An Inspired Cook

Hockey is back!!  After a long collective bargaining dispute between the NHL owners and players they have finally resolved their differences and on Saturday night my Detroit Red Wings will be back on the ice.  Half a season was lost due to the dispute while fans were left out in the cold.  Joe introduced me to hockey when we moved to Michigan in 1990 and I was immediately hooked.  We were only in Michigan for 3 years but I’ve followed my beloved Red Wings throughout the years and celebrate the beginning of each season with a big platter of wings.  They have become my traditional send off to my favorite team, “The Detroit Red Wings”!  This year I’m going spicy with a Chipotle sauce with a tangy dipping sauce.  I made a basting sauce from the homemade Chipotle Tabasco sauce which was thick and spicy.  So enjoy the wings and watch some hockey!

I always start with the dipping sauce so that it has time for all the flavors to merge together.  This dipping sauce included some Greek yogurt, sour cream, Cotija crumbled cheese, lime zest, green onion, cilantro, salt and a drizzle of honey.  I also added a splash of Chipotle Tabasco sauce last minute.

Combine a 7 ounce container of plain Greek yogurt  and 1/2 cup sour cream.

To that add 1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese.

And a couple tablespoons each of cilantro and green onion.  Stir them all together.

Next add about a teaspoon of zest, salt, and honey.  I used gourmet lime sea salt.  If you use regular salt, add a spritz of lime juice.

After I combined it all together and took a taste, I decided it needed just a splash of Chipotle Tabasco Sauce.

I’m going to refrigerate this while I get the wings ready.

Here’s a spice blend to season the wings.  Some salt, onion powder, garlic powder, white pepper and ground Chipotle.

Line a broiler pan with aluminum foil on the bottom pan.  Spray the top pan with cooking spray and lay out 24 wings.

Sprinkle with the Chipotle seasoning blend on both sides of the wings.  Bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

While the wings are in the oven I’m going to get started on the wing sauce.  I’m going to try out the homemade Chipotle Tabasco sauce along with some butter, honey, Chipotle seasoning blend and a little extra garlic powder.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add 1 teaspoon of seasoning mix in a non-stick pan.

I used all I had left of the Chipotle Tabasco sauce which was about 3/4 cup.

And 1 tablespoon of honey.

Bring that just to a boil, then turn down the heat.

After the 20 minutes have expired, pull out the wings and brush them with the Chipotle wing sauce and place back in the oven for 5 minutes.  This allows the sauce to stick and start to glaze over.

They look like this after 5 minutes.

Now turn the wings over to cook on the other side.  Baste them with Chipotle wing sauce and bake an additional 20 minutes.

They come straight from the oven with the most amazing Chipotle glaze.

I had about 1/2 cup of Chipotle Wing sauce left over for dipping, along with the Tangy Chipotle Dipping Sauce.





Spicy Chipotle Wings with Tangy Chipotle Wings Dipping Sauce

24 Chicken Wings
Chipotle Seasoning Blend (reserve 1 teaspoon for the Chipotle Wing Sauce)
Chipotle Wing Sauce
Tangy Chipotle Dipping Sauce

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Line the bottom pan of a broiler pan with aluminum foil.  Spray top of the broiler pan with cooking spray.  Lay out 24 wings on pan and generously sprinkle Chipotle seasoning blend on both sides.  Drizzle with olive oil and bake 20 minutes.

Take wings out of the oven and baste with Chipotle Wing Sauce on the top side.  Return to oven for 5 minutes to set the sauce.

Remove wings from oven, turn the wings over and baste with Wing sauce.  Return to oven for an additional 20 minutes.

Serve with leftover Chipotle Wing Sauce and Tangy Chipotle Dipping Sauce.

Serves 3 – 4

Chipotle Seasoning Blend

1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1/2  – 1 teaspoon Ground Chipotle Powder, depending on how spicy you like it
1/2 teaspoon White Pepper

Combine all ingredients together in a small bowl.  Use to season wings.

Chipotle Wing Sauce

3/4 cup Chipotle Tabasco Sauce, Tabasco brand or from Scratch
2 tablespoons Butter
1 tablespoon Honey
1 teaspoon Chipotle Seasoning Blend

Melt butter in a non-stick saucepan.  Add Chipotle seasoning blend, Chipotle Tabasco sauce and honey.  Bring just to a boil, then turn the heat off.  Let sauce remain on the warm burner to keep warm.

Tangy Chipotle Wings Dipping Sauce

1 (7 ounce) container Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup crumbled Cotija Cheese
2 tablespoons Green Onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons Cilantro, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon Honey
1 teaspoon Lime Zest
1 teaspoon Salt (I used gourmet Lime Sea Salt)
1 teaspoon Chipotle Tabasco Sauce

Combine ingredients together.  Refrigerate at least 30 minutes prior to serving for best flavor.

Makes 2 cups



Honoring Nicklas Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom, my favorite Swedes!  They both spent their entire NHL careers as a Detroit Red Wing.

After 20 years Nicklas Lidstrom decided to retire.  He went out on his own terms, at the top of his game, a 7 time Norris Trophy winner and one of the best defencemen to ever play the game.  The first DRW game I ever attended was in Nick’s rookie season.  It won’t be the same without Lids on the ice!

Another unforgettable wing is Tomas Holmstrom.  I will “for sure” miss Homer most of all.  I loved listening to him speak swenglish (part swedish, part english).  He took more abuse in front of the net and gave opposing goalies fits.  He was so much fun to watch on and off the ice.