How to Cook Turkey Wings Soul-Food Style

Comforting, nourishing and inexpensive, the origin of home-cooked soul food lies in early African-American cooking traditions that made use of food items others tended to discard.

Dishes like baked turkey wings were transformed from throw-away status to savory meals, supplemented by vegetables grown in the yard, fruit and game gathered from the wild and plenty of seasoning.

Make your own version of soul food with turkey wings, which these days, may be found in the grocery store, farmers' market or local butcher shop.

1. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water, as well as any utensils and surfaces that come in contact with raw turkey, to prevent contamination by food-borne organisms.
2. Pull out and discard any small pinfeathers that may still be attached to the turkey wings.
3. Mix together a combination of 1 to 2 tablespoons of seasoning salt and 1 to 2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
   • Poultry seasoning, dried thyme, fresh-ground black pepper and table salt may be included in your seasoning mixture in amounts ranging from a pinch to full teaspoon to suit your taste.
4. Sprinkle the seasoning mix lightly over the turkey wings, allowing about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per wing.
5. Turn the wings over and sprinkle to other side with a similar amount of seasoning.
6. Coat a large glass baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
7. Arrange the seasoned turkey wings in a single layer on the pan.
8. Place about a tablespoon of water per wing in the bottom of the pan.
9. Melt 3 to 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave.
10. Stir 2 to 3 tablespoons of lemon juice into the melted butter.
11. Drizzle half of the mixture over the wings, setting the remainder aside until later.
12. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place it in the oven.
13. Bake turkey wings for 2 hours at 250 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
14. Remove the pan from the oven and take the foil off the top.
15. Drizzle the remaining butter and lemon juice mixture over the turkey wings.
16. Return the pan to the oven, uncovered. Turn the heat up to 350 degrees

Fahrenheit. Bake the wings for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are a deep golden brown.