Get You Some Wings and Fly Away - True Blood Style

Howdy!
Guess who got a mini deep-fryer for Christmas! This lady!! Now I can properly make ANYTHING fried! Muahahaha! Which is kind of funny because we rarely eat fried food but it was one of those...I need this is my tiny kitchen items he he! Ok let's be honest...I knew it might elevate my beignet game and I was all for THAT! 

The True Blood Cookbook has a great recipe for wings and for a long time I had wanted to make fried chicken for Craig. The man deserves some meat!  
First thing was marinating the chicken in some Tabasco for about an hour, refrigerated of course. Then pouring in more veg oil than we would have thought into the fryer and letting it heat up to 350. While we waited for the oil to heat up, it was time to get the chicken ready. Mixed up the flour with some salt, pepper and garlic powder and then in a separate bowl whipped eggs and milk together.

Craig was helping me prepare the chicken legs and it wasn't until I took one of the little cold thighs into my hands that the realization hit me...I am not okay with this. Not to bring down the True Blood magic but my vegetarian nature was coming out and handling the chicken bits was so unappetizing. I've never been super picky about touching meat if it meant helping someone else. Other people eat meat and I have accepted that...so like a champ I battered those thighs....flour to egg to flour but after three I was done. It hurt my heart. Okay...back to the yummy.

Craig finished battering the rest of the legs/wings while I worked on the sauce! And nothing says southern comfort food like fried chicken with blue cheese sauce! This particular wing sauce included: crumbled blue cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, minced shallot and fresh lemon juice. 

It was fun plopping the chicken into the basket and letting it work it's magic. I could only dream of the beignets...fries...funnel-cakes....who knows! We let the chicken fry until golden brown, about 5 mins really. This little cooker is freakin amazing!

 Once cooled and drained of excess oil these babies were ready to serve. Obviously I have no idea what they tasted like but Craig likened them to a picnic in the park. They satisfied that need for fried meat and took him back to younger days, siting on a checkered blanket and scarfing on homemade chicken. The blue cheese sauce was a nice touch and definitely elevated their flavor.

Even though it was touch and go for me, I was really happy to try out my new fryer! It works wonderfully! I can't wait to try other recipes now that I have this new weapon in my kitchen arsenal he he!

Thanks for readin!

Love, Bunny

Comfort Foods

Howdy, 

First of the menu, Penne and Arrabbiata Sauce with a tangy carrot and tangelo salad! Pasta will always be a comfort food for many, us included. We tend to watch our carbs so this was a real treat!

This is another dish that I came home to. My sweet hubby already had it prepared and even down-played the spiciness on my portion. I guess Arrabbiata means "angry sauce" named for it's heat/spice due to the combination of tomatoes, garlic and dried red peppers. I didn't mind the spice it had and found the creamy mozzarella melting around the pasta  mouth-watering! I mean...who wouldn't! It was glorious! 

The side dish of carrots and tangelo was juicy and hearty. I enjoyed it a lot. A combo that neither of us would have thought to put together. 

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Next we have the yummiest comfort food of them all, grilled cheese! This specific grilled cheese has a healthy twist including beets that I very much appreciated. I present Fontina and Beet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. For these I need to quote straight from the card, 

"These gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches combine creamy fontina with sautéed arugula and—for a layer of delightfully earthy, tart and sweet flavor—pickled beets." 

That would have been enough for me to down this sweet sandwich but then you rub garlic on the toasted sourdough. Come on....amazing! The citrus salad was very seasonal and refreshing as well. Good flavor combo.

Such a perfect comfort food feeling. Brought me right back to my mom's kitchen. I will definitely have to remake this!

Thanks, 

Bunny