The Swanson.

  

Mike's brother was in town recently and while he was here he had a request--that we make "The Swanson."  The Swanson is named after the one and only Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation.  Have you seen that show?  It's pretty hilarious.  Ron is a very stereotypical manly man.  He loves steak, bacon, and meat in general.  One of the local parks named a bacon-wrapped turkey leg after him and called it "The Swanson."  I couldn't find an exact recipe for this many meal, but I was able to consolidate a few recipes and make something pretty good for Mike and Pete.  I told Mike he should feel lucky because while I like bacon once in a while, I never cook with it and I honestly don't think he has ever seen me touch it. 

Here's how I made "The Swanson."

Marinade:

• 1 tbs paprika
• 1 tbs black pepper
• 1 tbs garlic salt
• 1 tbs olive oil
• juice of 2 lemons

Cover 6 skinless chicken legs (I couldn't find turkey at the grocery store) in the above marinade for 24 hours.  After marinading, wrap the chicken breasts in bacon strips without using any type of fastener (you have to tuck the bacon under itself) and stick in a pre-heated 250* oven.  Pour 1/2 cup water in the pan with the chicken (to keep it moist) and cover with aluminum foil for 50 minutes.

After baking, take the drumsticks out of the oven and let sit for 50 minutes.


Now comes the grilling.  I feel like these little guys would have turned out better if I actually had a barbecue...but I don't, so I tried to cook them on a griddle.  Anyway, set the drumsticks on the grill or griddle (medium-medium high on the griddle) and allow 3-5 minutes to cook on each quarter.  After they are a nice golden brown, brush on the glaze which consists of...

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• the juice of 2 lemons
• 1 tsp of red pepper flakes

Cook until they are as well-done as you'd like.

In the end they look like this.  I took about one bite and I was done, but the boys really liked these.  They weren't cooked as well as I like (I need my chicken overdone or I freak out a little), so I think that if and when I make these again I'll cook the drumsticks in the oven (without bacon) for 20 minutes or so before wrapping them.

I served them with biscuits and roasted green beans & brussel sprouts. 

I hope you enjoy a very manly barbecue sometime soon!