Kickin' Fried Chicken!

Hello Eaters!! I'm so sorry I haven't been at the dinner table for a while. I was so consumed with scholarship and college applications. The life of a 17 year old right? But although I wasn't writing, I was trying new recipes to share with you all and I have something for you. Ever had an intense craving for some succulent, crunchy, crispy fried chicken?? I know I have. Drive to the nearest Popeyes or KFC or China One Restaurant to get you some fry chicken and feel like a greasy pig after your first bucket. Lol a bucket is kinda extreme but still..you never know how this chicken is made..the oil that goes into it and if anyone put their love and care into your meal. I have created a recipe so that you can moniter your ingredients..exercise your own creativity..put your heart into your chicken and satisfy your chicken craving! Try out my Kickin' Fried Chicken Recipe below.

Kickin Fried Chicken    

Ingredients
1 package of chicken
6 eggs
Milk
2 cups of flour
1 cup of Panko Japanese Seasoned Bread Crumbs(sounds expensive..its not)
Salt
Pepper
1 Tablespoon of Onion Powder
1 Tablespoon of Garlic Powder
1 Tablespoon of Cayanne Pepper
1 Tablespoon of Rosemary Leaves
1/2 Tablespoon of Adobo Seasoning
1 Fry Pan
1 medium-sized aluminum pan (depending on how much chicken you use)

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees

2. Prep your chicken a few hours (about 2) before cooking time: Wash and clean your chicken. Remove any fat or feathers present on your chicken.  I used chicken thighs. I removed the skin from the thigh which made it easier to remove the fats and made the meat more accessible for the seasonings. After you have washed and cleaned your chicken, rinse your chicken in some white vinger. Pat dry it and season your chicken simply with ground pepper and salt on both sides.

3. Create your flour: creating a good flour seasoning is essential to a wonder crust for your fried chicken. In a big, shallow bowl, add your flour. I used about 2 cups of flour. If it doesnt look like it will be enough..depending on how much chicken you have..add more. The same applys for the seasonings. (I had about 12 thighs or so) After, add your Panko Bread Crumbs. It is so much crunchier than regular bread crumbs. Then add your garlic powder, onion powder, cayanne pepper, rosemary leaves and adobo seasoning. Mix your ingredients together.

4. Get Your Eggs Ready: Eggs are the glue to your chicken and flour mixture. It allows the flour to stick to your chicken. Crack six whole eggs in a medium-sized bowl. Add a dash of milk..about a tablespoon or so.. to the eggs. Add a pinch of salt, pepper and cayanne pepper to the eggs and whisk together.

NOW YOUR READY TO FRY!

5. Create an assembly line on your counter. Start with your chicken to the eggs to the flour to your fry pan.

6. Add your oil to your frying pan. I would recommend canola oil for the simple fact that olive oil has a lower evaporating point meaning that it would evaporate faster than canola. If you do want to use olive oil..do not use your straight extra-virgin..(that's for your salads and crostinis) use either a combination of olive oil (both extra virgin and regular) or stright olive oil. But I used canola. Fill your frying pan halfway with oil. No deep fry over here although you can in a larger pot if you dont have a deep fryer. But I love a shallow pan fried chicken. Turn your stove on medium high and get ready to fry.

7. Create your chicken. Add your seasoned chicken to your egg mixture. Then put it in the flour. Shake of the excess flour and dip it in the eggs and flour again! YES WE'RE DOUBLE DIPPING! This method creates a thicker, crunchier crust for your chicken. It's awesome. Place your coated chicken in a plate and repeat this step until all your chicken is coated in flour.

8. Fry your chicken. Carefully place 2 pieces of chicken into your frying pan. Do not crowd the swimming pool. It will lower the temperature on the oil. Because I used thighs, two pieces we placed into the pan. Fry for at least 3-5 mins on each side or until it light browns. Do not cook all the way! After 3-5 mins on either side, place your chicken in the aluminum pan. Continue this step until all your chicken in light fried.

9. Place your aluminum pan in your preheated oven for 30-45 mins to cook the meat inside.

10. After time has passed, take your smallest piece of chicken to check if it's cooked fully inside. (lol save the bigger pieces for later) If not, place your chicken back into your oven for an extra 15 mins. Add the small piece to monitor if it gets cooked to avoid cutting up your chicken.

