Cork & Fork: Classic Summer Pairings

"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food." - W. C. Fields

Now that the warmer months are here, I tend to eat a lot of grilled foods and delicious salads! Today, I am pairing my favorite grilled lemon pepper wings and avocado salad to two amazing white wines. Typically, I am a red wine drinker, but when I'm relaxing in my backyard and soaking up the sun - a crisp white wine is my ultimate fave.

Below are my favorite pairings, and I'm matching these two dishes with wines from Total Wine.

Grilled Lemon Pepper Wings

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The A-List

"The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it." - Richard Bach

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite moments from this past weekend!

A wonderful bouquet of peonies on our dining room table.

A wonderful bouquet of peonies on our dining room table.

Grilled lemon pepper wings that we cooked up! If you are interested in the recipe, you can find it here.

Grilled lemon pepper wings that we cooked up! If you are interested in the recipe, you can find it here.

A warm cup of lemon and honey tea, with a gentle reminder of how to take on each day.

A warm cup of lemon and honey tea, with a gentle reminder of how to take on each day.

Enjoying a glass of stainless steel Chardonnay from Williamsburg Winery on a warm day.

Enjoying a glass of stainless steel Chardonnay from Williamsburg Winery on a warm day.

A yummy fried caprese salad at Press 626 - a lovely restaurant in Downtown Norfolk. 

A yummy fried caprese salad at Press 626 - a lovely restaurant in Downtown Norfolk. 

Enjoy!

XO, Analise

Recipe: Lemon Pepper Wings

"I have the right to life, liberty, and chicken wings." - Mindy Kaling

Super Bowl LII is a week away! We absolutely love football in our family. Growing up one of my best memories are watching the big event each year with my loved ones.

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite things to make for the game - fried chicken wings. My mother taught me this amazing recipe. Also, I've experimented with different sauces and seasonings throughout the years. Lemon pepper is a favorite within my family, and I hope it becomes yours too!

What you'll need:

  • 1 Bag of frozen chicken wing sections
  • Seasoned Salt
  • Paprika Seasoning
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning
  • Red Pepper Seasoning
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Canola Oil (if you are using the "deep fry" method)
  • Olive Oil (if you are using the "air fry" method)
  • 1 Stick of unsalted butter
  • Deep Fryer, Air Fryer, Grill, or Pot
  • 1 Saucepan
  • Plastic Gallon Freezer Bag
  • 2 Bowls
  • Paper Towels
  • Tongs

Step 1: Rinse off the frozen chicken wings sections in lukewarm water. Then, place sections in a bowl or a plastic gallon freezer bag. Once all of the wings are in there proper place, add seasonings generously and to your taste. Personally, I go a little heavy handed on the lemon pepper!

Pro Tip: I typically marinate my wings 24-48 hours prior to the day they will be cooked. Getting that extra flavor in is a must! If you choose to use an air fryer, add a tablespoon of olive oil to your seasoning mixture.

Step 2: Next, get a bowl and add 2 cups of all-purpose flour. Then add seasoning to your flour, I add seasoned salt and lemon pepper.

Step 3: Now, it is time to get that oil hot! Try to aim for the oil to be about 350 degrees before dropping the chicken in.

Pro Tip: Recently I have been using my air fryer and not deep frying my chicken! It is amazing, and you cannot tell the difference!

Step 4: While your oil is getting to the optimal temperature needed for frying, begin dredging the wings in the seasoned flour mixture. As each section is coated evenly in flour, place them on a plate so the mixture sticks properly.

Step 5: Now that the oil is ready, begin placing the wings into the fryer. Try to not crowd the wings in the vessel it's being cooked in. Cook your wings in batches, each set takes about 15-18 minutes.

Pro Tip: Crowding the pot will lower the temperature of the oil. This will take your chicken much longer to cook, and make them very greasy.

Step 6: As your chicken wings obtain that golden brown color, place them onto a nice stack of paper towels. 

Pro Tip: The paper towels absorb the oil from the chicken wings.

Step 7: Once your wings are all complete it's time to make the lemon pepper sauce! Melt a stick of butter in a saucepan. Once the butter is melted, drizzle the butter over the fried wings in a bowl. Then, add the lemon pepper seasoning and mix the wings to ensure it's coated evenly.

Step 8: Enjoy!

Pro Tip: These wings are even perfect grilled too!

XO, Analise

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