Kansas and Barbecue Without a Grill

Welcome to the 15th day of March. It’s an interesting day, filled with thoughts and reflections. Today is National Kansas Day, and we’ll talk more about that in a moment. Today is also Everything You Think is Wrong Day. Wow – what a revelation that must be to some of us.

The point of this day, according to the founder, is that we should avoid making decisions based on what we know to be true, since we are probably wrong in that assumption. We are asked to consider the possibility that we might not know everything after all. Tomorrow we can go back to believing we have all the answers, but today it’s okay to have our doubts. Sounds to me like this day was created by someone who got fed up with all the know-it-alls out there. I’m glad I don’t know everything. Learning is exciting. Learning brings surprises. Imagine how boring life would be if we really did know all there is to know!

Today is also National Kansas Day. It’s been a while since we’ve looked at the strange laws from a particular state. I’ve never really understood laws that seem just a little crazy, but I guess we need them. Some should be common sense rather than a law, while others just make you want to scratch your head.

Once upon a time, restaurants in Topeka, Kansas were not allowed to serve Cherry Pie a la Mode on Sundays. Why Cherry? I don’t know. Why not a la Mode on Sundays? Beats me. Just one of those scratch your head moments. Guess the folks in Topeka thought so too, because it’s one of those laws that no longer exists. However; there are a few strange laws that are still on the books. The folks of Kansas are not allowed to hunt fur-bearing game from a motorboat, airplane or motor vehicle. That is unless you are handicapped. Then you can get a special license that allows you to hunt from a boat. Speaking of bagging your supper, it is against the law to fish with your bare hands. Not really sure how successful most of us would be trying to fish with just our hands, but apparently you cannot even try in Kansas. And there you have it – strange but true.

Did you know that Kansas is believed to have gotten its name from a Native American Tribe? It means “people of the wind” and when you think about Tornado Alley, it should come as no surprise. When an EF5 Tornado touched down in Greensburg, it destroyed 95% of the town. The good people of Kansas must be a resilient bunch.

What is Kansas Known for? The Great Plains, the Wizard of Oz, Wheat and barbecue!

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chicken II
1/2 White Onion, finely chopped
1/2 Red Onion, finely chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
2-1/2 teaspoons Chili Powder
1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
1-1/2 cups Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce
1 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
10 boneless Chicken Thighs

Spray round 4-quart slow cooker insert with cooking spray. Set aside.

Cut each onion from root to tip. Reserve half of each onion for another purpose. Peel and finely chop remaining halves, set aside. Peel and mince garlic, set aside.

In a sauce pot over medium heat, warm oil. Add onions, sauté until soft, about 5 minutes or so. Add garlic, chili powder and red pepper flake to the saucepan; cook 1 minute longer. Add barbecue sauce, vinegar and Worcestershire Sauce. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat. Pour 1/2-cup of the barbecue sauce mix into the bottom of the slow cooker. Reserve remaining cup of sauce to finish the chicken.

Season chicken thighs with salt. Add to the slow cooker. Toss, move thighs around in the sauce to coat lightly. Cover; cook on LOW seating for 2-1/2 hours. Drain liquid that has accumulated in the cooker; discard and continue to slow cook thighs another 30 minutes or so, until cooked through.

While the thighs cook the last 30 minutes; heat oven to 425-degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray.

Remove thighs from the bowl of the slow cooker. Drain and discard any remaining liquid from the bowl. Add reserved barbecue sauce. Toss chicken to coat well. Spread chicken out on the prepared pan. Place in the oven and allow barbecue sauce to “glaze” the meat.

Wrap in foil and keep warm until ready to serve.

Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins
3 whole Pickled Jalapeño Peppers from a can
4 tablespoons Butter
1-1/4 cups Flour
3/4 cup Yellow Cornmeal
1/4 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Milk
2 large Eggs
Additional Butter for serving

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Set muffin tin aside.

Dice peppers, set aside. Melt butter, set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk milk with the eggs.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients; drizzle with melted butter. Mix just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in the diced peppers.

Fill each muffin tin about 2/3-full. Place in the heated oven and bake for 12 minutes.

Serve warm with butter and enjoy.

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Your words, O Lord, are my spirit and life