Tailgate, Take One

In preparation for our festivities next Thursday evening (UMD vs. WVU. Go Terps!), I thought I'd try to make a meal out of a classic football munchie - the buffalo wing. The chicken is pretty good at room temp so I think it will make a good addition to our tailgate, grilled at home beforehand. Of course, what is "buffalo" anything without blue cheese, so I've paired it with a blue cheese coleslaw in addition to sweet potato fries. And beer. And napkins.




Grilled Buffalo Chicken
Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 8 chicken drumsticks, thighs or combination
• 1/2 tbs. olive oil
• 1/2 tbs. apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper
• 2 tbs. butter
• 1/2 c. pepper sauce, like Frank's Red Hot

Directions:

• Prepare grill.
  
• As grill heats, in large bowl combine chicken with olive oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
  
• Grill chicken over medium to medium high heat. Turn frequently.
  
• As chicken grills, melt butter in microwave (I use a coffee mug so that it's easy to take out to the grill). Stir in pepper sauce.
  
• After about 20-25 minutes check chicken for doneness (I don't think "doneness" is actually a word, but I use a thermometer and look for temps between 160-165).
  
• When chicken is almost done, begin basting with pepper sauce, turning a few times.
  
• Take off grill, let rest a few minutes before chomping down.
  

Blue Cheese Coleslaw
This is "inspired" by Ina Garten's recipe, which has a ungodly amount of mayonnaise. Speaking of God, this is exactly why he bestowed the Cuisinart down upon us. Serves 8.

Ingredients:

• 1 head cabbage, shredded
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1/2 lbs baby carrots, grated
  
• 1/4 c. minced onion
• 1/2 c. mayonnaise
  
• 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1 tbs. Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
  
• 1/4 tsp. celery seed
  
• 6 oz crumbled blue cheese(one small tub)

Directions:

• Combine cabbage and salt in colander set over large bowl. Put in fridge for an hour or two. Dispose of nasty cabbage water, rinse cabbage and pat dry with paper towels. You can skip this step if you want, but it does help keep the cole slaw from becoming watery later on and lessens the harshness of the cabbage.
  
• Combine cabbage with carrots and onion.
  
• In separate bowl, combine rest of ingredients.
  
• Add blue cheese mixture to cabbage and carrots, toss well.
  
• Chill at least half an hour. Toss again before serving.

Sweet Potato Fries
Serves 3-4
Ingredients:

• 2 sweet potatoes
• olive oil
• salt
  
• pepper
• 1 garlic clove, minced

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  
• Slice sweet potatoes into fries (about 1/2"x1/2" slices)
• Drizzle potatoes with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss with garlic.
  
• Put on baking sheet in single layer and bake for about 20-25 minutes, turning a few times, until done.