Texas Style Fryer Food

THE ULTIMATE TEXAS CHICKEN FRIED STEAK RECIPE

Steps:

• Begin with the round steak. Place the round steak inside the butcher paper it comes in, or use parchment or wax paper to cover the individual steaks on both sides while pounding flat. Pound out your steaks with a tenderizing mallet to thin 1/4-inch slices. They will get bigger and wider as you go. I alternate between the spiky side and the flat side of the mallet as I go.
• Combine the flour, seasoning salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and cornstarch in a bowl and whisk it well, then place it on a large platter.
• In a glass dish (big enough to dunk a whole steak) combine the three eggs and milk and whisk into a thin mixture to make an egg wash.
• Dip each steak into flour, shake it off, then into egg wash, shake it off, then back into the flour. Place each steak on a nice big cookie sheet. Repeat with all the steaks, then transfer into the refrigerator for a half-hour. Do not skip this step. This is giving the flour mixture time to bind and develop. Meanwhile, you can clean up, remembering to reserve 4 tablespoons of seasoned flour for the gravy.
• To cook the steaks, fill a cast-iron skillet about halfway with canola oil. Heat the oil to 350°F on medium-high heat. (You can test the oil with the back of a wooden spoon. When it bubbles around the spoon, it's hot enough. This happens at about 350°F.)
• Using tongs, place a steak in the oil. It should immediately start to bubble and cook, but not explode with activity. If it does, you will want to turn the heat down a nudge. Depending on the size of your skillet, you can cook two or more at the same time. Especially if you preheated that cast-iron skillet. You may have to monitor the heat when adding new steaks. I think a good secret is to let the majority of the first steak get nice and well fried on one side before trying to add in another one.
• Watch the edges of the steak for a golden-brown color. The edges will tell you what it looks like underneath! When you feel like the sides look golden brown, flip the steak and repeat frying on the other side, 4-5 minutes depending on the pan used.
• As each steak is done, remove it from the pan and immediately salt it on each side. Hold on a cookie sheet in a preheated oven at about 225°F. This will keep them hot while you cook the other steaks, but they are best served quickly for maximum crispiness.
• When all of the steaks are resting and toasting in the oven, pour all the grease out of the skillet except about 3-4 tablespoons and turn the heat down to low. Sprinkle in the reserved flour and whisk until a brown paste begins to form.
• Slowly whisk in one can of milk and whisk until it is thoroughly combined. Turn the heat up to medium and whisk as the gravy begins to take form and thicken, which happens when the mixture starts to simmer. Little bubbles will begin to form. Keep the heat around medium.
• I usually add another 1/2 can of milk as I decide how thin/thick I want my gravy . . . that's just a preference thing. Feel free to do what you like. Add the lemon juice, onion and garlic powder, and salt. We crack freshly ground pepper in just before serving and sprinkle on fresh thyme from our herb garden.
• Top the chicken-fried steaks with gravy and serve with your favorite sides.

TYLER'S TASTE OF TEXAS STYLE CATFISH

Steps:

• Mix the eggs, hot sauce and water to make the egg wash. In a shallow dish, place the catfish fillets in the egg wash and refrigerate the fillets for at least 1 hour and up to several hours. Combine the cornmeal, flour, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a shallow pan. Pour enough oil into a cast iron skillet to reach halfway up your fillets. Heat the oil to 300 degrees. While the oil is heating dredge the fillets, in the cornmeal mixture one at a time, coating both sides well. Gently place a few pieces of fish in the skillet, frying them in batches. Fry the fillets a total of about 5 minutes per 1/2-inch of thickness, turning them once. Adjust the heat as necessary to get a deep golden brown crust and a flaky interior. Drain the fillets. Serve the fish immediately, with lemon wedges, pink tartar sauce, Texas Champagne sauce, hushpuppies, cole slaw, corn on the cob and a green onion and you have a tasty Tyler's Taste of Texas plate.

TEXAS FRIES

Steps:

• Bake or fry potatoes, whichever you prefer.
• Pour oil in a large skillet. Add onions & jalapenos & cook, stirring often, till onions are tender, about 5 minutes.
• **We prefer the canned jalapenos because the vinegar seeps into the onions while cooking & flavors the whole dish. If using fresh peppers, you may need either more oil or a dash of vinegar.
• Spoon half the onion/pepper mixture onto a serving dish. Top with hot fries. Add remaining onion & peppers.
• Salt to taste but pepper liberally.
• To make it authentic, serve with ranch dressing for dipping rather than ketchup.

TEXAS-STYLE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK WITH CREAM GRAVY

Steps:

• STEAKS:.
• Beat together the egg and milk and set aside.
• Mix together the salt, black pepper, paprika and white pepper and sprinkle on both sides of beef cutlets.
• Dredge the cutlets in the flour, shaking off the excess.
• Then dip each cutlet in the egg/milk mixture, then back in the flour. (You're going to get your hands messy here, so take your rings off.)
• Set cutlets aside on a piece of waxed paper.
• Heat the cooking oil in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes.
• Oil should be about a half-inch deep in the pan.
• Check the temperature with a drop of water; if it pops and spits back at you, it's ready.
• With a long-handled fork, carefully place each cutlet into the hot oil.
• Protect yourself (and your kitchen) from the popping grease that results.
• Fry cutlets on both sides, turning once, until golden brown.
• Reduce heat to low, cover and cook 4 or 5 minutes until cutlets are done through.
• Drain cutlets on paper towels.
• CREAMY GRAVY:
• After the cutlets are removed from the pan, pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of oil, keeping as many as possible of the browned bits in the pan.
• Heat the oil over medium heat until hot.
• Sprinkle flour in the hot oil.
• Stir with a wooden spoon or whisk, quickly, to brown the flour.
• Gradually stir in milk and water, mixed together, stirring constantly with the wooden spoon or whisk and mashing out any lumps.
• Lower heat, and gravy will begin to thicken.
• Continue cooking and stirring a few minutes until gravy reaches desired thickness.
• Check seasonings and add more salt and pepper according to your taste.
• http://www.texascooking.com/recipes//texascfs.htm.

CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Beat together the egg and milk and set aside.
• Mix together the salt, black pepper, paprika and white pepper and sprinkle on both sides of chicken breasts.
• Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour, shaking off the excess.
• Then dip each piece in the egg/milk mixture, then back in the flour.
• Set chicken pieces aside on a piece of waxed paper.
• Heat the cooking oil in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes.
• Oil should be about a half-inch deep in the pan.
• Check the temperature with a drop of water; if it pops and spits back at you, it's ready.
• Carefully place each chicken breast into the hot oil. Protect yourself (and your kitchen) from the popping grease that results.
• Fry chicken breasts on both sides, turning once, until golden brown.
• Reduce heat to low, and cook 15 to 18 minutes until chicken pieces are done through.
• Drain on paper towels.