Cheese Straws

These are always a big hit at parties in the Deep South. The cayenne pepper gives them the perfect kick!

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a food processor, add the butter, cheese, flour, salt and cayenne and process until a smooth dough is formed. Scoop it into a cookie press, fitted with a large star tip. Pipe the dough in 2-inch strips onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. If I am making a lot for a catered even, I pipe out long running lines and cut them to the size I want. (Alternatively, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes and roll on a lightly floured surface into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Cut into smaller rectangles, about 2 by 3-inches, with a pizza wheel or sharp knife.) Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to racks to cool.

Okra Chips

If you have ever been to the Farmer's Market in Charleston, SC, you have probably seen a funny looking bag of green fried stuff called Okra Chips. The majority of people that buy a bag, come back for more. They are really like chips... you can't eat just one!

I started out just like I would if I were making regular fried okra. I mixed up the flour, bread crumbs and seasonings in a plastic bag... but I prepared the okra totally different. I tried to remove as much of the seeds as possible...

I cut the tender cooked okra right under the cap (stem end)

 and slit it down through the end.

I turned it and cut it again leaving four dangling 'legs' on each pod.

I then took the knife and scraped out the seeds.

16 oz bag of frozen okra, thawed
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup flour
2 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Oil for frying

Heat oil to 350 degrees.
Mix the bread crumbs, flour and seasonings in a plastic bag. Place the okra in the bag, in batches. (The okra is pretty slimy at this point and does not require an egg wash.) Seal the bag and shake to coat. Only coat as much as you are frying in one batch. I pulled each pod out by the stem end and shook off the excess coating and even wiped some around in the coating to separate the four strips so they would fry up nice and crisp. Make sure the oil is up to temp before adding okra, or the coating/breading will fall off. Gently place the okra in the oil. Cook until browned and crunchy. Remove from oil and place on paper towels or butcher paper. I used popcorn salt to season since regular salt basically bounces off the crispy coating!

Fried Okra !!!

I can make a meal off of okra... cooked anyway! Fried, Sauteed, Okra and Tomatoes, Succotash over Cornbread... anyway! Okra made like this recipe, to me, is like eating potato chips or even popcorn! No one can eat just one!!!

16 oz bag of cut, frozen okra, thawed
1/2 cup corn meal
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder (optional)
Oil for frying

Heat oil to 350 degrees.
Mix the corn meal, flour and seasonings in a plastic bag. Place the okra in the bag, in batches. Seal the bag and shake to coat. Only coat as much as you are frying in one batch. Otherwise the coating will get soggy. Make sure the oil is up to temp before adding okra, or the coating/breading will fall off. Gently place the okra in the oil with a slotted spoon or spider strainer. Cook until golden brown. (This only takes a couple of minutes, so watch closely) Remove from oil and place on paper towels or butcher paper. Don't pile the okra up to much or it will get greasy on the bottom.

I added a cheeseburger as a side for my okra meal!

LOLOLOLOL

Oven 'Fried' Chicken

Well, it's hot... darn hot here in the South! The kitchen table is hot enough to proof bread! The hubby decides that he wants fried chicken! REALLY?!?!?! That raises the kitchen temp another 10 degrees, at least! So I did some research and came up with this Oven Fried Chicken recipe. I did give him the choice whether I tried this or went ahead and toughed out the heat and deep fried it. He did give in to the oven recipe :-) He brought home 6 chicken thighs. I would have used a whole fryer cut up country-style, but use whatever cut of chicken you like with this recipe.

6 chicken thighs
1/3 cup butter or margarine**
2 cups flour
Salt, to taste (I use about 2 tsp Kosher)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. While oven is pre-heating, trim the fat off the pieces of chicken and make sure all pieces of feathers are pulled out. Mix flour and spices in a gallon size zip-loc bag.

**Important... Put butter, or margarine in a large casserole dish and melt it in the oven. The butter and the dish must be hot!

Place the chicken, skin side down, in the dish. Bake for 35 minutes, then turn chicken pieces over. Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until done and well browned.

My plate with mashed potatoes and green beans :-)