A Simple Little Recipe with a Great Big Taste..and Lesson

About a month or so ago, I was visiting a good friend at her home.  Of course, food always enter conversations at some point...and she pulled out her mom's old recipe box from the closet, anxious to show me some of her favorite family recipes  (of course, this is heaven for me!).  As we are sitting on the couch, flipping through these old recipes, I'm thinking about the family that this woman fed...the boys and one girl that these recipes must have pleased so much.  Each one was hand written from my friend's (now deceased) mom on either an index card or scraps of paper...some in better shape than others and some with tell tale splatters of the cooking itself on them.  Not only was there the memory of Mom with her hand writing forever on those cards, but the memories, sights, and smells that each recipe brought to my friend.  Each one brought out a..,"Oh, i remember this one and we would have this when..."  Or perhaps a special story revolved around one particular recipe.  While i enjoyed looking at these old time treasures and analyzing the simple ingredients used back in the day (compared to the complicated recipes, low-fat, and spices used in today's cooking), i realized how much these meant to my friend.  The joy of sharing these with me and talking...and the chance to remember many of these wonderful family meals.  Priceless.

There was one recipe that stood out.  I mean, it LITERALLY stood out and made itself known over and over again to the point where we laughed each and every time.  The recipe for 'Fiery Chicken Wings' was written about 5 different times...a couple on an index card and several on scraps of paper.  As we plowed through the recipes, sure enough, yet ANOTHER repeat would show up!  Wow...was this such a good recipe that she needed all these copies as to not lose it or did she simply have it on hand to give out to other friends?  Well...we will never know the answer BUT i decided to look at it more closely.

As i read through the ingredients and directions the first time, i must admit i was not very impressed.  My friend raved about this...the smells, how tender, the taste of the sauce.  Well, of COURSE she would feel strongly about how great this meal was...i mean, this was HER mom's recipe and mom's food always rules (well, there ARE exceptions!)!  The recipe was so simple...simple ingredients..no braising, searing, frying, grilling...and no marinades or super spice combinations.  And not more than about three steps.  Hmmmm. Julia Child would not understand this concept at all! 

Needless to say, I had to try it and I must say that i was VERY surprised by the results of such a simple but wonderful recipe.  I guess this recipe is a lesson...not just in food, but with a lot of things in life too.  We tend to feel like the more work we put into things and the more 'spices'...and complicated steps....well, that the better something will taste. True...in some cases.  We are told that the harder we work at relationships, jobs, etc...the better things will be.  And here's a question to answer:  Who decides this?  Why must there be so many complications to our lives in order to be 'meaningful'?  I guess that in a lot of cases this is true.  BUT...isn't it wonderful when something so simple and uncomplicated turns out to be so glorious?  Just like the components of this vintage recipe, as we get older and wiser, it becomes apparent that those fancy steps, expensive ingredients, and time consuming work isn't what it is all cracked up to be.  Who are we impressing?  Does the food really taste better in the long run?  Well, this simple recipe got me thinking about a whole lot of things other than food.  Try to simplify your life every chance you get and don't get caught up with the unnecessary things to complicate and add stress.  Know what your goals are...simple and clear, written by hand and with love. Perhaps we can all learn something from this old recipe.

Thank you, dear friend, for sharing your mom's recipe.  It taught me much more than just about cooking, for sure.

Please enjoy this very easy recipe...I'm also including my recipe for the fruited slaw.  Both simple, delish, and complimentary to each other....kind of  like two best friends.

PS..Both recipes are Gluten free also!

Mom's Fiery Chicken Wings

400 degree oven

5 lbs Chicken Wings
1/2 Cup Catsup
1/4 Cup Vinegar
1/4 Cup Honey
2 TBS liquid hot pepper sauce - more or less, as needed.
3 TBS lemon juice

(add more honey and hot sauce to taste)
My friend recommends doubling the sauce also!

Rinse and pat dry wings.  Cut into sections (Flats and drumsticks - some like the points attached as well)
Line 2 pans with heavy foil and divide wing parts between pans.
Bake in 400 degree oven  for 40 minutes or until brown.
Turn once or twice, drain as needed.
pour sauce over wings and turn to coat.
cook another 30 minutes or so - turning once or twice. Cover for half the time, then uncover to brown a little.

Wings are perfectly done when you can suck them off the bone in one motion.
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Kim's Fruited Slaw

1/4 to 1/3 large cabbage, shredded or chopped
1 carrot, shredded or chopped
1 Fuji apple, peeled, cored and cut in small pieces
1/2 Cup of Craisins
1/2 Cup of pineapple tidbits (or more)


Dressing:

2/3 cup mayo 
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper (optional)

Combine dressing with cabbage mixture, refrigerate.