Balsamic Drumsticks: I want to be a rockstar

For JEL, HJL, CY, GC, who let me play the drums, even when they wanted to.

I want to be a rockstar.  More accurately, I'd like to be a part of a rock band, as the drummer.  Last weekend, at friend JEL's house, I had the chance to play Rock Band with friends, and can I just say, I lost myself.  I am normally very disciplined about leaving homes on time, in order that Son and Daughters can go to bed on time, but this evening, I COULD NOT tear myself away.  Every minute ticked by and at the end of each song, I insisted we play another.   And another.  And another.  It was my first time on the drums and I couldn't stop playing.  My lack of discipline and care was astounding and it was 2 hours past my normal departure time when I stumbled out of JEL's house, rock tunes dancing in my hand, and fingers holding imaginary drumsticks as I beat out rhythms with my fists.

For a few days afterwards, my chopsticks became drumsticks, my pencil and pens became drumsticks and I pretended to tap out rhythms.  I am not that good, but for whatever reason, I think I CAN be good.  It's another thing on my list of things I'd like to accomplish before I die - be good at drumming.  In the meanwhile, I continue to grab random objects and use them as drumsticks...including chicken drumsticks.

These balsamic drumsticks are a current favorite of Daughters.  I like to cook them long so the skin gets crispy, the meat tender, almost falling off the bone, and the sauce just coating it all. They are simple enough to make - bake chicken, make sauce, bring them together, and they taste delicious.  They are sticky, messy, and probably wouldn't be very good at being drumsticks, but they taste very good as you rock out to beats in your head. 

Balsamic Drumsticks

Adapted from a recipe by Giada de Laurenttis

10-12 chicken drumsticks, skin on
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Balsamic Sauce
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 garlic cloves,minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

In a saucepan, add all sauce ingredients together.  Whisk to combine and simmer over medium heat 15-20 minutes, until mixture is reduced by a 1/3.  It will be thick, similar in consistency to ketchup. Set aside until needed.

Chicken preparation
Preheat oven to 400.
On a roasting pan, with a the grilling tray on top ( the tray that allows you to cook chicken and let the fat drip to the pan underneath) place chicken drumsticks in a single layer.  Drizzle chicken with a bit of olive oil and season each drumstick with salt and pepper.  Place chicken in oven, and roast for about 45 minutes, until chicken is golden.

Remove chicken from oven, and baste balsamic sauce over each drumstick, coating each piece evenly.  Return chicken to oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes, until the chicken is slightly caramelized.  Remove chicken from oven, turn over each drumstick, spread more sauce on the other side, and repeat cooking process.  Remove from oven.  Serve with remaining warm barbecue sauce.

Printable recipe

The dinner of true rockstars