Dinner with Friends (and recent happenings)!

We had a sweet couple over for dinner last Friday and of course we wanted to cook for them! I was in the mood to try something new and had never made fried chicken before. I haven't had fried chicken in forever since I stopped getting fast food because of all the calories and preservatives. The first thought many people have when they hear "fried chicken" is "fattening" well sure it's not as good for you as a piece of celery but if you make it homemade it is a lot better than buying it from Chicken Express. Making it homemade means your using fresh chicken, no preservatives and it has never been frozen, and not to mention it tastes way better. So don't be afraid of fried chicken when you make it homemade! I also made scalloped potatoes, green beans, apple pie and rolls. Everything was homemade except for the rolls which I used Sister Schuberts Rolls that my mother in law introduced to me a few years ago. They are the best rolls ever and you can get them in the frozen section of the grocery store. Maybe one day I'll get to where I can make homemade rolls like Sister Schuberts! My favorite part of the meal was of course dessert! The apple pie was delicious and very easy to make! I will definitely be making another one soon in the future (after I run a few miles)!!!

Fried Chicken

chicken legs and thighs with skin (about 4 of each)
2 cups of buttermilk
4 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp of dried thyme
cannola oil
1/4 cup of milk
black pepper
salt
Tonys seasoning

1. Rinse chicken, put in a large bowl or pan cover with buttermilk and sprinkle seasoning, let soak for at least 8 hours.
2. In a small bowl combine flour, thyme, and 1 tsp of seasoning (or more), a few dashes of salt and pepper, mix, then add milk, mix with a fork until little lumps form.
3. heat 2 in of oil in a skillet to 365 degrees, or use a fryer and heat till 360 degrees.
4. Coat the chicken in the flour mixture, put chicken in oil for 6-8 min, place chicken on baking sheet covered with a paper towel, to check chicken cut into it and if  it is still pink put it in the over on a baking sheet at 350degrees for 10-15 minutes. Then enjoy!!!




after the chicken was soaked in buttermilk



coating chicken



Green Beans 
2 cans of green beans
3 pieces of bacon
1 onion
salt
pepper
tonys

1. fry bacon and add chopped onion saute till caramelized, cut down heat to med low add green beans, season to taste after about 10 minutes turn heat to low until serving. 

Scalloped Potatoes
5 russet potatoes
1/2 stick of butter
1 cup of heavy cream
1 cup of milk
2 tbsp of minced garlic
1 onion
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 tbsp of rosemary leaves
5 green onions
1/2 cup of minced garlic
1 1/2 tbsp of real bacon bits
Tonys seasoning
Parmesan cheese 
1. Use a large baking dish, coat with cooking spray, rinse potatoes and cut very thin, put potatoes in a large bowl and cover with 1/2 cup heavy cream and set aside, chop onions and green onions, keep about 2 tbsp of finely chopped green onions and set aside.
2. In a skillet over med low heat melt butter add garlic and onion until caramelized, add cream cheese and stir a lot, once mixed add 1/2 cup of heavy cream and keep stirring, after a few min add seasoning, rosemary, and chopped green onions.
3. Put potatoes in baking dish, pour mixture on top cook in oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour, take out and sprinkle a couple dashes of seasoning, finely chopped green onions, and real bacon bits on top, cook for another 15 minutes, to check if it is done stick a fork in potatoes and if the potatoes are soft it is done. 

cream cheese mixture

after covering the potatoes with the mixture



all done!


Apple Pie
2 granny smith green apples 
small red apples
1 deep dish pie crust that has thawed in the fridge
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 cup of flour
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
3 tbsp butter
1/4 cup of brown sugar

1. slice and peel apples, melt 1/4 cup of butter in a skillet, add apples, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, stir over med heat until apples are slightly soft.

2. In a bowl stir 1/4 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of flour, 3 tbsp of softened butter and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon, stir until crumbly.

3. pour apple mixture into pie crust, pour crumbly over the apples, bake at 300 degrees for 30 minute of until the top is golden brown.



apples, sugar, butter, and cinnamon



 



the best apple pie ever!!!

Well my third semester of grad school started today. I'm excited to see school friends and get another semester over with but am NOT excited to have to stress again about studies. I wont have as much time to cook but will do my best to at least cook once or twice a week. Also, my laptop decided to die last night (perfect timing with school starting). The screen does not work at all so we'll be saving up for a new one, any suggestions for a good laptop would be great! Anyways, I know everything will work out fine!!!

Verse of the Day:  



Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22