So Sorry

I'm sorry about the lack of posts recently. After the thesis, I was super exhausted and I couldn't cook. I've actually been cooking all week. I made blueberry scones, lemon marmalade, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate mousse, crème brûlée... Yea, I just forgot to take pictures of them all. If you want I can put up the recipes for them and you can make them but without any pictures. Anyways, I'm moving on Monday so future pics will be in a different location. Also, I'll be going on a little road trip with friends next weekend so there might not be any pics that weekend either. Seems like this blog is dying, no? I hope not. Just a little neglected, that's all. I'll be back soon.

Thesis Is Complete!

Now I know this is a blog about food, but I am going to talk about my life every now and then. So, today I finished my thesis. It is signed by one of my advisors and now will need to be signed tomorrow morning by my other advisor. Ah, what a crazy time it was. OK, I do admit that a lot of the time I spent "writing" was actually spent on Youtube or Facebook or Failblog or one of the many distractions that the Internet provides. Heck, even this blog was a major distraction.

Anyways, this past year was... well, it was an interesting year. Working in a lab is definitely not something I want to do. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it, but I sometimes you just know it isn't really for you. And definitely, Dartmouth is not for me. This place was so boring I almost went "Shining" and murdered everyone.

Anyways, my time in the lab is coming to an end and now I'm wondering what I should do for everyone here at Dartmouth who has helped me along the way. I really want to do something for Dr. North, Bonnie, Mary, and Rhonda, but I don't really know what I should do. In a dream I did a big bow to Dr. North and I was thinking, in a private setting that might not be a bad idea. But then I think about it, and it might be a terrible idea.

Anyways, as awesomely excited I am about finishing my thesis, it makes it even more obvious to me that I now have nothing to do and am just rotting until someone gives me a job. At least before my thesis was done, I was able to say, "Well, I'm currently working on my Master's thesis and hopefully by the time it's done, I'll have a job to move on to." I mean, the job didn't need to start immediately after I finished. I would have looked at it like a vacation. But now I really wish I had a job. I want a job. No, I need a job. I know I sound desperate, but I'm really a good guy and a nice worker and I think I'm fairly smart. And heck, I do occasionally bring in goodies like cookies, and candied bacon and doughnuts, and stuff. So... are any of you hiring?

Bison Wings

So, today we're making buffalo wings! Yay!

Everyone that posts about buffalo wings always does that whole "No, it's not the wings of a giant buffalo." It's stupid.

If you really want to know about it, just go to wikipedia or whatever place you want for the history.

Wings are sooooo delicious though. And I'm telling you, if you want your friends to like you, just make some wings.

Here's a list of what you'll need:

Chicken wings

Canola Oil

Butter

Bottle of Hot Sauce

Cayenne pepper

Tabasco Sauce

So, first things first. You want to heat the oil up. NO, not like that! Oh, James Kim, you crazy.

You want to pour that into a high walled pan. If you have one made of cast iron that would be wonderful, but not necessary.

Anyways, make sure its about 1 - 1.5" deep in oil. Turn the heat up to just below high. Like 9/10. It's going to take quite some time for the thing to heat up though. So let's get the chicken ready.

Here's the bag of chicken. I don't know if you can see it, but there's that weird red liquid. It's part blood, but part weird anti-freeze damage liquid. And that is not good.

So, just wash it off. Just rinse lightly under some running water.

Drain the water off.

Now you didn't see here, but I patted them dry with paper towels. Make sure they're dry. Seriously, it's pretty important that they are dried. It'll make the skin crispy and delicious (I think... Actually I'm not really sure, but I like to dry it, so you do it too).

So, if you want, you can sprinkle some cayenne pepper on them.

See, I did a little bit.

Now, to prep yourself. That oil is damn hot. And if you get any on you, it will hurt! So, long sleeves, and I like to use this bag.

Now, if the oil is hot enough, get your chicken ready for dunking.

The chicken should do this. Put them in one at a time. The first few moments are key! DO NOT let them stick to the bottom! Just stir them around in the oil. Also, they'll probably try to stick to each other. If you have a lot, I'd do them in batches.

Just like with the steak, cover it. I'd highly recommend a splatter guard over the ghetto paper towel method though. You didn't see, but I went through a ton of paper towel because it dipped into the oil and just got soaked.

You're going to cook the chicken for about 20 minutes total time.

They'll be golden and delicious. I used one to check doneness. Check it before you take them all out.

Yup, it's done here.

And here too.

And here too. So basically the chicken is good.

The skin has a nice thin crispiness to it, while the meat is juicy and delicious. Perfect.

For the sauce, I like to start a little before the chicken is done- maybe like 5 minutes or so. Put two sticks of butter in a pan over low heat.

Melt it down until it's all liquid. No solids here please.

Now the trifecta of flavor.

Just pour the whole bottle in there.

And mix.

Oh you know how much I love my mixing shots.

Throw in some cayenne to taste.

And some of that Tabasco too. I usually put in about 10 squirts.

Dunk that chicken in there!

And swirl it in there. You might want to let it sit in the sauce for a minute.

All that's left is plating and enjoying. Some people like ranch; others like blue cheese. Personally, I like to eat wings by themselves. As for celery.... I hate celery.

*burp*

Oh, as for the leftover oil, let it cool down. Then filter it and pour back into the bottle. It's fine. Stop being a crybaby. Actually, the oil will get even better for the next time you make the chicken, the browning will be more awesome looking. I'm telling you, it's for the better.

Go out right now and pick up some stuff for the game today.