Food Network star Sunny Anderson returns to native Oklahoma for 'Home Made in America'
BY NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON World Scene Writer
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
10/03/12 at 5:37 AM
Food Network star and Oklahoma native Sunny Anderson hit the road recently to track down the best home cooks in the country for her new cooking series.
During her travels she visited Marietta, an Oklahoma town near the Texas border, for a show featuring the award-winning barbecue of Mike and Debbie Davis of Lotta Bull BBQ.
Anderson, who was born in Lawton, stars in the Food Network show "Home Made in America," which premieres 8:30 a.m. Saturday. She's excited about the show, which features the stories behind the recipes perfected by home cooks.
"It is a real inspiration to see, but at the same time, it is relatable," Anderson said. "In every episode, I have seen myself in those people."
For example, the first episode features a woman who lives in Brooklyn. The woman was laid off from her job but manages to get through tough times by catering.
"I used to cater," Anderson said. "And I know what it is like to have a recipe and a dream."
In the Oklahoma episode, Davis talks about being a cross-country truck driver until he spent some time in Texas and learned to make extraordinary brisket and pork.
He starting winning contests and, before long, he quit his job to travel cross county and compete on the barbecue circuit.
"He wins the competition medals, and he has wood stashed across the country," Anderson said. "His trophy room. You should see his trophy room!"
Anderson said she is also proud of her show because the cooks share their actual recipes rather than declining to release certain "secret" ingredients.
"This is the real deal. They don't play that game," Anderson said.
Anderson also goes to Baton Rouge to try a family recipe for shrimp bisque, Texas for the best home-smoked ribs in town and Massachusetts to check out Steve Linehan's famous homemade wing sauce.
Anderson is no stranger to travel. She grew up traveling the world in a military family and indulged in many local cuisines. When Anderson joined the Air Force, she continued her culinary world travels and also discovered a desire to explore music, becoming an award-winning radio host and news reporter.
She made her debut on Food Network in 2005 as a guest on Emeril Live and in 2008 launched her daytime show, "Cooking For Real."
"Sunny Anderson has captivated the Food Network audience for years with her humor, high energy and inventive recipes," said Bob Tuschman, general manager and senior vice president of Food Network. "Now, we think viewers will love traveling with Sunny as she discovers the mouthwatering, homespun recipes and fascinating stories of America's best home cooks."
Here is Sunny Anderson’s own
recipe for Chicken Wings — with
three different options. It’s courtesy
FoodNetwork.com.
WINGS 3 WAYS
Makes 6 to 8 servings
2 quarts vegetable shortening,
for frying
24 whole chicken wings (about
6 pounds)
4 eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground
black pepper
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup cornstarch
For the Honey BBQ Sauce:
2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons creamed honey
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 teaspoons turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
salt
For the Spicy Butter Sauce:
1 cup hot sauce (recommended:
Frank’s Red Hot)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 lemon, juiced
1 small bunch basil
salt
For the Zest Mix:
1 lemon, zested
1 lime, zested
1. In a large pot, heat vegetable
shortening until a deep-fry
thermometer reaches 375
degrees. Line a sheet tray with
a wire rack.
2. Using kitchen shears or a
sharp knife, separate the
chicken wings into the drummettes
and wings, discarding
the wing tip joint.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together
eggs, cream, cayenne, 1 tablespoon
salt and black pepper.
In a paper bag, shake together
flour, cornstarch and 1 tablespoon
salt. Place chicken in egg
mixture and toss well to coat.
Place chicken in batches in the
bag of flour mixture. Shake well
to coat. Set on wire rack to let
coating set, 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile make the Honey
BBQ Sauce and the Spicy Butter
Sauce. In a small saucepan,
bring the ingredients for the
Honey BBQ Sauce to a simmer
over medium-high heat. Reduce
heat and cook until sauce
has reduced by half, about 12
minutes, stirring frequently. In
another saucepan, bring the
ingredients for the Spicy Butter
Sauce to a simmer. Remove
from heat and let basil infuse in
butter for at least 15 minutes.
Remove basil.
5. When oil is at the right
temperature, add chicken,
working in batches, and fry
until cooked through and
crispy, about 13 minutes.
Season chicken with salt then
immediately toss, taking turns
with batches, in the Honey
BBQ sauce, or the Spicy Butter
Sauce or sprinkle with the
lemon and lime zest.
6. Serve immediately.
Original Print Headline: Food Network star returns to Oklahoma
Nicole Marshall Middleton 918-581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Food Network host Sunny Anderson recently visited Marietta for a show featuring the award-winning barbecue of Mike and Debbie Davis of Lotta Bull BBQ. Her new series "Home Made in America" premieres at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Business Wire
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