The Death Dinner or Layered Taco Dip and Buffalo Wings

Growing up this was a favorite frivolous Friday night dinner but as us kids got a bit older and started counting calories, we began to realize that this meal, delicious as it was, was not exactly diet food. In certain dramatic teenage fashion we began to call it "the death dinner" to get our point across. We must not have made much of an impression because I now that I am 41 years old my mom still makes this for me on Friday night, though now I don't care quite so much about the lack of health benefits! 

In a baking, dish layer 1 can of refried beans on the bottom.  Next, top that with 1 pound of browned ground beef with taco seasoning.  I do find that it works best if you add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste or a few squirts of ketchup to the beef while it is browning with the taco seasoning in order to give it a little body and some thickness.  On top of the ground beef, layer about 1/2 jar of your favorite salsa.  Finally, top it off with enough shredded cheese to cover the top.  Bake it in a 400 degree oven for about 20-30 minutes or until it is bubbling and the cheese is melted.  Let it sit for about 15 minutes before cutting into it, otherwise, it will run all over the place. Serve it with tortilla chips, sour cream and hot sauce.  

Buffalo Chicken Wings

1 package chicken drummettes
1 tablespoon dry rub
1/4 cup hot sauce (Frank's or Louisiana)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons butter
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place chicken drummettes on a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet and pat them very dry. Season with salt, pepper and your favorite dry rub. Place them in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, turn them over and bake for 15 minutes more. Make the sauce by heating the hot sauce and vinegar in a saucepan over a medium flame. Just before tossing with the wings and serving, turn the burner off and whisk in the butter. Do not let the sauce come to a boil after adding the butter or it will become greasy. Whisking the butter in off the heat will make a nicely incorporated sauce. Toss wings and sauce together and serve hot with blue cheese or ranch dip with sliced raw vegetables.