December 30, 2020
I had a blog about food for a minute a few years ago and had a small but loyal following. Thank you Iris, I love you. Its the end of 2020 and I am reflecting on what I value and am thankful for–and food is at the top of that list. I love to eat, cook, shop for food, read cookbooks, think about food and I love the smell of my house when there is butter, sugar, salt and fat cooking on my stove. The year of covid/quarantine has been a year of change for us–a new home, another move across the U.S., a new opportunity for Jeff, a new focus for me and more change for Sav. But food is still at the center of who we are, what we do, and how we come together as a family so food is my subject.
Our new home has a 6 burner gas stove with a double oven and a griddle. I am in love with it. But my new oven does not feature in today’s musings. No that honor belongs to my new Power XL Vortex Air Fryer (7 quart size if you were curious–there are several sizes available but my kid went big). Sawyer was lured by the big display at our favorite retailer and his own love of all foods fried when he proudly purchased the air fryer for me as my Christmas gift. Normally, I just use a standard frying pan with some bacon fat when frying chicken or pork but admittedly I try not to fry foods too much because you know, I like my heart to actually work. But the Air Fryer delivers fried foods up to 70% fewer calories!! Says so right on the box
I bought 4 lbs of skin on chicken wings, coated them liberally with salt and pepper and fired up the air fryer to 400. I cooked the wings in 2 batches by placing them in the patented basket (actually I do not know if it is patented but it should be) and allowing them to cook for 12 minutes, then turning them over and cooking them for 12 more minutes. I then removed the wings to a separate warm pan and tossed them in a Lawry’s sesame ginger marinade and put them in a 325 oven to keep warm.
I made 5 cups of basic white rice and added 1/2 cup of sesame ginger glaze. I put a scoop of rice on each plate, topped with 2 wings, drizzled some extra glaze over top and served with an Asian inspired salad made with 1 bag of basic dry coleslaw mix, 1/2 cup chopped peanuts, 1/2 cup chopped green onions and a handful of tortilla strips.
Homemade dressings are really one of the easiest and tastiest things to master–I tossed this salad with a vinaigrette of toasted sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, ginger, salt and pepper and a pinch of sugar. You can always add a little extra EVOO if the salad is too dry—you need to use a light hand with toasted sesame oil–it can easily overpower a salad.
Worthy of note that the Power XL Air Fryer was easy to clean. Storage is more challenging–not going to lie this appliance has heft and requires a fair amount of storage space. I am dubious on the 70% less calorie claim—honestly the wings were delicious and I ate at least 3 of them so I am not sure the nutrition claim is the driving force here. Sawyer departed this morning back to Arizona to resume his young adult life away from us. I know for a fact that his Momma’s cooking is at the top of the list of things Peanut will miss about home. We will enjoy having leftovers around for a change! XO
The Casa Kitchen 