Savory

Caramelized Chipotle Chicken and Basketball

Spicy, sticky caramelized Chipotle chicken thighs.Perfect game day food!

I was a hardcore basketball fan; A fan of a certain NY basketball team called The Knicks. You’ve heard of them, right?

A majority of my teenage years were spent watching basketball. In fact, I dated my share of teenage basketball players; ones that never quite made it to the NBA – Or past the neighborhood basketball courts.

C’est la vie…

I watched practically every single game, cheering for my team until a certain 1994 championship game. If you’re from NY, you remember this travesty. My Knicks, the team who hadn’t won a championship game since 1970 finally had a shot. I believed they were going to win. There was a video and everything. I along with every New Yorker was going witness history.

History, my a** – What I witnessed should have been labeled a crime. During the 7th and final game, they blew it. My favorite player, who I had the maddest crush on; one who’d make 3-point shots in his sleep – And I refuse to mention by name…

Didn’t…

He choked shot after shot, deeming himself as scoreless as Patrick Ewing (1 point) against the Pacers that same year. Divine intervention couldn’t help them.

I was so disappointed, so hurt, I never watched basketball again. I didn’t see them make it to the championship and lose again in 1999. I was done… As a matter of fact, I believe I subconsciously married a dude who doesn’t watch sports because of my long standing grudge against this team.

I’m hardcore…

Through the years I’d hear snippets of how The Knicks were doing. I was still angry, but hoped they’d get their s*** together and once again becomes the team I admired in my youth.

I’m older now, and it seems my heart has thawed some. The truth is this team is slowly building up to something we New Yorkers remember. No, they do not win every game. Yes, at times we question their consistency, but the heart is there.

They clearly have the heart of a winning team; a team to be finally proud of.

So here’s to you, New York Knicks. A dish I refused many times because it pissed me off didn’t work, and constantly disappointed; but slowly thawed my heart and made its way back into my good graces.

Love,

Me…

Spicy, sticky Chipotle Chicken thighs. www.mind-over-batter.com

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Recipe: Carmelized Chipotle Chicken

Adapted From: Elly Says Opa

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 5 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. chopped chipotles in adobo
  • 1 Tbsp of sofrito
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. salt or more to taste ( I used a bit more than the recipe indicated)
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper or more to taste
  • 6-8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or drumsticks)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment. Season your chicken with salt and pepper and line on the parchment lined cookie sheet. Place in the refrigerator while you make the sauce.
  2. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic, stirring, until golden. Remove with a spoon and set aside. Add onions to the skillet, and cook, stirring often until light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and remaining ingredients to the skillet stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes.
  4. Remove your chicken from the refrigerator. Brush half of the sauce over the chicken thighs (or drumsticks) and roast skin side up for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Flip the chicken brush about half of the remaining sauce and roast for another 10 minutes.
  6. Flip the chicken again (chicken should be skin side up) and brush the remaining sauce and roast for another 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and well browned in spots. Serve and enjoy.

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