It's Time For The Big Game With Coca-Cola Spicy Wings

By Meg Hodson

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. Seriously, who doesn't love Coke? #PrepareToParty #PreGiorno #ad #CollectiveBias

We are in the thick of football season. As I write this post, my husband is polishing off the recipe I created below as we watch a pretty intense playoff game on the cusp of the big game. As you may know from reading my blog, I love to create recipes and try new things. I suppose you could say I am unconventional: I like to try different ingredients, give typically unhealthy recipes a makeover, and make even the most unusual dishes kid-friendly.

I knew Wal-Mart had some perfect game day essentials and I was experimenting with Coke in my recipe, so I headed there. I picked up what I needed, including some DiGiorno® Pepperoni STUFFED CRUST® Pizza because honestly, who doesn't need pizza while watching the big game? Both products were super easy to find in their store.

Say hello to my Coca-Cola Spicy Wings! There are many reasons why this is the perfect big game appetizer to prepare. It couldn't be easier to fix (I used my crockpot). The ingredient list is simple and easy to gather. It's truly a win-win. 

Ingredients:

25 chicken wings (defrosted, if needed)

2 .5 liter bottles of Coke

1 tablespoon + 1/2 tablespoon chili powder

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cayenne pepper

2 tsp. granulated garlic

1/4 cup honey

2 tbl. balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

All-purpose flour of your choice

Turn your crock pot on high. Mix 1 1/2 bottles of the Coke (save a half bottle for later), 1 tablespoon of chili powder and the rest of the spices, the honey, and the balsamic vinegar. Whisk well until all ingredients are incorporated. Add the wings and cook on high for 3-4 hours or switch to low for 6 hours. 

Then, remove wings and transfer half of the broth to a small saucepan. Add the remaining Coke back to the crock pot. Add the wings back to the crock pot, too, and continue to cook for a half hour or so.

While the wings finish cooking, heat the broth over medium heat. Add the additional 1/2 tablespoon of chili powder and the 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. Whisk well. Slowly add 1 tablespoon of flour and blend well. Continue this process until the sauce starts to thicken (be careful, it can happen quickly and you don't want to add too much flour, you want the sauce to be slightly thick). The sauce should have the consistency of a pourable salad dressing; you don't want it too thick, like barbecue sauce. 

Remove wings from crock pot, shaking off excess broth. Serve immediately and spoon the sauce you prepared over each wing. Keep plenty of napkins on hand! Extra sauce can be refrigerated for 1-2 weeks. It makes a great marinade for chicken and other meats. Blend with ranch dressing for a yummy buffalo-style dip.

Yep, even the kids loved the spiciness of these wings. This turned out to be a perfect appetizer for the big game today along with the DiGiorno® Pepperoni STUFFED CRUST® Pizza that I cut into the shapes of footballs. 

Do you have parties and get togethers for the big game? What will you be fixing?

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!

Upscale Tailgating: Feta Dip!

By Meg Hodson

Want a recipe that is easy, upscale, and a crowd pleaser?

My husband and I throw football parties with close friends.  We usually invite everyone to bring a side dish to share.  So, over the years, I have perfected a few great side dishes and appetizers.  I am not the kind of host to just set out chips and salsa!  I don't see a football game as a reason to not go all out for high end, homemade appetizers.  I know the tendency is to go for dips to serve guests.  They are easy and can be deliciously homemade (think hummus and yummy Mexican bean dips).  I offer one up below that is a little different.  I have to tell you that even people that wouldn't call themselves a fan of feta LOVE THIS DIP!

Feta Dip
This is a VERY simple recipe!  I actually don't really measure anything when I am putting it together, so hopefully that will work for you.  This recipe was inspired here. I changed it up a little.  Here is what you will need:

--Crumbled feta (I like the large size I can get a Costco for a good price)
--Olive oil
--Oregano
--Garlic
--White pepper
--Parsley
--Chili powder
--Finely diced tomatoes (your pick of your favorite tomatoes)
--Green onion, finely chopped
--1-2 french baguettes, or other favorite, yummy bread (it is VERY important to have freshly baked, crusty, soft bread), sliced into 1 inch thick pieces

The feta I use from Costco is about 14 oz.  You can adjust the amount you need depending on the size of the crowd you are serving.  In a large bowl, add the feta and add the olive oil little by little until you have a thick consistency and the feta is sticking together slightly.  Be careful not to overdo the olive oil, as once you serve it, it will separate a bit (which is okay).

Then, add the spices (again, depending on how much feta you have used).  For the large feta from Costco, I use 1 tbl oregano, 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1 tbl granulated garlic, 1 tsp white pepper, 1 tsp parsley, and 1/4 cup finely diced tomatoes and 2 stems of green onions.  Stir well and then transfer to a rimmed platter for serving.

If you like what you're reading, I invite you to follow my blog.  Cheers!