Sweet and Sticky Chicken Wings

It's football season, don't you know. And I'm not complaining, even though I don't watch any football game very attentively, except maybe when this team plays. I do look up from time to time, when people are screaming. It's my version of catching the highlights. You get the good, the bad, and the ugly, if you only look up when people are screaming. Although, it really doesn't help when you are watching sports with the Quiet Man. He never screams at all, not for touchdowns, scary movies, scolding children, or even general emergencies even when there is blood and broken bones involved. My Dad, when there is any round object resembling a ball in the vincinity, can be heard for a hundred mile radius. "COME ON, REF! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? AW, FOR PETE'S SAKE! JIMINY CHRISTMAS" That'll get my attention. And something else garners my full and complete attention- the foods associated with watching football games, like chili, nachoes, guacamole, and chicken wings. Ooh- and these chicken wings are soooo good. They take almost no time to prepare, are incredibly cheap, and are deliciously sticky and sweet. My little West loved them best of all, my messy bon savage. He already loves football, and something tells me he'll be more like my Dad and scream his little lungs out when he watches. And when he starts screaming, I'll come out of the kitchen and see what's happening. But then it's right back into the kitchen for me; that's where the chicken wings are.

Sweet and Sticky Chicken Wings

Estimated Cost: $3.50 for about 24

1 and 1/2 lbs. chicken wings

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup cider vinegar

2 tabelspoons soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 teaspoon corn syrup, dissolved into 2 tablespoons cold water

Cut each wing into two pieces at the joint. Heat oil in heavy large pan until very hot. Add wings and fry, in batches if necessary, until nicely browned and cooked through (about 10 minutes); remove to plate. Reduce heat to medium. To same pot, add ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, and crushed red pepper, and stir until smooth. Bring sauce to a thick boil. Add corn syrup and cook for one minute. Add wings to pot and coat thoroughly with sauce. Serve immediately.Up Next:

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