Chicken Wing Hairs May 17, 2010

Sometimes I feel that my blog is more about relationships than food.  And I promise one day I will write a blog specifically for relationships, but for now I need to combine the two.  After all, I am still looking for my Pizza Pie Guy….so, in my quest to find this masterpiece, I’ve had to go on some dates with a couple of real chicken wings.

Many moons ago, when Gretchen and I first started dating again, we would both get so frustrated with the process.  The on-line dating process, that is.   It is a cyber meat market where people select each other based on an outdated photo and a short paragraph with misspelled words and bad grammar.  And forever the optimists, hopeful that Mr. Right was just around the corner, we went on several dates with these yahoos, always giving them the benefit of the doubt.  No matter what happened, no matter how horrible the date was though, I always made the best out the situation and tried to find the good out of it.  Usually it was a good story and plenty of entertainment for my hens ( or it was men with Napoleon complexes, anger management issues and have weapons in their bedroom to chase off the boogey man)  Oh….I could tell you some stories.  I could tell you Gretch’s too, although she won’t appreciate it.  So, like I said, I will save that for another blog.

But I have to tell you about my epiphany this evening…My date and I are chatting about everything and nothing (I am not really present but thinking about what I am going to wear tomorrow) and he asks me about chicken wings.  I start in with this long dissertation about how I don’t eat chicken wings and they have to be about the nastiest food on earth.  I talked about how I had to make them for a client’s dinner party last week and I was grossed out the entire time (thankfully, the client thought they were delicious even though she had too much wine and left them under the broiler too long).   And as he was talking, I was thinking about when and where my chicken wing repulsion started.  Think, think, think…is it how messy they are and all that sauce gets all over your face and embedded in your fingernails? No….is it that gnarly cartilage knuckle that people like to knaw on? No…..memories of being a teenager eating chicken wings…Pontillos- good…Country Sweet- good…Salvatores- good…Sal’s Birdland- chicken wing hairs!!! AHHHH!  Chicken wing hairs!  The memories are flooding now and I must have had some Kramer look on my face because my date, now aware that I had not heard anything he just said, asks me what’s wrong.  I blurt out, “Chicken Wing hairs!”  I have been forever scarred by Sal’s inadequacy to remove the chicken wing hairs.  I mean, not just one wing with one hair, but many hairs!! Oh my god- will you ever be able to look at a chicken wing the same way again?

I hope so because I have a kick butt chicken wing recipe for you to try.  But first let me finish up with this: In every situation there is good.  Find the pearl of wisdom and make each moment count.  Though we will never see each other again, I am eternally grateful to my date tonight.  He helped me discover why I don’t eat chicken wings and when faced with the frequent question, “You aren’t eating any chicken wings?”, I can proudly and honestly tell them why.   Guess what?  MORE FOR YOU!

And here’s that kick butt recipe for you to try- My client loved it!!!

Mangia!

Nina

Baked Chinese Chicken Wings Recipe

Ingredients:
2 pounds chicken wing drumettes
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup sherry
1 Clove garlic — minced
1 tablespoon ground ginger

Directions:

Combine sugar, soy sauce, oil, honey, sherry, garlic and ginger in a large zipper lock bag. Add chicken to bag, seal and shake bag to coat wings. Let wings marinate for 3-4 hours or overnight.

Arrange wings in a baking dish. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, basting as needed with marinade.

M. Nina Piccini is the owner of Dinner Bella, Personal Chef Service and Catering in Rochester, NY.

www.dinnerbella.com

Chef on a Diet January 12, 2010

Ahhh, the new year…many people resolve to lose weight, be healthier and eat better.  How are they going to do all this?  Diet. There are all kinds of diets:  Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers, Southbeach, Grapefruit, Flat Belly, Miracle Cookie and cabbage soup.  Do people really stick with these?

I heard of this new diet that I am giving a try this year.  I get to eat everything and will still lose weight.  Yes,  I know, all the diets promise this but my new diet will be the next big thing.  On my new diet, you can have chocolate, carbs, don’t have to count points or calories and it really works! This new diet is called… SELF CONTROL.

Oh my gosh!  What a novel idea!!!  Self control!  What exactly does this mean? First, you have to take some responsibility for your food choices.  There is no more blaming others for your circumstances (like Sally brought in donuts and I missed breakfast, so I ate three).  Second, you have to become knowledgeable about portion sizes (there is so much information about portion sizes on the internet, you cannot claim ignorance here).   Thirdly, you have to want to make a change and be committed.  And this is where the problem lies, at least for me.  I really want to make the change, but sometimes I get sidetracked and it’s hard for me to get back on the wagon.  Hey- it’s challenging to be a chef on a diet.  I am always trying new recipes and tasting this and that…well, lots if this and that…enough to pack on 20 lbs in the past 9 months!  Thinkin’ I need a dose of self control…

Practicing self control does not mean starving.  In fact, the most important thing to remember is that you can eat everything!!  In fact, I recommend eating everything that life has to offer.  Just don’t eat as much! (for instance, I did not need to eat two bowls of paella that I made for a demo this afternoon)  Let’s face it- eating three donuts is going to make you feel guilty so just don’t do it.  Have a half a donut with a glass of skim milk and you will have gotten your fix and not over- indulged.   Now that is self control in action!

To kick start your new Self Control diet, try  Raspberry Avocado Salsa.  It is packed with anti-oxidants and monounsaturated fats. Serve it with Stacey’s Whole Grain Pita chips, or better yet try to make your own chips.   This salsa was a huge hit at a health event I co-hosted last night and it tasted so good, people didn’t  mind eating healthy.  And, if you were going to indulge, this would be the thing to do it with!

Tomorrow Chef Nina goes on a diet.  And I am eating everthing!!! Just not as much.

Mangia!

Nina

Raspberry Avocado Salsa

• 1  cup  quartered raspberries
• 1 coursley chopped, peeled avocado
• 1/4 c  finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 c  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime zested
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 packet of splenda

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; toss gently. Serve immediately.

M. Nina Piccini is the owner of Dinner Bella, Personal Chef Service, in Rochester, NY.

website: http://www.dinnerbella.com