Christinas Chicken Fried Steak Food

THE BEST CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Liberally sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper (see Cook's Note). Put them on a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and let sit at room temperature while you make the gravy.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the flour until combined and cook until golden and bubbling, about 1 minute. Whisk in the whole milk, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, whisking frequently, until the gravy boils. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, whisking occasionally, until the gravy thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and keep warm; it will seem loose but will thicken as it sits.
• Whisk the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl. Whisk the buttermilk, egg and hot sauce in a medium bowl. Working with 1 steak at a time, dredge in the seasoned flour, turning to coat and packing into the crevices. Shake to remove any excess and return to the rack. Repeat with the remaining steaks.
• Pour 3 tablespoons of the buttermilk mixture into the seasoned flour and work it in with your fingers; it should feel like wet sand with some clumps. (These clumps will give the steak a crispy, shaggy crust.) Dip the dredged steaks into the remaining buttermilk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Pack the moistened flour firmly onto each steak. Very gently shake off any excess and return to the rack. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Pour the oil into a large cast-iron skillet fitted with a deep-fry thermometer (the oil should come about halfway up the sides). Heat the oil over high heat until the thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Fry the steaks in 2 batches until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Whisk the warm cream gravy to loosen it and serve over the chicken-fried steak.

TEX-MEX CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250˚ F. Combine the potatoes, milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Remove to a bowl with a slotted spoon; reserve the milk.
• Meanwhile, heat 3/4 inch vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375˚ F. Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour with 1 tablespoon chili powder in a shallow bowl. Whisk the buttermilk, egg, remaining 1 tablespoon chili powder and a pinch of salt in a separate bowl. Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Coat the steaks in the flour, dip in the buttermilk, then coat in the flour again.
• Working in batches, fry the steaks, turning once, until crisp and golden, 5 minutes; transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet. Season with salt and keep warm in the oven. Reserve the cooking oil.
• Put the peas and carrots in a microwave-safe bowl and add 2 tablespoons water; cover and microwave until hot, 4 minutes. Mix 3 tablespoons of the reserved cooking oil and the remaining 1/4 cup flour in a bowl with a fork. Return the milk to a boil, whisk in the flour mixture and cook, whisking, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and add the potatoes; warm through, 1 minute. Serve the steak with the potatoes and peas and carrots. Top with more gravy and chopped chives.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; the flour mixed with the seasoned salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, paprika and cayenne in another; and the meat in a third. Then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.
• Work with one piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it's sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it's ready. (It should not brown right away, if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat, 3 pieces at a time, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep them warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.
• After all the meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl. Without cleaning the skillet, return it to the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup of the grease back to the skillet and allow it to heat up.
• For the gravy: When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a deep golden brown color.
• Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.
• Serve the meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes. Pour gravy over the whole shebang!

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Cut the beef into 4 equal pieces. Put the pieces between plastic wrap and pound out, with the textured side of a meat mallet, to 1/4-inch thick. Put the meat into a shallow glass or plastic dish, cover with the buttermilk, turning to coat. Set aside while you prepare the dredging station.
• In a large baking dish, add the flour and season with salt and pepper, to taste. In a second dish, whisk eggs and milk together. In the third dish, combine the crushed crackers and the panko.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Fit a baking sheet with a rack.
• Remove the steaks from the buttermilk, then dip each piece in the flour to coat, shaking off the excess flour. Next, coat them in the egg, then dip them in the cracker and panko mixture, lightly pressing the crumbs into the steak. Set the steaks set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
• Heat the canola oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. When oil is shimmering, add the steaks, 1 at a time, and cook for 3 minutes on first side, 2 to 3 minutes on second side, or until cooked through. Repeat with remaining steaks. As you finish, blot the excess oil on a paper towel, then transfer the steaks to a baking sheet, and keep warm in a low oven.
• Arrange the steaks on a serving platter and serve with Drunken Pork Gravy.
• In a small bowl, combine the pork, salt and black pepper, to taste, the white pepper and red chili flakes. Heat a medium nonstick skillet, over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook, breaking up the pork as it browns.
• Once the pork is cooked through, add the onions and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Deglaze with the wine, and reduce for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the Dijon and sprinkle in the flour. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes to cook out the raw flavor of the flour.
• Add 1 cup of the milk and stir until combined. Add the remaining milk and mix until it's just starting to thicken. Stir in the cream and heat through. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste, if needed. Serve immediately.

