Buffalo Chicken Wings

I’m 27 years old, and I enjoy cooking. The meals I make are good, and I’m comfortable in the kitchen most of the time. Still, there has always been one thing that intimidated me: cooking anything with bones, especially chicken. I worried about getting it wrong, undercooking it, or not knowing when it was truly done. Because of that worry, I avoided it.

For a long time, I stuck to foods I felt confident making. It wasn’t because I lacked skill, but because I didn’t want to take a risk. Cooking with bones felt like crossing a line I wasn’t ready to cross, so I kept it off my list. Again, do not assume that I cook only super easy foods like eggs, haha. I’ve made delicious foods such as chicken breasts and smashed potato tacos, tinga de pollo in chipotle salsa, which is basically shredded chicken in chipotle salsa, fried battered cauliflower in red sauce, and so on. These dishes I mentioned may seem simple, but as once someone told me, “when you do not cook with love, your food will show it.” Why am I starting to believe her? I mean when I cook with desperation and frustration I have come to notice that my food is not pleasant. However, when I do take my time, my food comes out great. My point is, even though cooking eggs is super easy, you gotta cook them with love!

Around New Year’s, my sisters-in-law said we would be making chicken wings together. I agreed, even though I felt nervous. What made it easier was knowing I wouldn’t be doing it alone. That day, I paid close attention as they prepared the wings. I watched how they seasoned them, how they cooked them, and how they knew when the wings were done. I didn’t rush or try to take control. I observed and learned.

After that day, I started to feel more confident. I realized that cooking chicken wings wasn’t as complicated as I had built it up to be in my head. I told my boyfriend that I felt ready to cook chicken wings for him on my own. Saying it out loud felt like a commitment to myself.

That Saturday, I decided to try. I took the chicken wings out and seasoned them with garlic powder and an all-purpose seasoning. I kept it simple and trusted what I had seen before. I heated oil in a pan and placed the wings in carefully. As they cooked, I paid attention and made sure not to rush the process. I watched for signs that they were done and trusted my judgment.

When the wings were ready, I took them out and added buffalo sauce at the end. On the side, I made round, sliced potatoes. The meal itself wasn’t complicated, but to me, it represented something bigger. I had finally cooked something I used to avoid.

I was really pleased with how everything turned out. My boyfriend enjoyed the wings, and hearing that meant a lot to me. More than anything, I felt proud of myself. I had faced something that intimidated me and succeeded.

Cooking those chicken wings reminded me that fear can make things seem harder than they really are. Sometimes, all it takes is watching, learning, and giving yourself the chance to try. This experience showed me that confidence grows when you step outside your comfort zone.

Now, cooking chicken with bones doesn’t feel as intimidating anymore. That confidence has stayed with me, and it’s encouraged me to keep trying new things in the kitchen without holding myself back.

Below is a photo of my buffalo chicken wings with potatoes that are round shaped! The Spanish caption translates to: After coming home from my night shift job, I began to cook Buffalo Wild Wings with round shaped potatoes.