Chicken Wings with Sherry

Main:  Chicken

I have an affinity for "rustic" dishes because it is "forgiving" to lazy cooks.  Not too many steps and not too exacting on proper cutting or slicing but still delivers satisfying dishes.  The following family favourite comes under said category.  

Sherry is a fortified wine produced in the Andalusia region of Spain. Aside from being the perfect accompaniment to tapas, it can be used for main dishes and dessert too.  In fact, in a pinch, I use it as a substitute for sake (believe me, it works for Buta No Kakuni - Japanese braised pork belly dish).  There are 2 main categories for sherry.  The lighter & drier style have: fino, manzanilla and amontillado (remember Edgar Allan Poe's short story?). While those which have higher alcohol content are called oloroso or fragrant sherries.

For this dish, I used the more affordable fino sherry from Jerez.

Medium sherry from Jerez.

Process & Ingredients (enough for a hungry family of 4):

• slice into slivers 10 - 12 cloves of garlic; set aside
  
• roughly chop parsley; set aside
• in a hot pan with a little cooking cooking oil, brown chicken drumettes in small batches; officially, the chicken should be browned as is/naked but since I'm afraid of getting splattered on, I coat the chicken drumettes with a little flour seasoned with salt and pepper; set aside
  
• if there is too much oil left in the pan, remove some until you have left about 3 tablespoons of cooking oil 
• quickly brown the garlic slivers, not fry! This would take less than a minute.
• add your browned chicken and toss it around so that the browned garlic is distributed
• for 16 pieces of chicken wings, I pour 3/4 cup of sherry plus 1/4 cup stock or water - just enough to cover the chicken wings
• boil then simmer until tender.  About 30 minutes.
• place your tender chicken drummettes on a serving dish and pour the thickened sauce and garlic over it
• sprinkle chopped parsley. Vamos a comer!!!!
  
  
  
  

Lemon Bar Cookies

Dessert

Nothing says "hello warm weather" better than the fragrant smell of lemon wafting in the house.  Naturally erasing other stinky cooking smells to boot.

Here's an easy recipe, no need for a mixer, yey!

"CRUST"

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 stick butter cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

"FILLING"

• lightly beat 2 eggs in a small bowl
• 1 cup granulated/fine sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice (1 juicy lemon so better roll on your counter with a little pressure)
• lemon zest of 1 lemon; finely chopped.  I used a mezzaluna.
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

PROCESS

1. pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2. either process or just use a pastry cutter to cut the flour, powdered sugar and pre-cut butter until it looks like cornmeal
   
3. spread out on a 10 1/2 x 8 x 1 inch baking pan lined with parchment paper with edges sticking out. Pat down with clean hand.
   
4. bake for 15 - 20 minutes until golden brown.  Remove from oven
5. while the "crust" is baking, prepare the filling by mixing eggs with sugar in a medium-sized bowl
6. add lemon juice, zest, salt, flour and baking powder.  The consistency is supposed to be runny.
   
7. pour into crust.  Bake 30-35 minutes.
8. sprinkle additional powdered sugar
   
9. cool then cut into desired shapes, like bars
   
   
   
   

The Perfect Lemonade

Summer Beverage

Flowers are a-blooming, bees are a-buzzing and birds are a-pooing :p.  Yep, weather is finally warming up (kinda)! 

Dainty magnolias bursting out.

But not next week :(
Oh dear, just brought the quilts to the dry cleaner.

A great way to combat the heat is having pitchers of homemade lemonade on standby.

Process:

• microwave 1 1/4 cups of white sugar and 1 cup of water to make syrup
• bring out your ancient juicer and get ready to collect juice of 6 lemons; roll with pressure the lemons on the counter to get the maximum juice before juicing
  
• combine in your pitchers
• garnish with thin lemon slices and some roughly chopped mint if you have some on standby
• fill up your glasses with ice cubes and your homemade lemonade, enjoy & relax