Sweet & Spicy Peanut Chili Chicken Wings

Growing up in the Midwest, spices weren't necessarily used frequently and with great abandon. Well, at least not in my home. In fact, I had only two spices in my repertoire—salt and pepper. The salt was brought out whenever anything needed extra flavor. Butter noodles feeling a bit bland? Salt. Mashed potatoes need a little flavor? Salt. When I was feeling very adventurous, I'd break out the pepper. Pepper was the special occasion spice—to be used sparingly and with great respect.

You see, just a few years ago pepper had too much heat for my poor taste buds.

As someone who loves food, I also love flavor. Unusual flavor combinations, new profiles, new experiences—I'm all for it. In restaurants, I like to choose dishes with bold flavors. Chicken and mushrooms served with a Marsala wine reduction? Mmmm. Scallops in a rich sun-dried tomato butter? Yes, please.

Though I love flavor, I don't always practice what I preach when I cook at home. The sad truth is that I could subsist off of unseasoned noodles and plain oatmeal without complaint. And I do. I often find myself falling into a routine of making and eating bland food so much that it seems unusual when I sprinkle my eggs with a bit of pepper. Perhaps there is some truth to the Midwest stereotype that we love our bland comfort food.

Nevertheless, I've been trying to break out of my flavorless cooking shell. When my friend Frances urged me to try to replicate a recipe for Thai Peanut Chili Chicken Wings that she happened upon at a food truck, I jumped on the idea. Despite the fact that I had no idea what the original even tasted like (and thus had no right to even attempt to replicate a recipe), I was intrigued by the idea of a spicy peanut chicken wing. Spicy, salty, and sweet all at the same time? I needed to know what these tasted like. I needed to have them in my stomach. And now, after making these, I know you need to have them in your stomach too.

Hello, flavor! It's been too long.

Do you ever find yourself in a flavor rut?

These Sweet & Spicy Peanut Chili Chicken Wings are exactly that—sweet and spicy. Chicken wings are marinated in garlic and ginger before being baked (not fried!). The wings are then coated in a peanut chili sauce. Peanut butter lends a sweet quality to the dish while the chili keeps your taste buds awake. Believe me, it really is a bold, beautiful flavor combination. I love that not only the coating of the wings holds bold flavor, but the chicken itself does too, thanks to the marinade. If you are looking to add a little spice into your cooking life, these chicken wings definitely fit the bill.

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Black Bean Salsa

My mother decided to throw a dinner party last weekend to celebrate the arrival of summer/Fourth of July with a few of her skiing friends. Naturally, I stepped in and had a few things to say about what was going to be on the menu. My mother listened politely, but respectfully disagreed. You see, my mother and I have very different ideas about what a dinner party should entail.

I love to throw dinner parties. I'll use any excuse I can find to bring a few friends into my home (and into my kitchen). Many days in advance, I like to plan out the menu. The food must be seasonal, fresh, and homemade. I'll run through a list of ideas for dishes in my head. Over the next few days, I may add a few here and remove a few there. I try to make the menu cohesive. Will the appetizer complement the dessert? Is there a theme? Did I plan to make too much food again?

I have been known to go a little, well, overboard every once in awhile.

(For those of you who also love to throw a good dinner party, you should check out The Table Set podcast. Fun and informative!)

My mother, on the other hand, likes to keep things as simple and easy as possible. The least amount of work she has to put into the planning and execution of her party, the better. While I can completely respect her minimalist style, it just isn't mine. I love elaborate meals. I love cooking or baking every component from scratch. And, perhaps most unlike my mother, I love to have a reason to spend hours in the kitchen.

When it came to planning the menu for this particular dinner party, my mother and I were able to find middle ground. A Mexican theme was decided upon, with chips and salsa as the appetizer and tacos as the main course; dessert was all mine (it was so good, you can bet I'll be sharing it with you soon). Knowing myself, I wanted to make the tortilla chips from scratch. My mother put that idea to rest in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, I insisted the salsa should at least be fresh and homemade. The rest is history.

Following the "simple and easy" approach of my mother, this Black Bean Salsa has flavors complex enough for me—the perfect compromise.

This Black Bean Salsa is bright, colorful, and delicious. The flavors are complex, with hints of bell pepper, tomato, lime, and red onion to round out the heartiness of the black beans. This definitely isn't a salsa from a jar. Make this the night before eating to allow the flavors to meld and bring out the best flavor. While this salsa rests somewhere between mild and medium, you could add more heat by including the seeds from the diced jalapeno or by sprinkling in a few red pepper flakes. Serve with tortilla chips or as a topping to your next taco or burrito.

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Parmesan Stuffed Tomatoes

When I asked you a few weeks back what you'd like to see more of around here, many of you requested to see more savory dishes and entrees. While I've made the occasional savory dish in the past (like soup, pasta, or these BBQ mini sausages), the bulk of the recipes on this blog are buttery, sweet pastries. And, to be honest, I don't think that's ever going to change. This is about my affair with pastries and, while pastries can also be savory, I'm thoroughly attached at the hip with my good friends Butter and Sugar.

Literally.

Nevertheless, from time to time I do like to experiment with my dinner (not just my dessert) so I'll make more of an effort to share these kitchen exploits with you.

The truth is that I'm a bit of a boring cook. I find myself eating the same foods week after week and, to some extent, I don't mind. These are the foods I have grown up with. Love them or not, they are a part of who I am.

Since I'm currently living at home with my family, I have more than just my own tastes to please. My father can be a bit of a picky eater. Unfortunately, his eating habits leave most of my favorite dishes off the menu. He shuns many fruits and vegetarian dishes (a man needs meat, you know!). My sister would seem frightened of vegetables, only allowing corn and the occasional carrot to sneak into her mouth. My mother, on the other hand, tends to be a good sport about eating whatever I decide to put on the table as long as it doesn't have anything to do with tuna or garlic.

With all these preferences and tastes floating around, dinner is made much simpler by sticking to the foods my family has grown up eating together. These are the savory foods I choose to share with you—the dishes from my childhood. While new dishes can be fun and exciting, my family isn't necessarily the right audience for them. Like my father says, he knows what he likes. Why fix a menu that isn't broken?

Fortunately for you, dear reader, I managed to sneak these Parmesan Stuffed Tomatoes into Sunday brunch. I have been eyeing the idea of stuffed tomatoes for awhile and the time was long overdue to give them a shot. It took a couple tries to get these right, but once I did, the effort was completely worthwhile.

I want you to imagine a roasted tomato. Stuff it to the brim with Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Add hints of onion, green pepper, and basil. Top it with more Parmesan and then melted butter, which seeps down deep into the tomato stuffing. Now, imagine this stuffed tomato in your own kitchen, in your own oven, on your own tableware. This can be your reality. This can be on your dinner table.

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