Tarantula Dip Recipes

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.

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.

SEVEN LAYER TACO DIP

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, blend the taco seasoning mix and refried beans. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.
• Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans.
• Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives.

DEEP-FRIED TARANTULA

Steps:

• To make the batter, beat the egg in a small mixing bowl until smooth. Slowly add the cold water, continuing to beat until evenly mixed. Add the flour and baking soda and beat gently until combined; the batter should be a bit lumpy.
• Let the batter sit at room temperature while heating the oil.
• In a deep saucepan or deep-fat fryer, heat the oil to 350 degrees.
• 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.

HOW TO COOK TARANTULA SPIDERS

Steps:

• Whisk an egg in a medium mixing bowl.
• Stir in 1 cup chilled seltzer water. The sparkling water makes for a lighter batter, though you can use tap water or bottled water- the colder, the better.
• Add the flour and corn starch a bit at a time, stirring minimally. Traditional batter (in Japan) is made by stirring briefly with a couple of chopsticks. It is okay to leave lumps in the batter and is best not to over-stir the batter as doing so tends to toughen the coating. Make the tempura batter just before use. It is best made fresh and not stored for later use.

BLUE TARANTULA MARGARITA

Steps:

• Pour the lime juice onto a saucer Pour salt onto another saucer.
• Dip the rim of a glass into the lime juice and then into the salt.
• Put desired amount of ice into the glass.
• Pour the last 4 ingredients into the glass and stir well.
• Enjoy!

TARANTULA COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
• 3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until well blended.
• 4. Gradually add the flour mixture and cocoa powder. Beat to form a smooth dough.
• 5. Roll a tablespoon-sized ball of dough, and place it on a baking sheet. Arrange eight pretzel sticks around the ball like spokes on a wheel. Press the tips of the pretzel sticks firmly into the dough ball. Continue with the rest of the pretzels and dough.
• 6. Bake until cookies start to brown around edges, about 7-10 minutes.
• 7. Lift the cookies from the baking sheets with a spatula, and place on wire cooling racks. Let cool completely. Place the racks on sheets of aluminium foil or waxed paper.
• 8. In a double boiler (or the microwave), melt the chocolate chips with vegetable oil.
• 9. Pour the melted chocolate over each cookie. Coat with chocolate sprinkles. Press in two red candy eyes on the front of the head. Eeek!

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.