I Don't Like Steak

It's true. I don't like steak. I average about half a steak every year. I don't like red meat much at all. I think I could cut it out of my diet completely if it weren't for cheeseburgers. Chris on the other hand doesn't call a meal, a meal, unless it has some form of meat. He's killing me.

These chicken fried steaks were for him. I ate the edges. With the breading. I'm so bad.

Chicken Fried Steaks and gravy
What you need:

1 cube steak per person (unless your starving) we had 3.
2 eggs
2 cups flour*
1 cup milk
2 tsp. seasoned salt. We use Lawry's.
1 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (more if you like things spicy!)

1 tsp. black pepper

1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
Salt

Of course I made gravy and it was delicious! I made gravy and it didn't taste good/the consistancy was off. So I'm not getting into posting that. Just buy the package of white gravy because you need it with this meal. If we buy packaged gravy it's Pioneer Gravy.

Moving on.

First I set everything I need out so the chill comes off. Next, crack your two eggs into a bowl with the one cup of milk.

Mix well.

Now, grab another bowl and measure out 2 cups of flour. Also, add the rest of the seasonings (seasoned salt, onion powder, cayenne and pepper) into this bowl. Here's a picture before it was mixed with a fork, which you should do.

Open the steaks up. I pat them dry before I start messing with them. Do that if you want and then sprinkle some salt (not too much!) and pepper on each steak. Are you ready for this? Now, make yourself an assembly line type thing. You'll make less of a mess this way. Egg bowl, flour/spice bowl, clean plate to put breaded steaks on.

Take the first steak and dip it into the egg bowl.

Or, if you let Chris do it, drown the steak in the egg. What can I say? He likes to play with his food.

Where's the steak?! Oh there it is! Sorry, this is as excited as I get about red meat...

Focus Ashley! Ok so make sure you get egg all over the hunk of meat. Now, put that same piece of meat in the flour/spice bowl. Cover with flour really good.

This is called dredging. Once you have it well coated with flour put it back in the egg bowl. Be gentle from now on. You want as much of the egg/flour mixture to stick as you can. That's your crispies! Protect your crispies.

Hey! Easy with my crispies boy!

Now, once you dunk the steak into the egg the second time, you want to put the steak back into the flour. I promise it's in that bowl. Chris tried keeping his hands clean so he used a fork at the beginning. Feel free to resort to your hands. Chris did.

Once it's covered with flour, gently place it on the empty plate, this way it can chill while you do this exact same thing to each steak.

I'm sure you needed a picture of that. Okay, you've just completed the hardest part. Let me recap.

1. Lightly salt and pepper each steak
2. Take one steak and cover in egg
3. Take same steak from egg and place in flour
4. Take steak from flour and place back in egg
5. Take same steak from egg and cover with flour again
6. Place steak on clean plate to rest
7. Repeat with each remaining steak

You got all that? Ok, good. Take your half a cup of vegetable oil and place in a skillet. Turn the heat on medium. If you're cooking more than three steaks, I'd probably fry them up in batches of three. Wait for the oil to heat. To see if your oil is hot enough you can sprinkle a bit of flour into it and if it sizzles, you're good to go.

When you lay the steaks in the pan, you should hear sizzling. That's a good sign. Another good sign are the bubbles in the oil around each steak.

This isn't the greatest picture, but see how the bottom edges are turning a golden brown? When you see that, you know it's time to turn the steaks over. I didn't time it but I'd say the first side took about 3 minutes maybe 4.

Chris was seriously drooling at this point. Meh. Let the second side cook until it turns golden brown as well. About 2-3 minutes. Grab a clean plate and lay a paper towl on it for the steaks to lay/drain on when they are finished.

Here they are...

At this point you can make gravy from the pan drippings, or you can open a package like I will do next time. I served these chicken fried steaks with corn and mashed potatoes (which Chris made).

Here is my crispy steak! Mmm crispies.

Enjoy!

*Tyler, call me before you make this because the ingredients will change a bit.