Chicken Fried Chicken

*See a dedicated blog post (and better pictures) on our wonderful food blog, Oh SO Delicioso here!*
I have to share this recipe. It's one of my favorite things I make.

Not gonna lie, it may induce a variety of noises to come from your mouth in ecstasy.

I'm from the south, and I love me some southern food.

Without further adieu, Chicken Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Cream Gravy 

(yes, it deserves caps)

chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-1/2 an inch thick

1 t salt

2 t pepper

1 sleeve saltine crackers

1 c flour

1/2 t baking powder

paprika (sorry, I eyeball it...maybe 1/2 t)

cayenne (again, I eyeball it, depends on how spicy you like it)

1/2 c milk

2 eggs

frying oil (I use canola)

1/3 c flour

2-3 T pan drippings

3 c milk (I use skim and it turns out great)

cayenne

salt 

pepper

Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 225 degrees.

Begin heating up your oil (1/2-3/4 of an inch) in a large frying pan (don't crowd the pan!) to 350 degrees. I've done it without using a thermometer and you want it hot enough to fry the chicken somewhat quickly, but not so hot that it crackles like CRAZY when you put the chicken in. If it does, turn the heat down a bit.

Dredge chicken in mixture of crumbs, flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne.

Then dredge chicken in mixture of eggs and milk.

Dredge again in crumbs mixture.

Place those suckers carefully in the hot oil.

Flip after about 4 minutes, or when you can see the bottom and half of the sides of the crust has a light brown color.

Continue frying, and resist the urge to flip it back and forth to check it! It'll just soak up a bunch of oil this way and the middle won't get cooked then you end up with raw chicken. Gross.

When the chicken is nice and light brown and crispy, place on wire rack in oven or in toaster oven to keep warm and crispy...then get to the awesome gravy.

Make a roux with the pan drippings and flour by whisking in the flour into the oil over low heat.

Turn heat up a little and SLOWLY whisk in milk, making sure any milk has been thoroughly mixed with the flour and it's not lumpy before adding more milk. Add spices to taste.

Serve with mashed taters and some veggies and BAM!

You're welcome :)

And now for the kid in our lives...

 The mobile I made for the little one based off of that tutorial I found and posted on here forever ago. 

He starts smiling and kicking at it when I lay him down. Thank you Pinterest

Remember how we live in California? Last week we went to the pool twice. In January.

Once he warmed up to the water he was kicking and splashing like a pro. 

 LOVE. HIM.

You can see his little toothy! I can see the top of his second one right next to it.

(dang out-of-focus right eye!)

Thunder thighs chunk-o-monk...holding his own bottle! Hasn't done it since...

 This onesie is dedicated to my Dad, brothers and bro-in-law :)

Steve wants a pic of Federer holding Parker wearing this.

 So we hit up this new gourmet waffles place in downtown Brea, Bruxie.

You MUST drop everything and go there immediately. After you make my chicken fried chicken.

They have savory waffle sandwiches (fried chicken with sweet/spicy chili sauce, turkey/avocado) and sweet ones (lemon curd berry, nutella/peanut butter).

They are BOMB.