CHRISTINA'S TV DINNERS

Steps:

• If using a disposable baking pan, fold up several layers of heavy-duty foil to create 2-inch wide strips. Fit the strips into the baking pan to form 1 large and 2 smaller compartments.
• Spoon 1/4 cup of the Lasagna Roll-Up sauce into the large compartment of each tray. Put 2 roll-ups and 3 meatballs over the sauce in each tray. Spoon remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Divide the frozen peas among 1 of the remaining compartments in each tray and top with a pat of butter. Put a piece of brownie dough in each of the remaining compartments. Cover the trays tightly with aluminum foil and freeze until ready to use, up to 3 months.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Let dinners stand at room temperature for 5 minutes. Uncover the brownie compartment and bake dinners until heated through, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and pat dry.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in the marinara sauce and basil and let simmer for 5 minutes.
• Spread 2 tablespoons of spinach across 1 end of a lasagna noodle, about 1-inch from the edge. Sprinkle with a little garlic salt. Spread 2 tablespoons of ricotta over the spinach. Arrange about 1/8 of the provolone over the spinach and top with 1/8 of the prosciutto. Roll up the noodle around the filling. Repeat with remaining noodles and filling.
• If making Christina's TV Dinners, proceed according to that recipe. Otherwise, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread half of the sauce in a shallow baking dish and set the roll-ups on top. Spoon the remaining sauce over the roll-ups and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake until heated through, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk egg and milk together. Tear bread into pieces, add to the egg mixture and let soak for a few minutes.
• Place beef in a medium mixing bowl. Add egg-bread mixture, salt, and pepper and mix well. Form the mixture into 12 (1-inch) meatballs.
• In a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan. Roll the meatballs in the bread crumb mixture to coat evenly.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook until browned, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK 1

Steps:

• For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; mix the flour with the seasoned salt, paprika, cayenne and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper in another; and put the meat in a third. Then have 1 clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.
• Work with 1 piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour mixture and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it's sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it's ready. (It should not brown right away; if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat 3 pieces at a time until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.
• For the gravy: Put the skillet with the grease back over the heat. When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a golden brown color, about 5 minutes.
• Pour in 3 cups of the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more of the remaining milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure the gravy is sufficiently seasoned.
• Serve the steaks with the gravy.

CHRISTINA'S BAKED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• I use three plates.
• Put chicken on a large plate or bowl and cover with about 1/2 - 1 cup of peanut oil.
• Crush crackers with your hand so it's not too crushed and mix together on plate or in a bowl with seasoned salt, pepperika, and flour.
• Beat eggs and put in seperate plate or bowl.
• Take the chicken leg and cover it with peanut oil.
• place oil covered leg in cracker mixture and cover it with the mixture.
• Then place the peice in eggs and cover it then back into cracker mixture.
• Finish it by covering it again in peanut oil.
• Place the finished peice on a cookie sheet.
• Repeat for all other pieces of chicken leg - You may have to make more cracker mixture and pour more oil depending on how much you like to coat your chicken.
• Bake in over at 350 for about 45 minutes. comes out crispy and moist.

CHRISTINA'S CHICKEN

Steps:

• Marinate chicken in wine, salt, pepper and garlic overnight.
• Fry chicken in frying pan until cooked.
• Pat off excess grease and place breasts on a cookie sheet.
• Place two slices of bacon on each breast and then top with two slices of cheese on each.
• Place finished breasts in oven at 350 until cheese melts.
• YUMM!

CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• Put the steaks on a board and bash with a rolling pin until about half the original thickness. Mix the eggs with the cayenne in a bowl. Combine the ingredients for the spice mix with a large pinch of salt in a separate shallow dish.
• Dip the steaks into the egg, then the spice mix, turning to coat. Pour the oil into a large non-stick frying pan until the base of the pan is covered. Fry the steaks over a high heat for 2 mins until crisp, then turn and fry for 2 mins more. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
• If you're making the sauce, pour away all but 1 tbsp oil from the pan and stir in the flour, cooking until browned. Crumble in the stock cube. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking until smooth and fully incorporated. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 4-5 mins. Season. Add the thyme and plenty of black pepper, then squeeze in the lemon juice to taste. Serve the steaks with the sauce, and greens and corn, if you like.