The 8th Annual Wing Off | Our Super Bowl Sunday Tradition

     Before I start into today’s blog post about our annual Super Bowl Sunday tradition, let me give you a little bit of a back story. Justan and I have been re-modeling our house over the past twelve months. We did a major overhaul on our living room, dining area, kitchen, and laundry room. When people walk into our house the most common phrase uttered is, “Whoa! It’s totally different in here now”. For anyone that has remodeled a home, while still living there, it’s quite the process (to put it nicely! Ha). When we started our remodel, we got rid of all of our living room furniture and the kitchen table. It was time for a change and to “spruce things up a bit”. We have updated everything slowly piece-by-piece over the past year. The last piece of the puzzle was a new kitchen table. We have been without a kitchen table since February. We looked and looked for months for the perfect table. Finally, in December, we headed to the furniture store to finalize our decision and make the purchase. Justan and I love to entertain, so we knew we wanted a table big enough for family and friends to sit comfortably. We found a table that met all of the requirements, so we were good-to-go. As we were setting up the details for delivery I said, “I just want to make sure that we have it by Super Bowl Sunday”. We knew that our annual Super Bowl party was around the corner and having a kitchen table was a must. Ha! Everything worked out perfectly. We received our table in plenty of time. It matched our new flooring, and was big enough for everyone at the party to enjoy. Once again we were good-to-go!

     This brings us to February 7th, 2016. The 50th Super Bowl, but more importantly it was the 8th Annual Wing Off. For those of you who don’t know about our tradition, it started back in 2009. We were sitting around talking about what we wanted to do that year for Super Bowl. “We should have a competition to see who can make the best chicken wings”. With that one phrase a tradition was started and it’s a tradition that has turned into one of my favorite days of the year. It started with everyone making their best chicken wing recipe and each of us voting on his or her favorite. A few years later the award for “Best Presentation” was added to the mix. We have some pretty competitive family and friends, which makes for a very good time. Each year the wings get better and the presentation gets bigger. It’s safe to say that year after year everyone consistently brings his or her “A” game!

     Everyone is starting to arrive and begin setting up their spread for the competition, my older brother Ty pulls me to the side and says, “Can you clear off the side of the table? My display actually needs to be plugged into an outlet”! “Oh my goodness”, I thought to myself. “What does he have planned for this year?!” So here comes Ty walking through the kitchen with a storage tote spray painted to look like a football field. The tote was covered in rocks, spray painted green and white to mimic a football field, and he made a yellow goal post out of pipes. Everyone was laughing and going crazy because we knew this year’s competition was in full swing. Ty then proceeded to plug in a cord that was hidden under the rocks and the goal post turned into a water fountain! WHAT!?! Oh man! It’s ON!!! However, that wasn’t the end of it. He then get’s out a lighter and ignites a small“line of fire” on the football field and then places a football plate in the corner with his favorite Honey Mustard Wings to add the finishing touches to 2016 Wing OFF entree. Well done Mr. Sanders! Well done!

     By this time more and more wings are added to the table. So many unique displays continued to be unveiled and all of the wings look delicious. Everyone out did themselves this year!  I’m taking pictures of everything and all of a sudden I hear, “Ty’s display is on fire. … No it’s LITERALLY on fire”!!!! Everyone started to scramble and Ty jumps in and puts out the flames. All I can hear is my Mom saying, “Their table! Their brand new table! Get it off their brand new table”! I’m standing there watching the side of the tote melt down, through the tablecloth, and onto the table. Woops! Everyone just stood there in shock for a second! Ha! Ty looks up and says, “I tested this over and over at home and not once did it do THAT”! Everyone started laughing and so began hours and hours of teasing at Ty’s expense.

     As the night went on I would catch a glimpse of Ty in the kitchen looking at the table, scrubbing and scrubbing trying to get the melted remains off. To say he “felt bad” is a huge understatement. It’s just a table (which has a protection plan on it so it will be fixed very soon) and no one was hurt and that’s what matters. Plus we now have a really awesome story to tell for years to come. I will forever be able to tease Ty about this. As the youngest in the family, anytime you have a story on your big brother, that’s a sweet- sweet moment! Ha

     As Super Bowl 50 was coming to an end so was our party. The wings had been eaten, the votes had been tallied, and the results were in. Everyone’s hard work had not been in vain. It was a Wing Off that will always be remembered! Congratulations to all of the winners!

 

First Place: Nikki Henley – Salt & Vinegar Wings

Second Place: Sabrina Garton – Balsamic Wings

Third Place: Justan Layne – Spicy BBQ Wings

Best Presentation - Ty Sanders & Jared Henley

 

     This was the first time we have ever had a tie. Both Ty and Jared had awesome presentations. Jared’s was a little less flammable, but very cool and unique to say the least!  

     Here are just a few of my favorite images from a very memorable evening! I’m already counting down the days until next year! Enjoy and Happy Thursday!

Wing Off 2016

 

Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016

      

Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016
First Place: Nikki Henley - Salt & Vinegar Wings 

First Place: Nikki Henley - Salt & Vinegar Wings 

Second Place: Sabrina Garton - Balsamic Wings 

Second Place: Sabrina Garton - Balsamic Wings 

Third Place: Justan Layne - Spicy BBQ Wings

Third Place: Justan Layne - Spicy BBQ Wings

Best Presentation (and fire starter): Ty Sanders

Best Presentation (and fire starter): Ty Sanders

Best Presentation: Jared Henley 

Best Presentation: Jared Henley 

The Winners! 

The Winners! 

Wing Off 2016
Wing Off 2016