October 29

Winona Laura Horowitz's Birthday
 

When Winona Horowitz was cast in her first film,  Lucas (1986), she changed her surname to Ryder after her father's favorite musician, Mitch Ryder. After seeing her performance in Lucas,  Tim Burton decided to cast Winona  in his film Beetle Juice (1988). That role helped her land the role of a teenaged killer,  Veronica Sawyer, in the satirical film, Heathers (1989) which made her a breakout star.  Winona 's agent initially begged her to turn the role down, saying the film would "ruin her career". Winona 's performance was critically acclaimed with The Washington Post stating Winona  is "Hollywood's most impressive ingénue [sic] ... Ryder ... makes us love her teen-age murderess, a bright, funny girl with a little Bonnie Parker in her. She is the most likable, best-drawn young adult protagonist since the sexual innocent of Gregory's Girl."

Winona had a string of other critically acclaimed roles in Edward Scissorhands (1990) alongside her then-boyfriend Johnny Depp; Mermaids (1990) in which she costarred with Cher; Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992;  The Age of Innocence  (1993) which won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination in the same category; The Crucible (1993); and Girl Interrupted (1999).

Her role in Girl Interrupted was prophetic for her career. On December 12, 2001, Winona was arrested on shoplifting charges in Beverly Hills, California and stood accused of stealing $5,500 worth of designer clothes and accessories at a Saks Fifth Avenue. Winona  was convicted of grand theft and vandalism, but was acquitted on the third felony charge, burglary. In December 2002, she was sentenced to three years' probation and  480 hours of community service. Winona remained on probation until December 2005.during which time she took a hiatus from film. She resumed her career in 1996.

To celebrate Winona's birthday, what could be more appropriate than whipping up a batch of Sticky Fingers and watching her at her tastiest best in Bram Stoker's Dracula?

   

Sticky Fingers

 

Ingredients
 		  
1/4 cup hot sauce
3 TB honey
2 TB water
2/3 cup. brown sugar
 		 1 cup canola oil
12 - 16 oz. box frozen breaded chicken tenders (fingers)
Non-stick cooking spray

 
Instructions
 
  1. Spray a non-stick cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F
  3. Mix hot sauce, honey and brown sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat until well mixed,
  4. Fry chicken tenders in oil in a medium frying pan until crisp. Drain remaining  oil from pan.
  5. Carefully stir in hot sauce mixture  to coat each piece.
  6. Remove  chicken tenders with a slotted spoon and place on coated cookie sheet, Bake in over for 7 minutes.
  7. Remove chicken tenders from over and serve with remaining sauce.

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes