American rodeo performer, film and television actor Slim Pickens died 34 years ago today in Modesto, California. Born Louis Burton Lindley, Jr. in 1919, Pickens played mostly cowboy roles, and is probably best known for his role as Major T.J. “King” Kong in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Dr. Strangelove is third on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Laughs list.
In honor of his role as Kong in Strangelove, here are some appropriate recipes.
Nuclear Daiquiri
3⁄4 oz Jamaican rum
3⁄4 oz Green Chartreuse
3⁄4 oz Lime juice
1⁄3 oz Falernum, Velvet Falernum
1 slice lime
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel. (Source: Kindred Cocktails)
Thermonuclear Chicken Wings
24 chicken wings, tips cut off
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 tbs garlic powder
3 tbs habanero sauce
3 tbs Tabasco sauce
ground red pepper to taste
1 tbs white vinegar
2 oz brown sugar
8 oz bleu cheese salad dressing
iceberg lettuce (for platter)
Preheat oven to 375°F degrees.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine vegetable oil, garlic powder, Tabasco sauce, habanero sauce, vinegar and brown sugar.
Separate tips from wings.
Place tips and wings on cookie sheet(s).
Using a pastry brush, coat the wings with the sauce mixture.
Sprinkle ground red pepper over wings and tips.
Bake wings for 15 to 20 minutes or until they have browned.
Arrange wings on leaf lettuce and serve with your favourite cold beverage.
Dip wings in bleu cheese salad dressing for some cooling affect.
Learn more about Slim Pickens:
- New York Times: Slim Pickens, Known For Cowboy Roles, Dies.
- SFGate: Actor Slim Pickens Died in 1983.
- True West Magazine: Slim Pickens.
