Fried Chicken

So this is a recipe that I received from my friend(AKA Sparkles), a while ago and I have been meaning to make it. Here is her suggestions and recipe. Hope you enjoy!

It can also be baked, which makes it healthier and less greasy :D

I don't typically measure the ingrediants, just kinda eyeball it, but I'll try to give you measurements. You don't have to stick to them exactly. If you have leftover breading mix, you can put it in a ziplock bag and freeze it to use next time. The freezing keeps bacteria from growing and so long as you cook the chicken all the way it's fine.

Breading mix:

2cups flour

1 cup Baking (or frying) Magic (sold in grocery stores near Shake & Bake)

1/2-3/4 cup bread crumbs

couple shakes each (about a tbs) onion powder, garlic powder and poultry seasoning.

Dip mix:

beat eggs (depending on how much chicken you're making) (typically 4-6 eggs for my family) add a splash of milk (or buttermilk) to eggs, dip chicken into egg mixture, then coat generously in the breading mix. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 the amount of time you'll bake depends on the type of chicken. Bone in pieces take longer. Make sure you turn the pieces about half way through so that both sides crisp up.

If I'm making cornbread along with it, I've sometimes added a small glob of the cornbread batter to the egg mix, or just some cornmeal to the breading mix. If you add the dry cornmeal, half the amount of breadcrumbs and add the same amount of cornmeal as breadcrumbs. You can also use crushed cornflakes along with or in place of breadcrumbs

I typically use boneless skinless chicken breasts, fully defrosted, takes about 35-40 mins to bake.

If you decide to fry, use small amount of prefered oil and cook on med/high temp. Turning at least twice so breading doesn't burn.

Divinity

Not my photo. I "borrowed" it from on-line

Ingredients

2 cups Sugar

2 Egg Whites

1/2 cup White Corn Syrup

1/2 cup Water

1 tsp Vanilla
2/3 cup nuts (optional)

Directions

Mix sugar, syrup, and water then DO NOT stir it again. Bring to soft ball (235-245 degrees F). Pour 1/4 of it slowly over beaten egg whites (beaten to HARD peaks). Beat that back to peaks. Cook rest of mixture until almost brittle (also know as soft crack stage 300-310 degrees F). Pour slowly over whites, beating constantly. Continue to beat until creamy (this takes a while and the candy starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl when done). Add vanilla and nuts. Spoon onto wax paper.

Super Moist White Cake

I found this recipe at the taste of home website here and tweaked it to my needs. I have always wanted to find a moist from scratch white cake mix and this worked great for my daughters cupcakes for her birthday. Hope that you enjoy. It is moist soft and just what you want a white cake to be.

Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour (or cake flour)
1 1/2 cups + 2Tablespoons superfine sugar (make your own with a blender)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
3/4 cup butter, softened (no sub.)
4 large egg whites + 1 large egg
1 cup + 2 Tbs milk
3Tbs Vanilla

Directions:
Mix all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, using a mixer to aerate.
Add softened butter and mix to a "paste".
Add egg whites, one at a time, then mix in whole egg. Beat to build volume after each.
Mix milk and extract, add to cake, 1/3 at a time, beating and keeping the mixture fluffy.

Bake at 325º-350º.
Grease and flour pans of choice:

2-8" or 9" round or square cake pans

1-9"x13" pan, or cupcake tins (using papers).

Check at 5 minute intervals after 18-20 minutes for cupcakes or layer pans, 30 minutes for 9"x13"

Quick and easy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Some of you may recognize the cookie part to be the same as these peanut butter cookies. However this recipe was sent to me from my Aunt and has a little twist from the other cookie. I made mine a little bigger so only got 27 cookies. Easy and so fun. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 egg, beaten
1 cup granulated sugar.
1 cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1 bag Hershey Kisses

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350
(Unwrap enough kisses for expected number of cookies.)

Mix the sugar into the beaten egg. Mix well to dissolve sugar. Fold in
peanut butter.
Egg mixture consistency is moist and sticky but will dry in folding process.

Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Remove from refrigerator and pull off small pieces of dough and roll into
marble size balls.
Place the peanut butter balls on dry cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and immediately add kisses by pushing a kiss gently into
center of cookie.
See below!

Different Alterations
If using dark chocolate kisses, gently push into cookie and let stand if you
want them to hold their shape.
If you want them to puddle, and have just the tip, put into oven for 10
seconds.
Dark Chocolate melts quickly and will not stand up in oven heat.

If using milk chocolate kisses, place a Kiss on top of each cookie.
Push them in slightly.  Place back in oven for 15 to 20 seconds so kiss
adheres to the cookie.
Remove from oven and let cool completely on wire rack, or after cooling
slightly, place on plate and place in refrigerator to cool and harden
chocolate.  Milk chocolate Hershey kisses will keep their shape.

(OR for plain PB cookies, Flatten unbaked dough with criss cross pattern
with fork dipped repeatedly into small cup of granulated sugar While on
cookie sheet and before baking)
Makes 45 small cookies 

Banana Cake

This has been a favorite cake of mine to make since whenever I have old bananas I feel resourceful by putting them into the cake. It also was a favorite of my college roommates. In fact I had a few roommates that would have their bananas go bad just so that I would make this. Then it would be gone quickly. The recipe calls for buttermilk for this since I never have it on hand I simply fill my measuring cup with the listed amount and then add 1 tsp lemon juice, lime juice or vinegar. And let it sit for a minute or two. Which creates what I need to replace the buttermilk. You can eat it plain, sift powdered sugar, or frost with cream cheese frosting. So enjoy!

Sift together:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (opt)

Add:
2/3 cup oil
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cup mashed bananas (approximately 3 bananas)
Mix for 2 minutes

Add:
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 large unbeaten eggs

Fold In: OPTIONAL
2/3 chopped walnuts

Pour in a greased and floured 9x13" pan. Bake at 350 degree for 30-35 minutes.

Snowflakes

OK so if you look at this you may say I have never heard it called a snowflake before. Well me either till I thought of it today actually. A funnel cake usually found at your local fair during warmer months. However for our Family Home Evening treat I thought since it was Christmas lets give this a Christmas name. It couldn't be a more perfect way to describe it since like a snowflake there seldom ever is 2 the exact same. You will need a having a funnel with a 1/2" hole or anything with a spout like a tea pot. I got this recipe from my mom's collection of recipes handed down from her Aunt. They are yummy the only difference is I added vanilla. Here is the recipe and I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients
1 egg, beaten
1 cup of milk
1 1/4 cup flour
2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt (opt)
oil for deep frying

Directions
Beat milk with egg. Blend dry ingredients and gradually add milk mixture(add more milk if batter is not a pourable consistency), beating consistently till smooth(I did this in the blender, make sure to scrape sides). Holding finger over the bottom of funnel having a 1/2" hole fill funnel with batter. Holding funnel over the oil as close as you safely can, remove finger from the bottom of funnel and drop batter into oil, using a circular motion then a criss cross motion. Well you have pour enough cover funnel with finger again if you still have some in funnel. Fry until cakes are puffy and golden brown, turning once. Remove cakes with tongs or slotted spoon to plate with paper towels to drain. Sift powdered sugar over top and serve. Makes 4 large cakes or up to 2 1/2 dozen cakes.