Have you ever experienced a squash blossom that has been stuffed and fried? They are truly magical. So magical, in fact, it’s hard to stray from the classic. But I somehow found the courage to take a risk and try something new with my beloved blossoms. These Spicy Chicken Squash Blossom Tacos are the result of that leap of faith. And now, they are this household’s favorite taco, which is a touch inconvenient because squash blossoms are not always easy to come by. So I realize this recipe may be a tease for some of you at the moment. On the other hand, it never hurts to have a recipe at the ready for any unexpected blossoms that may enter your life.
If you think the recipes on this blog are a window into what I eat in my daily life, you’re sorely mistaken. Sure, there are dishes that work their way into my weekly rotation. But no I’m certainly not hand pleating dumplings on a Tuesday night. I want the food that appears on this blog to be special. ‘Company’s coming’ kind of food. Or ‘I feel like puttering around and being cozy in the kitchen’ kind of meals. So, when I call for deep frying, please believe this is not an everyday occurrence in our house. I don’t do it effortlessly on a daily basis. So yeah, I don’t ask you to deep fry something lightly. But when I do call for it in a recipe, you best believe it’s for a good reason and these Za’atar Potato Chips are a VERY good reason.
Okay, I realize frying chicken isn’t exactly a summer-friendly activity. Come to think of it, neither is steaming a basket of buns or anything for that matter. So yeah, maybe these Fried Chicken Bao aren’t going to “summer vibes” or the break from the heat you’re looking for. But they do taste a treat when you’re sitting on the grass on a sunny summer evening. So, are they worth the sweaty sheen and the smeared mascara they impose? Of course, they are! We’re talking about fried chicken here. And what’s more, we’re talking about fried chicken tucked into pillowy bao. The dehydration is temporary, this eating memory is forever.
Chicken wings are the perfect party food. Okay, that may be a touch too enthusiastic; it’s hard to imagine anyone nibbling daintily on one at a funeral. But chicken wings are the perfect party food for a particular type of party. I’m not going to say they’re perfect for a Super Bowl party or something equally jocky because, aside from being painfully obvious, it’s far too limiting. I think wings are capable of so much more than that. Having said that, I did make today’s Chipotle Hot Wings as a companion to a Toronto Raptor’s playoff game. But I have on numerous occasions made wings for non-sporting events and served them to sports-adverse humans with great success. Everyone loves wings, so why relegate them exclusively to man caves and sports bars. Free the wing!
