Chicken Fried Steak

Ooooo, it' s sooo good. (Mr.Food, but the recipe is from somewhere else.)

2 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided

4 (4 ounce) cube steaks

38 saltine crackers (1 sleeve), crushed

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided

1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

4 3/4 cups milk, divided

2 large eggs

3 1/2 cups peanut oil

Garnish: chopped parsley

Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper evenly over steaks. Combine cracker crumbs, 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, red pepper, and baking powder. Whisk together 3/4 cup milk and eggs. Dredge steaks in cracker mixture; dip in milk mixture, and dredge again in cracker mixture.

Pour oil into a 12-inch skillet; heat to 360 degrees. Fry steaks 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and fry 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove steaks to a wire rack in a jelly-role pan. Keep steaks warm in a 225 degree oven. Carefully drain hot oil, reserving cooked bits and 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet.

Whisk together remaining 4 cups milk, 1/4 cup flour, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1 teaspoon black pepper. Add milk mixture to reserved drippings in skillet; cook, whisking constantly, over medium-high heat 10 to 12 minutes or until thickened. Serve gravy with steaks. Garnish, if garnished.

~Makes 4 servings.

~I didn't have peanut oil and I just used vegtable oil. It worked just fine. Tip: I had a lot of gravy left over and we made some biscuits the next day, and had biscuits and gravy for dinner. The gravy is delicous as a breakfast idea also. Yum.