monday tradition: hot wings

Funny story... I used to kind of hate wings. I felt like they were too fiddly and messy to eat - generally not worth the hassle. And the whole meat-on-the-bone thing? Believe it or not, I was once really squeamish about such things. (Had you told high school me that I'd one day prefer cooking raw, whole chicken for soups and stocks rather than using boneless, skinless chicken breasts and carton chicken broth, I would have laughed. And laughed. And maybe given you a dirty look.) Then a little rumour started circulating in Cedar Falls. It changed everything.

The summer of 2010, over our weekly cup of Cold Stone (why is it that my friends and I always seem to form food habits?), one of the guys mentioned that he heard a Buffalo Wild Wings was going to open just across the street.
I wouldn't have given a second thought to this bit of news, but he continued by saying that the chain usually gives free wings for a year to whoever walked through the doors first. Hmm... free food? Yes, please.

My brother and I decided we must be among those select few. 
We watched the news for more specifics and discovered the opening date, and the limit of 100 people for the free wing offer. The day before the grand opening, we set up a tent, and spent the drizzly, cold night eating free wings, collecting stickers to prove we were there (and awake) the entire time, and trying to stay somewhat warm and dry. And yes, we earned free wings for a year. (I was the thirteenth person to walk through the doors. Just sayin'.) 

While I went through with the whole thing mostly for bragging rights, the outcome was me actually liking wings. I admit, I started on boneless, but by the end of the year I realised that good old-fashioned hot wings are good. Really, really good.

Fast-forward a few months from the end of my year of free wings, and enter a new group of friends who discover that Pump Haus has cheap wings every Monday night. Another tradition was born. 40 cent wings and 2-for-1 domestic bottles - almost unbeatable. I say almost because Parker's homemade hot wings are the best ever, and really cheap, and really easy. And staying in means we can watch tv or play N64 or Magic, too. Win.

Parker's Hot Wings

15-20 chicken wings

1/2 bottle Frank's Hot sauce

1/4 C (1/2 stick) butter, melted

Oil for frying

Prepare the chicken by separating the wings from the drummies. In a cast iron skillet, heat a few inches of oil to about 400 degrees. Carefully put the chicken in the oil without crowding the pan. Fry until crispy-looking and golden, keeping the oil temperature at 350-375 degrees. 

Meanwhile, stir the melted butter and Frank's together in a large mixing bowl. When the chicken is done cooking, toss the wings in the sauce. Finish cooking the wings in small batches. Serve with celery sticks and ranch or bleu cheese (and a beer, of course!).