Tarantula Dip Food

DEEP-FRIED TARANTULA SPIDER

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan or deep-fat fryer, heat the oil to 350°F.
• With a sharp knife, sever and discard the abdomens from the two tarantulas. Singe off any of the spider's body hairs with a crème brûlée torch or butane cigarette lighter.
• Dip each spider into the tempura batter to thoroughly coat. Use a slotted spoon or your hands to make sure each spider is spread-eagled (so to speak) and not clumped together before dropping it into the hot oil.
• Deep-fry the spiders, one at a time, until the batter is lightly browned, about 1 minute. Remove each spider from the oil and place it on paper towels to drain.
• Use a sharp knife to cut each spider in two lengthwise. Sprinkle with the paprika and serve. Encourage your guests to try the legs first and, if still hungry, to nibble on the meat-filled mesothorax, avoiding the spider's paired fangs, which are tucked away in the head region.

TARANTULA DIP

Steps:

• 1. After browning and draining beef, add taco seasoning mix, continue as directed on taco package. While cooking, preheat oven to 350˚.
• 2. Using two casserole dishes, adding the same ingredients and amounts to each, into an approximate 1 1/2 qts layer as the following: About 2 inches of refried beans (about 1/2 can for each layer).
• 3. Add 1/2 cup salsa, hot in one dish, 1/2 cup mild in the other. You want a good cover layer over beans.
• 4. Next, 1 cup shredded cheese evenly layered over salsa.
• 5. Place 1/2 of seasoned ground beef, divided between two casseroles, evenly layered over cheese.
• 6. Repeat layer of beans for each dish. Repeat layer of salsa - one hot, one mild. Repeat cheese layer. Repeat layer with remaining the seasoned ground beef.
• 7. Top with final layer of cheese, generously covering beef.
• 8. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
• 9. Serve with corn tortilla chips, or cut wedges of flour tortillas and bake until crispy and golden. Use as dipping chips. Can serve with sour cream and jalapenos. Also, can set on side additional add-ins: chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, green onion, olives.
• 10. Vegetarian Version: Use any of the ground beef substitutes, that works best. You can use a veggie can of chili, but that is not as good as using Crumbles to make the 'beef" layer.
• 11. Gluten Free: There are taco seasoning mixes that do not have gluten in them. Also, you can create a seasoning combo that will mimic the same with a slight thickener. Will post a recipe for that soon.

TARANTULA DIP

Steps:

• Cook hamburger; drain; add taco seasoning and onion. Spread refried beans in a greased 9x13-inch pan. Put hamburger mixture on top of beans. Spread taco sauce on hamburger. Sprinkle cheese over this. Then layer jalapeño peppers on top. Cook in 325° oven for 30 minutes. Take out of oven. Cool 5 minutes. Spread sour cream on top. Sprinkle black olives on top. Serve with Tostitos corn chips. Editor's Extra: This is hot! And it makes a lot! Great for couple's parties.

TARAMASALATA

Steps:

• Soak the bread in a bowl of cold water, then squeeze out the excess and tip into a food processor or blender. Cut through the thick skin of the roe lobes, scrape out the soft roe underneath and tip into the food processor with the bread. Add the onion, garlic, lemon juice and a good grind of black pepper, then whizz to a paste.
• With the motor running, gradually drizzle in the olive oil, then the sunflower oil, until everything is incorporated and you have a slightly thicker paste. Scrape the taramasalata into a serving bowl, drizzle with a little more olive oil and serve with toasted pittas for dipping.

TARANTULA TACO DIP OR SALAD

Steps:

• 1. On Medium heat, brown the ground beef, salt, pepper and onion. Add Ortega Taco seasoning packet and water and continue to heat until the water is reduced and taco meat has a nice consistency but is not wet.
• 2. In the bottom of a 9" by 13" pan spread the refried beans. Spread the meat mixture on top of the beans and pat with a spatula until level.
• 3. Layer on the diced tomatoes, pour the bottle of Ortega medium sauce over the tomatoes and meat mixture. Layer on the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• 4. When the cheese is golden brown and bubbly remove from the oven. Frost the top of the dish with the sour cream and put the black olives on top for garnish. You may also use chopped scallions or green onions for garnish. This dip can be a main meal dish if you put in a fried flour tortilla shell and serve with chopped iceberg lettuce. When putting the Tarantula dip in the fried shell, I put the sour cream and black olives on as a dollop instead of spreading the sour cream on the whole dish. This dish is best when served warm from the oven.