Homemade Fry Basket

When you get the hankering to go out to eat with your honey, just think of how much fun you'd have making the food together! My husband and I frequently choose what looks yummy off of a menu and run to the store to buy the ingredients. It's not the most frugal approach to regular cooking, but for a special night together, it's cheaper than eating out, and usually a lot more fun!

Tonight, the winners were mozzarella sticks and onion rings.

1 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups bread crumbs

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp seasoning salt

1/2 tsp garlic

salt and pepper, to taste

1 small onion

4 oz. mozzarella cheese

Note: flour, eggs, bread crumbs and garlic measurements are doubled, and will be used separately in this recipe.

Place 1/2 cup flour, 1 egg, and 1 cup bread crumbs in three separate bowls. Season bread crumbs with Italian seasoning and 1/4 tsp garlic. Slice cheese into 1/4 inch X 1/4 inch X 3 inch sticks. Dredge cheese sticks in flour, dip in egg, cover with breadcrumbs, then sprinkle with flour again. Repeat with all sticks until finished.

Place remaining flour, egg and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. (I used the same bowls, but you can use clean ones.) Season bread crumbs with seasoning salt and remaining garlic. Slice onion into 1/4 inch slices and separate into rings. Coat using same process as above.

Fry cheese sticks and onion rings 3-5 at a time in a medium saucepan with oil heated to about 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Each should take a minute or less to fry. Remove when lightly browned and place on paper towels.