Crispy Fried Chicken and Fried Pickles

     This deep fryer I got for Christmas really has the potential to be a big problem. It is so tempting to use ALL THE TIME. What doesn't taste good fried? (and I know my blog title says healthy...well who doesn't indulge every once in a while!) We've done french fries, pickles, green beans, shrimp and now chicken. It's a crispy, crunchy, golden piece of perfection. I have done some different fried chicken recipes, and there are so many different ways. Some have very thin breading and some have thick and crunchy breading - which is what I like. I have found that instead of using egg then coating the chicken in flour, you get a way thicker breading if you first dip the chicken in a mixture of egg and condensed cream of chicken soup. It is delicious!

     I will also give my fried pickles recipe. I didn't actually even like pickles until I tried them fried and then my mind was instantly changed.

Crispy Fried Chicken Nuggets:

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts

1 14.5oz can condensed cream of chicken soup*

1 egg

2 tsp hot sauce

2 cups flour

2 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp pepper

Directions:

Heat oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix cream of chicken soup with the egg and hot sauce. In another medium bowl, mix four, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cut chicken breasts into bite size pieces mix in bowl with the cream of chicken mixture. Coat each piece in the flour mixture completely, then place on paper towel on plate until oil is heated. Fry in batches, without over crowding, for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Season with salt or Lawry's season salt (or something similar). Serve with some homemade honey mustard!

*If you don't have condensed cream of chicken soup on hand, cream of onion, mushroom, celery etc will still work fine! With of course some flavor differences, but it is definitely an ok substitution!

Fried Pickles

Ingredients:

1 jar dill pickles (precut is easiest)

1 cup flour

1 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp worcestershire sauce

2 eggs

1 cup milk

Directions:

Heat deep fryer to 375 degrees or large wok with oil over stove. Mix milk, eggs and worcestershire sauce in a medium bowl. Mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper in another medium bowl. Cut pickles if not already pre-cut. Dip in egg mixture, then coat with flour. Repeat once more and set aside until oil is fully heated. Fry in batches, without overcrowding, for about 4 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ranch dressing or chipotle aioli!