Chicken Fried Steak Debate

Cube steaks are an inexpensive meat, which is why they are always on sale.  I only know how to prepare this cut of meat two ways:

1. chicken fried steak
2. in the crockpot

Lucky for me Darren's favorite meal is chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy.  For at least five years now, I've used the same chicken fried steak recipe.  It's from my Southern Living Top Rated Recipes cookbook and it's good.  We've always enjoyed it.  

However,

This weekend I whipped up some chicken fried steak using the Pioneer Woman's recipe.  

WOWZA

I will never use another chicken fried steak recipe AGAIN.  It was scrumptious.  I couldn't believe how much better/different the chicken fried steak tasted.  After my first bite I looked over at Darren and asked the infamous question, Well????

I took the full mouth head nodding as a YES.  Once he finished chewing he confirmed that Pioneer Woman's recipe was ten times better than Southern Living.

So, if you've stocked up on cube steak because it was recently on sale you too can have a chicken fried steak cook off.  

Pioneer Woman's Recipe

Combine 2 large eggs plus 1 1/2 cups of milk in a bowl

Combine 3 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of Lowry's, 3/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 11/2 teaspoons of black pepper

Season your meat with salt and pepper, and dip in the egg mixture.  Dredge in the flour mixture, dip back into the egg, and dredge again in flour. 

Fry it up & keep it warm.  (I do this by putting it on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet in a 250 degree oven)

Onto the gravy.

Using 1/4 cup of the grease you used to fry your meat in, sprinkle in 1/3 cup of flour.  Whisk it up until you have golden roux.  Whisking constantly pour in 2 cups of milk.  The gravy should come to a slow boil, and it thickens while it boils.  Add a little milk here and there to keep it from becoming too thick.  Generously season with salt and pepper.

Side note:  I only made two cube steaks.  I would have had a lot of flour mixture left over, but I had some breasts that I cut into nuggets and used the same egg/flour steps above to cook some chicken for the girls.  They devoured it.  I still have some left over which I plan to add to salads today from lunch.  

Southern Living

Combine 3/4 cup milk and 2 eggs.

Combine 1 sleeve Saltine crackers, 1 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper

Season your meat with salt and pepper, and dip in the egg mixture.  Dredge in the saltine mixture, dip back into the egg, and dredge again in saltine mixture. 

Fry it up & keep it warm.  (I do this by putting it on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet in a 250 degree oven)

Onto the gravy.

For this gravy you will use the cooked bits and 1 tablespoon of the oil you fried your meat in.

Whisk together 4 cups of milk, 1/4 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper.  Add to reserved drippings in skilled, cook while whisking constantly until thickened.  

There you have it, you too can make both for yourself and decide which you like better.  Hope you enjoy!!

Back To Blogging

Clearly I have not blogged for awhile.  For the last couple of weeks I've missed it.  I kept telling myself to take some time and go write.  But, between the holidays, cleaning, baking, wrapping, visiting, working, errand running, I just haven't made time.  This evening, I decided I was making time.  So, here's the low down:

We had a fabulous Christmas.  It feels like forever ago.  The decorations are all down and tucked away back in the basement.  The newness of the toys have worn off.  We used up the last of the Christmas candy today, made cookies with it.  All was good.

The new year started the same as the last several have for us, everyone tucked away snoring in their beds.  It was great.

And here we are, a couple weeks into 2013.  I don't make resolutions, because I can't sick to them.  But, I have goals.  Here's what I hope to accomplish in 2013:

1. Blog more, at least once a week.
2. Eat less.  It pains me to say this.  I love to cook.  I love to eat what I cook.  I love to bake.  Baking is my stress relief.  When I say eat less, I'm going to feel I've accomplished my goal if I bake two days a week rather than four.  
3. Exercise.  But this has to wait until spring so I can get outside and walk with my pal Susie.  
4. Redecorate my living room.  I have my inspiration piece, and an idea for paint colors.  Since I want to repaint most of the first floor I will probably wait until I can crack some windows.
5. Reduce the amount of money I spend on "retail therapy".  
6. Take a trip.  With the birth of our third daughter last year we did not take any trips.  We are all ready to go somewhere.
7. Enjoy just being.  I'm one of those people that always has to be going/doing.  I want to learn to just sit and enjoy what's going on around me.
8. Finish my daughter's Christmas stockings before Christmas.  They didn't make the mantle last year.
9. Declutter.  I have a MAJOR garage sale in the works.  Everything goes people!

There you have it.  That's how I'm starting off my new year.  Let's see if I can achieve my goals this year!