BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS WITH GORGONZOLA DIP

"My assistant Barbara Libath and I know that if we test a recipe during the day and we both go home and make it for dinner, it's a winner. These chicken wings, which are broiled not fried, passed that test. Served with the traditional blue cheese dip and celery sticks, they're delicious!"

FOR THE WINGS:
16 chicken wings (about 3 pounds)
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 teaspoons Frank's Hot Sauce, or 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
FOR THE DIP:
1 1/2 cups crumbled gorgonzola or other blue cheese
1 cup good mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Celery sticks, for serving

Preheat the broiler.

Cut the chicken wings in thirds, cutting between the bones. Discard the wing tips. Melt the butter and add the cayenne, hot sauce, and salt. Put the wings on a sheet pan and brush them with the melted butter. Broil them about 3 inches below the heat for 8 minutes. Turn the wings, brush them again with the butter, and broil for 4 more minutes, or until cooked.

For the dip, place the blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until almost smooth.

Serve the chicken wings hot or at room temperature with the blue cheese dip and celery sticks.

Makes 32 pieces
Excerpted from Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten
Copyright © 2002 by Ina Garten. Excerpted by permission of Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.