COOKING with CANNABIS
Summertime Grilled Wings
With Delicious Farm Fresh Chicken
by Chef Dana Cunningham
The late spring season warmth has my garden growing , my flowers are all in bloom and beautiful , and I have been grilling up dinner almost every night . Everyone always asks , “ Gas or charcoal ?” Of course , I am team charcoal ! I love the charcoal briquettes that give my food tons of flavor . One of my favorite meals is grilled chicken wings . Depending on how you cook them , chicken wings can be a great-tasting , low-calorie protein to add to your diet . I either grill , oven bake , or air fry mine , usually depending on the weather . My all-time favorite way to cook wings , though , is on the grill . They are really easy , and the flavor is second to none . You really don ’ t need any sauce with them because they are just that good , but I always like to have a little dipping sauce on the side just for fun !
This summer , we chose to grow our chickens as an added homestead protein source . People laugh when I say , “ grow chickens ,” but that is literally what we do . We buy day-old chicks that are bread for meat , and we nurture them , and let them scratch in the field for eight weeks until they are big enough to “ call ” or harvest . Our chickens are well-loved and are given an opportunity to scratch and eat bugs until their little hearts are content . Growing our chickens is very satisfying because the taste is extremely different from store-bought chicken , and we also know where our chicken is coming from and what they were fed . We also know that their quality of life was a million times better than the store-bought chicken we have had before . We know that they are free of antibiotics and vaccinations . Those things are not needed with free-range , pasture-raised chicken like ours . Knowing this gives us peace of mind .
This recipe is incredibly easy ; anyone can do it . The way I like to grill consists of a high heat and a slow smoke method all in one . First , I start with high heat to sear the meat , which is how we get those awesome grill marks . Then after the meat is seared on both sides , I turn down the heat . With a charcoal grill , this is done by closing the air supply by ½ to 2 / 3 . The fire will calm down , and you can “ smoke ” your meat without burning it .
Grilled Chicken Wings
Ingredients
• 10 chicken wings
• 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning
• Cooking Spray
• Your Favorite Charcoal
The Method
1 . Light your grill with your favorite charcoal . Give it about 20-30 minutes for the fire to become evenly distributed throughout the grill . 2 . Prep the wings . 3 . Rinse wings under cool water and place in a mixing bowl .
46 JUNE 2023
4 . Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the wings and stir so that they are evenly covered .
5 . Once the grill is ready , ideally between 350 and 400 degrees , evenly distribute wings on the grill so they have space between them . 6 . If they are too close together , they won ’ t cook right . 7 . Close the lid on the grill and let them cook for five minutes . 8 . After five minutes , turn the wings over and cook for another five minutes .
9 . After the wings have gone for another five minutes , distribute the wings to the cooler parts of your grill , away from any flame . This is how you use indirect heat on the grill and somewhat smoke your wings .
10 . Wings should cook for at least another five minutes this way . Then check them for doneness with an internal temperature thermometer . I usually let my wings cook until the temperature reads 180 degrees .
11 . Once done , I take them off the grill , wrap them in foil , and let them rest for five -10 minutes .
Hot Wing Sauce
Ingredients :
• 1 cup of Franks Red Hot
• 1 / 4 cup of unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons of infused butter
• 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper
The Method 1 . Melt all kinds of butter in a medium saucepan on medium heat .
Make sure not to scorch the butter . 2 . Whisk in Franks Red Hot , Worcestershire sauce , and cayenne pepper . 3 . On medium heat , bring the sauce to a simmer . 4 . Toss in wings and enjoy !
If you have any questions or you would like to connect with our farm , visit www . sunsetgrovekearney . com and click “ Get on the List .” We will send you weekly updates about what ’ s Fresh and available at Sunset Grove , Kearney , MO .
Dana Cunningham is a Kansas City Native trained in French and American cuisine . She owns Infused KC , Kansas City ’ s CBD infusion think tank and focuses her culinary efforts on the farm-to-table concept at her four-acre homestead . She provides cooking classes in Kearney , MO . Follow her on Facebook , @ infusedkcmo or YouTube @ sunsetgrovekearney . Get your CBD at , www . infusedkc . com .