Your Wings Suck, Try Mine.

It’s the beginning of week 3 in the NFL and along with the joy and heartache comes with it, the excitement of tailgating.

In my earlier years, tailgating in Philadelphia was something magnificent. Charcoal smoke wafting across the landscape, as we shotgunned canned Yuengling from the cooler while obese shirtless amateur neighborhood running backs dropped their hoagies or wizwit’s on a dime to run curl routes in the open lanes between cars, trucks and RV’s, jawing with Giants and Redskins fans – to me, this is traditional tailgating.

But things have changed as I approach the ripe old age of 40. I don’t often have the luxury of driving up to Philly (from Maryland) to join my brothers for a Sunday spectacular.

However, at this point in the season with the Eagles at a DISMAL 0-2, I’m not sure it matters that much.

I find myself enjoying the comforts of my flat screen and surround sound, in the living room with my kids. It may sound lame to you (go ahead, say something, I’ll put your head through the drywall with parenting rage), but I’m enjoying this evolution of tailgating.

Sure, every now and again, I can drink a pint of Pepto and get down on some burgs and brats, but why not call the audible and class this thing up?

To show all the haters my vision, this week, me and a few buddies have teamed up with Mike Greenburg of ESPN’s ‘Mike and Mike’ sports talk radio show. Team @ESPNGreeny consists of me, Don Jackson from @daddynewbie, proud new papa (and Pats fan, barf) Aaron Gouevia at @daddyfiles, Jason Greene @TheJasonGreene and my man, John Kinnear from @askdadblog.

We’ll be busting each other up this week on Twitter – mostly trying to take down the opposition – Mike Golic’s TEAM @ESPNGolic. Don’t miss our Twitter party this Thursday at 12 noon EST, where you can run your mouth with the Mike’s AND have a chance to take home $250 – if you’re at work, take your lunch break early!

Not only are we teaming up with GOLIC & GREENY, but also @LifeofDad and @LeeJeans to bring you this epic #LeeTailgate battle royale.

As I mentioned, my vision of tailgating has changed a bit recently. I’m getting tired of #wingface and am looking for something more.

Without further ado, allow me to bring you…

HONEY LEMON PEPPER WINGS.

INGREDIENTS:

• Wings (adjust for your crew, this recipe is for about 2 dozen wings)
• 3 Lemons (squished into your marinade)
• Fresh Garlic (3-4 or 10 cloves, minced)
• EVOO (1 1/2 cups)
• Chili Garlic Sauce (3 Tablespoons) – SECRET INGREDIENT that adds some sting to the sweet swing.
• Black Peppercorns (crush these over your wings liberally)
• Sea Salt (sprinkle over your wings liberally)
• Honey (3/4 of a honey bear on marinade, 1/4 to coat just before they go into the oven or hit the grill) – please recycle after you’re done… I’ll have no part in your travel bong.
• Green onions or scallions – sliced up and sprinkled over the finished product (instead of celery) along with some lemon zest.

PREPARATION:

Here’s how I pull it together…

So….ka-plow! There you go. You’ve got wings that don’t include the Frank’s hot sauce and bleu cheese makeover and you don’t have to eat them in a tux. You can fire these up in the oven at 375° for 35-40 minutes or take that zippy to the game and plop them on the grill for a few minutes on either side.

I’m hoping you follow our crew this week on Twitter and check out our discussions on College vs. Pro, tailgate locale – KC vs. Green Bay, games like cornhole vs. beer pong, FOOD – which you’ve witnessed right here – battling it out with @mommys_busy and last but not least, attire – comfort vs. looking good.

Big thanks to Lee Jeans (125 years old) for putting this together. I’ve been a BIG fan since I was a kid, however, 1985 is gonna have to do.

I used to be a Lucky man, but ever since the New Orleans Dad 2.0 conference when I stepped into the LEE fitting booths – either my thighs got smaller or Lee figured out a way to wrap themselves around these luscious sequoia logs.

Try out these wings and I hope to see you on Twitter this Thursday!