Grilled Chicken Wings with Maple Barbecue Sauce

I'm a Vermont girl, and where I'm from, it's tradition to serve up maple inspired dishes.  That's no different on Independence Day.  In continuance of our 4th of July special, we bring you these Grilled Chicken Wings with Maple Barbecue Sauce from Jan's Sushi Bar.  A must try for all the wing lovers out there!

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken wings, not jointed

2 tablespoons Mrs. Dash for chicken or barbecue dry rub

2 tablespoons lard or other cooking fat

1 large yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups tomato sauce

3/4 cup Vermont maple syrup

1/4 cup tamari or gluten-free soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Melt the lard in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, maple syrup, soy sauce and red pepper flakes; bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 20 minutes.  Stir in the vinegar; season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Reserve about 3/4 of a cup for the chicken wings, and store the rest in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a later use.

While the sauce is simmering, prepare and heat your grill, depending on type – if using charcoal, make sure you have a bed of hot coals, covered in ash, spread evenly beneath the grate. Raise the grate to between 4 and 6 inches above the coals/heat.

Rinse the chicken wings and dry then with a paper towel. Place them in a large bowl and sprinkle them with the seasoning mixture/dry rub, tossing them frequently to coat them evenly. Place then over the coals/heat and cover. Cook, turning occasionally, for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink near the bone. Baste with the barbecue sauce for the last 5 minutes.

Remove to a platter and allow the chicken to rest for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.