HOMETOWN FAVORITE WINGS

3 1/2 pounds chicken wings (or 16 wings)
FOR THE SAUCE:
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:
In heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter; add onion. Cook until tender.

Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, water, Worcestershire sauce, cocoa powder, tomato paste, vinegar, dry mustard, and pepper sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; remove from heat.

Pour half the sauce into 13-x9-inch glass dish. Place chicken, skin side down in sauce; spoon remaining sauce over chicken. Cover; refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

WHEN READY TO COOK:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Place wings on broiler pan. (Pour sauce into a saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer 2-3 minutes. Set aside.)

Bake wings 40 to 45 minutes or until chicken is tender, turning over wings and brushing with additional sauce.

Serve immediately or refrigerate and reheat later. Keep cooked wings refrigerated no longer than 2 days. If transporting, keep cold in cooler. reheat wings on grill, if desired.

Note from source: A variation on Buffalo Wings. Touch of cocoa gives these an unexpected tasty twist.

Servings: 8
From: Joycelyn Winnecke, Managing editor Chicago Sun-Times.
Source: Scripps Howard News Service 1996-10-17