the works!



Happy Sports Casting!



Image and video hosting by TinyPic

MB
Please join us on FaceBook!!


Join in the conversation by leaving a comment below!


Image and video hosting by TinyPic
THUMBTACK.COM

for the Oklahoma Pastry Cloth™ Company





Game Day Chicken Fingers

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011





Be sure to leave a comment

below to enter the

Apple Time Giveaway

Drawing Next Week!


>Image and video hosting by TinyPic



A Plethora of Flavors


Not a soul in Oklahoma is away from the television when OU and OSU come together to fight it out at “Bedlam” when the Red and White intermingles with the Orange and White. Mixed marriages of OU and OSU alumni have been known to need police protection on the premises.


This year, Bedlam is the last game of the OU season and though my dear son-in-law is of the OSU variety, I have to cheer the Sooners on, singing Boomer Sooner at the top of my lungs. Fortunately, Mr. Fix-It and I are of one mind and he tolerates my screams at the television set, my jumping up and down and my offers to Coach Stoops the expertise that can only come from a woman who has never played football or had a son who had any interest in playing football. Both of our sons played drums and guitar, but I see a similarity to the passion needed in a team, so that makes me qualified to coach from a standing position in front of the television in Mr. Fix-It’s line of sight.


Of course, there is always food for a game and one of Mr. Fix-It’s favorites are boneless chicken fingers dipped in a variety of sauces. This recipe is especially for you new cooks who are just getting started and is very elementary. But it’s quick, easy and yummy and it is my own recipe. So get out those big, foam fingers and get ready for your favorite big game. It doesn’t matter who wins – at least you’ll be full!


Boneless Chicken Fingers



(this recipe can be doubled or tripled, etc for larger groups)
1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken tenders or breasts cut into strips
Milk
1 to 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 package Liptons Cream of Chicken Cup-a-Soup
Oil for frying


Printable Recipe

Directions:
Place chicken in a bowl and toss with a little milk to coat. You can use buttermilk too if you like. Set aside. In a large skillet place enough oil to make it about 1/4 – 1/2 inch deep. Heat to 350º or if you don’t have a thermometer, test by dropping a piece of the chicken coating in and it should begin frying immediately.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



In a large, plastic bowl with a lid, add flour and spices and mix.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Mix in powdered soup


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Place pieces of chicken into the bowl with the flour mixture and cover tightly with lid.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Shake until all pieces are well-floured


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Place floured pieces of chicken one at a time into the hot oil.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Brown and then turn to brown the other side. Only brown, it doesn’t matter if the chicken gets done all the way through.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



When browned, place pieces of chicken onto a cookie rack that has been placed over a shallow cookie pan. Place the rack and pan of chicken, uncovered, into a 350º oven and bake for 20 minutes. This cooks the chicken to tender and also removes much of the oil while leaving a nice crust.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Remove chicken from the oven and let cool slightly. Now you can cover pieces in different sauces. I like to toss some of the pieces in honey.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



And then add our favorite barbeque sauce to make a honey-barbeque. I coat the pieces evenly by putting them into plasticware dishes with lids and then covering and tossing in the sauces.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Of course, I HAVE to have my hot wing sauce!


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Leave some plain to be served with white gravy or chicken gravy and you have a nice variety! As I said, this recipe can be increased for however many people you plan to entertain.


Image and video hosting by TinyPic



And IF you have any left-overs, lunch or dinner the next day is yummy indeed with a nice salad of organic greens, cranberries, sunflower seeds and plum tomatoes topped with the cubed chicken and blue cheese.





Happy Game Day!



Image and video hosting by TinyPic

MB
Please join us on FaceBook!!


Join in the conversation by leaving a comment below!


Image and video hosting by TinyPic
THUMBTACK.COM

for the Oklahoma Pastry Cloth™ Company