Chicken Fried Eggplant With Creamy Red Eye Gravy Food

RED EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• Dissolve ham stock and coffee granules in water in a large mixing bowl to create a stock.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; add flour. Cook butter and flour, stirring constantly, until brown, to create a roux, about 5 minutes. Add gravy stock mixture 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until it resembles the consistency of a gravy, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with black pepper. Remove from heat. Serve warm with meal of choice.

FRIED CHICKEN AND BISCUITS WITH RED-EYE GRAVY, ROMAINE SLAW AND LEMON JAM

Steps:

• For the chicken: Combine the buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken thighs and marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
• For the cheddar biscuits: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and pepper in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and mix.
• Add the shortening and butter and mix on low speed until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Add the cheese and mix. Slowly stir in the buttermilk while mixing, just until combined; do not over mix.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to about an inch in thickness; be careful not to overwork the dough. Cut, using a 3-inch biscuit cutter, and place the biscuits on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Brush with melted butter. Bake until the tops are just golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the lemon jam: Put the lemon slices in a small saucepot and cover with 1 1/2 cups water and the sugar. Cook on low heat for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has cooked down to a syrup consistency.
• For the red-eye gravy: Make a roux by combining the butter and flour in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes. Add the brewed and ground espresso, milk, cream and sausage, and stir well to incorporate the roux. Add the hot sauce, paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low heat until the mixture has a thick, gravy consistency, about 45 minutes.
• For the romaine slaw: Combine the romaine, sour cream, olive oil, red onions, chives, pickled jalapenos and salt and pepper to taste in a large salad bowl and toss well.
• To finish the fried chicken: Heat a few inches of canola oil in a fryer or deep skillet to 320 degrees F. Combine the flour, salt, pepper and smoked paprika in a shallow bowl. Drain the thighs in a colander, and then dredge in the flour mixture. Fry a few pieces at a time in the hot oil until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and has a golden brown crust.
• For each serving, place a dollop of red-eye gravy in the center of the plate. Cut a biscuit in half and place the bottom half atop the gravy. Top with a fried chicken thigh, another dollop of gravy, a fried egg, 1/2 cup romaine slaw and a dollop of lemon jam. Place the top half of the biscuit on top and drizzle with 1/2 cup more gravy. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN WITH WHITE GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Fit cooling racks into 2 baking sheets.
• Place 1 chicken breast in a one-gallon resealable plastic bag with the seal left open (alternatively, place between 2 pieces of plastic wrap). Pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until it is 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a shallow dish. Whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce and egg in a medium bowl. Set up a dredging station by arranging the chicken, dry ingredients, wet ingredients and prepared baking sheet in an assembly line. Dredge 1 chicken breast in the dry ingredients to coat, then dip in the wet ingredients and shake off any excess. Dredge once again in the dry ingredients to coat and transfer to one of the cooling racks. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Fill a deep cast-iron skillet with 3/4 to 1 inch of oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Working in 2 batches, fry the chicken until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Place on the second cooling rack and keep warm in the oven until ready to serve.
• For the gravy: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking continuously, until light brown, about 2 minutes. Pour in the milk in a steady stream while whisking. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper, then the vinegar. Cook at a simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Serve the chicken fried chicken topped with the white gravy.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN W/CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• Wash and dry chicken pieces; shake in a bag with flour, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.
• Dip coated pieces in cream in pie plate; then dip in remaining flour mixture again to coat evenly.
• Pour enough oil into a large skillet to make a depth of 1".
• Heat over moderate heat to 375 degrees on deep-fat frying thermometer (if you have one).
• If not, just test heat by sprinkling a drop of water into grease, if it pops, it's ready enough.
• (Stand back, so you don't get splattered).
• Add chicken, skin side down.
• When underside of chicken starts to brown, lower heat and partially cover skillet with lid.
• Turn chicken pieces after 15 minutes.
• Continue cooking second side, uncovered, until browned and chicken is tender, 10 minutes longer.
• Drain on paper toweling, keep warm.
• Serve with Cream Gravy, if you wish.
• For Cream Gravy: Pour off fat from skillet, leaving brown bits; return 2 tablespoons fat to pan.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons flour; heat until light brown.
• Remove from heat; gradually stir in 1 cup light cream.
• Return to heat; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly.
• If too thick, add more cream.
• Taste; add salt and pepper as needed.
• Makes about 1-1/4 cups.

RED EYE GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, cook ham until lightly browned, 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove and save for another use. Add coffee to pan drippings, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Simmer until reduced by about half.

HOMEMADE CHICKEN GRAVY

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour until fragrant, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in cold stock. Reduce heat to low. Bring gravy to a simmer, and cook and stir until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, and season with salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper.