Greg Duncan

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GREG DUNCAN

Jerking around with sports

There are a lot of things you can do to keep warm when Mother Nature puts an icy grip on Canadians. We hunker down, crank up the furnace, light a fire, and complain. Discussing the weather is Canada's favorite pastime and eating just may be the other ,judging by the success of Tim Horton's.

Another favorite national pastime has always been to talk hockey. This year however water- cooler chat has been about the ongoing NHL strike and the lack of games to watch. Sports fans have been denied their divine right and as such have turned to other forms of bone-crunching entertainment. Big screen televisions and sports bars will now tune to the next big sports event on the horizon.

The upcoming Super Bowl will be the next good excuse for a gathering and one snack item will create a rush on poultry parts at the grocery store. While millions will watch the game, chickens everywhere better prepare their last wills and testimonies.

This is the year of the wing and our consumption will not be denied, like so much hockey. Whether you like them or hate them, the fact is thousands of platters will abound and as many variations will be served soon. Sides of crunchy veggie sticks and various dipping sauces will accompany this finger-licking event and that's a good thing. What's not to like about crunchy, sweet, hot or spicy tidbits?

Enjoy these chicken wings that will give a kick to your kickoff party. Yah Mon!

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings

24 Chicken wings

For the marinade

1 Onion -- chopped
2/3 cup Scallions -- chopped
2 Garlic cloves
1/2 teaspoon Thyme -- crumbled
1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
1 1/2 teaspoons Ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg -- grated
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 cup Jalapeno pepper -- minced
1 teaspoon Black pepper
6 drops Tabasco sauce
2 tablespoons Soy sauce
1/4 cup Vegetable oil

In a food processor or blender, puree all ingredients except for the wings. In a large shallow dish arrange the wings in one layer and spoon the marinade over them, rubbing it in (use rubber gloves).

Let them marinate covered and chilled, turning them once for at least one hour or preferably overnight.

Arrange the wings in one layer on an oiled rack set over a foil-lined roasting pan, spoon the marinade over them & bake in the upper third of a preheated 450F oven, 30-35 minutes, or until they are cooked through.

As a quick alternative

There are a couple of good commercially prepared brands of Jerk seasoning and sauce readily available on most grocery shelves in the ethnic foods section should you be in a rush or are simply lazy. However I suggest you put in the extra effort for an experience that delivers a "wow" factor.