Random Notes From the Sandwich Life

1.  Owen is quite taken with Guitar Hero.  Anyone surprised?  Leo refuses to try  it but he watches Owen closely and has the titles and artists memorized.  Owen is currently working on Slow Ride by Fog Hat.  A lotta Fog Hat going on….

2.  It appears that Cub Scouts have come to an end.  Leo has not been
enthusiastic about it this year…not quite sure what the difference
is….I guess the thrill of the uniform wore off.  As much as I was
amazed when he wanted to join, I’m a little sad to see him stop.
Although, as noted before, as a Brownie dropout myself, I really can’t
cast any stones…. 

3.  Finally got some stuff up on the mantel after having it sit bare for a month:

4.  Ernie and I have an appointment with the nursing home on Wednesday
morning.  Although my mother has emphatically told me that she’s not
ready to put my father in a nursing home.  Sigh.  He should probably be in a
nursing home right now.  I know it.  But you know what will happen?  He
will get completely confused, he’ll get combative and they will drug
him.  And he will live the rest of his life like that.  That’s not
criticizing the facility either—that’s just because I know my father.

5.  I know this picture of Leo is fuzzy but I love it anyway.  The one thing I don’t like about my little Canon is that the flash is SO bright….so I end up taking a lot of pictures that are too dark because I just turn the flash off.  I don’t have the same problem with my little Kodak.

6. I have a terrible weakness for chicken wings and the other day we decided to indulge.  I had Ernie hunting for the latest issue of Gourmet because I recalled a recipe and thought it was in one of those fake party stories they do.  After much fruitless searching however I turned it up in the newest Food & Wine. The flavor is marvelous—–you marinate them with some of my favorite seasonings: coriander, cumin and cinnamon.  They are baked a half  hour and then you can finish them by frying or continuing to bake them.  Toss with Sriracha Thai hot sauce, butter, lime and cilantro.  I was delighted how nice and crisp they turned out just by baking them. I did a whole chicken with the same technique the next night and it was good too.  Although the rice I made was the star of the plate that night.  Just basmati rice tossed with slivered and quickly sautéed spinach, a bit of fish sauce, a bit of sugar, chopped Marconi almonds and cilantro.  I love it when something you throw together turns out like that.

Spicy Sriracha Chicken Wings

recipe by Chef Michael Symon
January Food & Wine

10 pounds chicken wings, split

1/4 cup coriander seeds, crushed

1 teaspoon cumin seeds, crushed

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3/4 cup Sriracha chile sauce

1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Finely grated zest and juice of 3 limes

3 quarts vegetable oil, for frying

In
a very large bowl, toss the wings with the coriander and cumin seeds,
cinnamon, kosher salt and olive oil. Cover and refrigerate for at least
4 hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the wings on 3 large rimmed baking
sheets and roast for about 30 minutes, until firm but not cooked
through. (At this point, if you don’t want to fry the wings, you can
roast them for 1 hour longer, until crispy and golden.) Wash out the
bowl. Add the Sriracha, butter, cilantro, lime zest and juice.

In a deep fryer or a very large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil to 375°.

Fry the wings in 4 or 5 batches until golden and crisp, about 5
minutes per batch; drain, shaking off the excess oil. As each batch is
finished, add the wings to the sauce and toss well. Transfer the wings
to a platter, leaving the sauce in the bowl for the remaining batches.
Serve hot.

Notes:  I didn’t fry them, just roasted them and I also used less butter

7.  The boys have created Lego City in our living room. What once was a rug in the middle of the room, meant for walking on or sitting and watching a fire in the fireplace…is now….Lego City.
I find myself wanting to buy more things for Lego City but I am trying to restrain myself because my favorite things in Lego City are the things they design themselves.  Yesterday they built a park with a fountain in it although later the workers came and tore out the fountain, turned it into a pool with a big sculpture in the middle of it.  I can’t wait to see what has happened in Lego City today….

8.  My mother has a HORRID cold.  Sounds awful.  We were going to go over there for dinner tonight (to celebrate their 56th anniversary late…bad daughter) but I don’t think I want the guys over there with her so sick. sigh.

9.  Judi hopefully will go home tomorrow.  Her blood levels still aren’t where they want them. That actually works out o.k. because a friend is coming to stay with her tomorrow for a few days so she’ll have someone to take care of her.

10.  Friday and KaneWelchKaplin is there waiting for me though…..pray that nothing screws it up…