What I’m Lovin’ Wednesday: Yummy Chicken & Waffles

Remember how I mentioned that I needed to join W.A.?
W.A. –> Waffles Anonymous
Well, the first step is admitting you have a problem, right?
ehhh who cares, I love me some waffles and I’m gunna keep eatin’ 'em

I think everyone in the south has heard of chicken & waffles, but everyone needs to know of the deliciousness.  I have had them before, but this was the first time I have made them in my own kitchen.  You could fry your own chicken if you want, but I didn’t want to because I was overwhelmed by all of the steps: something could be cold and something could burn.  So I decided to do oven-fried chicken instead, so I could get the chicken in the oven while I prepared everything else. If you go in the order I've given you below you can’t go wrong!  Don’t be scared y’all YOU.CAN.DO.IT!

Nothing will burn and everything will be ready at about the same time!

Oven-Fried Chicken

Ingredients

2 cup buttermilk
2 large egg beaten
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 tsp salt
1.5 tsp black pepper
1.5 tsp chili powder
1.5 tsp paprika

Directions

Whisk buttermilk and egg whites in a bowl. Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.  Preheat oven to 425°F. Line the bottom of a broiler pan with foil (this will make cleanup easier on you).  Spray the top lightly with cooking spray.  In a gallon ziplock bag add flour, salt, pepper, chili powder, & paprika; shake to mix.  Place one chicken breast at a time in the flour bag and shake to coat, then lightly shake of the extra flour mixture and place it on your broiler pan.  Repeat with all chicken.  Lightly spray the finished and floured chicken on your broiler pan with your cooking spray.  Bake at 425°F for 30 minutes, then turn the pan and bake 20 minutes longer, or until chicken is brown and crispy.

“Maple Gravy”

Ingredients
3 tbs butter    
3 tbs all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups chicken stock (or 2 cups water with 2 chicken bouillon cubes dissolved)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup pure maple syrup

Directions
Heat butter in a heavy pan over medium heat. Once the butter is melted add in the flour, stirring frequently until the flour begins to turn a dark golden brown (about 2-3 minutes).  Very slowly whisk in the chicken stock and then bring to a boil, stirring frequently.  The gravy will begin to thicken, and after about 10 minutes season with salt and pepper.  At this point this is just regular gravy, right? So to make this gravy appropriate for this dish, stir in the maple syrup.  Reduce the heat to low while you make the waffles.

Buttermilk Waffles

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbs sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups buttermilk
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs

Directions

Preheat the waffle iron to medium-high heat.  In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; then set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, butter, vanilla and eggs.  Slowly add the flour mixture to the buttermilk mixture, and stir the ingredients just until they are combined.  You don’t want to over mix the batter; the batter should still be a little lumpy.  Spray preheated waffle iron with cooking spray then pour about a cup of the batter into the middle of the waffle iron and close the top.  Cook for about 5 minutes, or just until they are golden brown.  If you finish the waffles before the chicken is done, just put them in the oven with the chicken until it’s done then pull it all out and serve together: waffles topped with chicken and smothered in that delicious gravy!
Enjoy y'all!!!