Wings

We close out our week of worldly wings with a recipe . . . with an accessory. While I love this classic finger food on its own, sometimes a cooling dipping sauce is just what the tailgater ordered to complement a piping hot and/or fiery chicken wing. Think about it: buffalo wings are divine, but when that Frank's RedHot sauce becomes too hot to handle, nothing quenches a mouth inferno quite like some blue cheese dressing.

While this recipe forgoes a spicy wing in favor of a tangy lemon-pepper vinaigrette, it's merely a vehicle for the velvety yogurt dipping sauce. Creamy feta and soothing cucumber serve to heighten the cooling sensation, making it a great addition to a wing buffet side by side with its hotter cousins. Get the recipe.

We last took you to Mexico for a bright and tangy take on one of America's favorite game-day foods, but our next culinary adventure sends us across the Pacific to South Korea for some sweet and spicy finger-licking. If you've been lucky enough to dine at the KyoChon or BonChon chicken restaurants, then you know that Koreans love fried chicken. One of the most popular varieties is yangnyeom dak, a crisp, twice-fried wing or thigh tossed in a fiery sauce that reminds me of the classic buffalo wing with an Asian twist.

Just as buffalo wings marry a zesty tang with mouth-numbing heat, Korean wings combine the acidity of rice vinegar with the peppery punch of fermented red-pepper paste and red-pepper powder (found at many Asian grocery stores). Mix in sweet honey and fragrant sesame oil, and you have a crowd-pleasing and conversation-starting app that will make your game-day get-together a hit.

For this unique take on an American classic, just read on.

Wings are a game day mainstay, but before you grab that bottle of Frank's RedHot, consider a version or two that journey beyond buffalo. This week, we tread the less-beaten path through wing-dom with a look at five recipes that shed new light on our favorite chicken part.

Today, our wings get a south of the border kick with tomatillo-based salsa verde. Taking a page from the popular Mexican dish chile verde, which tempers the bright tang of this tomato relative with smoky braised pork, I simmered the salsa in some chicken broth for some added flavor depth before thickening up the sauce. Serve the wings drizzled with the salsa verde, and for an over-the-top delight, topped with sour cream and crumbled cotija cheese.

Of course, don't shun the buffalo sauce entirely. For a spectacular game day spread, fry up a large batch of wings, serve them with a variety of sauces, and let your guests pick their favorites!

Keep reading for this finger food treat.

When it comes to game day eats, dips are convenient, chili is comforting, and pizza is solid, but none of them hold a candle to the reigning champion of Super Bowl snacks: fiery, vinegar-laden chicken wings.

While it's a Sunday requirement, buffalo chicken isn't the most ideal to make; even with special cooking equipment, its deep-fried preparation can be dangerous, messy, and odorous. Leave it to the king of food science, Alton Brown, to come up with an alternative cooking method for buffalo chicken.

His recipe calls for steaming, chilling, and then baking the chicken wings. It's healthier, less messy, and even my sports fanatic boyfriend can't tell the difference! For a baked version that achieves the same crispy, crackly results, keep reading.

St. Louis Rams fans: if you think a winning touchdown has been impossible this season, just wait until you try to score some buffalo chicken wings.

Wing demand is on the rise, but due to this year's waning need for chicken breast, poultry producers have cut chicken production for the first time in 36 years. Broiler chicken production is forecast to be down 3.5 percent this year — and, with only two wings per chicken, wholesale wing costs are poised to increase dramatically.

So, much like Super Bowl Sunday last year, on game day other spicy chicken dishes will just have to fly. Since what I really want to eat is buffalo chicken cheese dip, that's fine with me. Will you miss this year's wings? Or are you willing to pay a higher price for them?

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• Starting with the first episode of the upcoming season, Martha Plimpton will have a role in a multi-episode story line on Grey's Anatomy. — Reuters
• Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson and Julianne Moore will star in writer/director Stanley Tucci's dramedy The Hunter. — ComingSoon
• Kathy Griffin will host the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sept. 12, while Russell Brand will return to host the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 13. — The Hollywood Reporter
• Disney has acquired film rights to the young adult novel Wings and will develop it as a star vehicle for Miley Cyrus. — ComingSoon

Although I don't consider myself the most patriotic person, I love a good 4th of July celebration! With its warm weather, barbecue dinner, and fireworks finish, chances are you enjoy the nation's birthday party, too. If you haven't decided what to serve your family and friends, consider whipping up a meal that is all-American.

Start things off with finger-licking-good chicken wings. The sweet and spicy sauce is so simple it can be made with items you already have in your pantry. Next move on to a beloved classic: a bacon cheeseburger with all the fixings. No backyard party is complete without several stellar sides, so plate up a generous helping of creamy potato salad.

A platter of plump in-season heirloom tomatoes drizzled with olive oil rounds out the menu. Are you enticed by the sound of these dishes? Check out the recipes when you read more