11. After your chicken is fully cooked inside, Re-fry your chicken in the pan again. This will assure a crunchy, hearty crust. Double fry is a great method! Fry for about 1 min on either side and place your completed chicken in a plate with paper towel to absorb the oil. After all the chicken is plated...remove the paper towel. It's like sitting in a bath. You don't want your chicken sitting in its own oil.

12. Add your side like mashed potatoes or mixed veggies or mac and cheese and SATISFY THAT CRAVING!!

I hope that as you use my methods, you will no longer have to spend money on greasy popeyes (althogh they have some nice chicken) but have a home-cooked meal that you created yourself. Well, I'm turning off my stove for today. Nice eating with you..enjoy!

                                                                                   Take a Bite!

                                                                                     -SASHI-

Veggie Galore

Goodnight Eaters! What's cooking? Today was a very interesting day. For those of you who do not know..I'm a Christian and at my church we are about to enter into a 21 day fast. Fasting is basically abstaining from certain foods or pleasures to get closer to God. I didn't want to assume everyone knew that. So with this fast, my church and many other Christians around the U.S. are participating in a Daniel's Fast. In the Bible..a man named Daniel refused to eat the meat given by the King during that time for 21 days. And great things resulted from that. Such great things. However..I'm not as strong as Daniel was because I love me some pesto pasta with grilled chicken and charred red pepper with molted chocolate cake and ice cream on....sigh I will go on and on. So here is my challenge. I love God more than I love food so I have decided to make this commitment. I have certain foods in my "basket." I have unlimted fruits, veggies, whole grains and 100% fruit juices. THAT'S IT..NOTHING MORE! Starting on Jan 9, 2010, I will have to create different meals from these products. I'm used to using my milk, butter, pasta, and chicken. Now I have to convert to soy, olive oil, whole wheat and tofu. Real chefs don't complain. They create something out of nothing. And I wanna be a real chef.  Think I can do it? I'm interested in what you all think. Give me some ideas of what I can put on my palette during my fast. During my fast..I will be sharing some of the recipes that I will develop and upload videos and pictures of my dishes. By the way.. these recipes are NOT  only limited to those who fast. Looking for a diet plan..want to eat healthier..how about try something new..or even modify your diet? YOU DECIDE! Join me on my journey through this revolutionary spiritual, culinary experience. Burners out for tonight. Nice eating with you!

                                                                                                 Take a Bite!
                                                                                                  -SASHI-

Welcome to my Kitchen!!

Hello Eaters! Happy New Year. Wow..I'm not used to this blogging thing but what the hey..who is?! So I'm watching the Food Network today and they are giving a special called Breakfast in Bed. I wish someone will bring me some hash browns and hickory smoked bacon on a platter to my bed. But it's so AWESOME! Paula Deen made this exquiste breakfast burrito with re-fried beans..prefectly fried eggs..peppers..mmmmmm I woke up really quick when I saw that. She made oatmeal too..WITH BUTTER?! She manages to put butter in EVERY MEAL SHE HAS! I wanna know what her doctor says when she pays them a visit. So lemme let you in on a little secret. Alot of people are intimated by cooking eggs. The perfect eggs to some people are impossible to achieve. Well have no fear..SASHI'S HERE! I love scrambled eggs and I actually made my twin (yes I have a twin sister..no she isn't obsessed with food like me) an egg and chesse sandwich last night so I exercised these tips.

1. Add a dash of milk to your egg mixture. It makes the eggs rich and fluffy like a cloud!

2. I put a spinkle some cayanne pepper for a PUNCH of flavor.

3. "Ebony and ivory work together in perfect harmony" Salt and ground black pepper are the way to go! (don't over-season your eggs with your entire pantry..trust me..I've had some bad egg stories -_-)

4. I would recommend that you use butter in your pan. It gives the eggs a wonderful taste.

4. For the perfect consistency and texture: when you add your egg mixture to your medium-high pan..DO NOT STIR! it's very tempting but leave for a minute until the bottom sets. With your rubber spatula, fold the edges of your eggs to the center. Tilt your pan if you must to allow the liquid egg to move underneath. Repeat until there is no more liquid.

5. Reduce the heat to low and gently turn and stir the eggs until all uncooked parts are cooked. Add your cheese or other ingredients now. Don't break up the eggs. You want nice full, bite size pieces not beady peas.

6.  Plate your eggs and enjoy :)


So here you go! Conquer your fears and you show those eggs whose boss. Nothing is impossible in the kitchen. Your in charge. Well..I'm turning off the burner for now. Nice talking to you all!


                                                                                                                                  Take a Bite!
                                                                                                                                   -SASHI-