Bar Food

Another sunny day. I got home from work, got changed and got to work.

First I caulked the joint where the counter top meets the backsplash. The closest color match I could get was "almond". It's a little lighter than the grout, but not too noticeable.

Next, I went out back. I raked and seeded two more bare spots in the lawn. Then I watered all four spots again.

Back inside, I started to make dinner (I'm tired of leftovers). Tonight I'm making a kicked up version of bar food: chicken tenders with a honey mustard sauce and French fries (shoestrings).

I made the sauce first so it could get happy while I'm cooking the rest. I combined 1/2 cup of honey, 1/2 cup of Dijon mustard, two tablespoons of mayonnaise and a tablespoon of lemon juice. I stirred that together and added salt and pepper to taste. I covered the bowl and set it in the fridge.

I filled my cast iron Dutch oven halfway up with canola oil, put in the candy thermometer and turned up the heat. I took a big handful of frozen shoestring potatoes out of the bag and, when the oil hit 350 degrees F., dropped them in (I did it in two batches, BTW.) I put the finished French fries on a paper towel in a cookie sheet and salted them while still hot. Then they went into the oven which was set on "warm".

Then I took three boneless skinless chicken breasts (close to two pounds) and cut each one into one-inch strip. The longest strips I cut in half. I set up a breading station of one cup of flour, then three eggs and finally two cups of panko bread crumbs (these are Japanese bread crumbs, Mom; very light and crunchy). Into the bread crumbs I added one teaspoon lemon-pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

So, each chicken piece went into the flour, then the egg and finally the seasoned panko bread crumbs. Then it went into the hot oil until golden brown (about 6-8 minutes). Once they were done, they went on a rack set over a paper towel lined cookie sheet and salted. This took three batches.

When everything was done, I plated about half the fries and several of the chicken tenders (topped with some of the honey mustard sauce). I left the mess in the kitchen for tomorrow and went in to watch TV and eat. I went to bed at 10:00.