1.

cup cup blue cheese crumbles blue cheese crumbles .

cup cup sour cream sour cream

1.

celery rib celery rib, finely chopped

Salt and and black pepper black pepper

Vegetable oil, for frying

3.

cups cups all-purpose flour all-purpose flour (eyeball it-I scoop mine out with a coffee cup) (eyeball it-I scoop mine out with a coffee cup)

2.

cups cups buttermilk buttermilk

1.

teaspoon teaspoon paprika paprika, palmful 1.

to 2 pounds to 2 pounds chicken tenders chicken tenders

1.

pound triple-washed pound triple-washed spinach spinach, stemmed and chopped .

small small red onion red onion, thinly sliced

10.

button mushrooms button mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced

In a small mixing bowl, combine the lemon juice, hot sauce, crumbled blue cheese, sour cream, celery, salt, and pepper. Mix the dressing well and reserve.

Preheat 1 inches of vegetable oil in a large deep skillet. While the oil is heating, set up a breading assembly line near the stove. Put the flour in a large, wide bowl; pour the buttermilk into a second large, wide bowl; then stir in the lemon zest and paprika. Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Working in 2 or 3 batches, dust the chicken tenders in the flour, shake off the excess, then coat in the buttermilk. Transfer them back to the flour and coat them thoroughly, then back to the buttermilk, and then back into the flour for one last coating.

To test the oil temperature, add a 1-inch cube of bread to the hot oil. If it turns deep golden brown by a count of 40, the oil is ready. If the bread cube browns too quickly, turn down the heat and wait a few minutes for it to cool down. Carefully place the first batch of coated tenders in the hot oil. Fry the tenders in small batches for 6 to 7 minutes, turning when the first side has become golden brown. Once cooked, remove from the oil to a paper-towel-lined plate and immediately sprinkle them with a little salt. Repeat until all the tenders are fried.

After the last batch of tenders goes into the oil, combine the spinach, red onion, and sliced mushrooms in a large salad bowl. Pour half of the dressing over the salad and toss it to coat. Top the salad with the fried chicken tenders, whole or chopped, your choice, and serve the remaining dressing on the side for dipping.

EXPRESS LANE SHOPPING LIST.

- [image]3 or 4 ounce package blue cheese crumbles blue cheese crumbles - [image]1 8-ounce container sour cream sour cream - [image]1 quart buttermilk buttermilk - [image]1 to 2 pounds chicken tenders chicken tenders, 2 small packs or one family-size pack - [image]1 pound triple-washed spinach spinach - [image]1 small red onion red onion - [image]10 button mushrooms button mushrooms And make sure you have the following On Hand: - Lemons - Hot sauce - Celery - Salt and black pepper - Vegetable oil - Flour - Paprika

French Onion Soup with an Italian Attitude The French are notorious for their stuffy and particular attitudes ... especially when it comes to food, but they've got nothing on the Sicilians. It takes a Sicilian 'tude to think one could improve on a French classic, especially in 30 minutes. Well, this this Sicilian says "Bring it on." Sicilian says "Bring it on."

4 SERVINGS.

1.

tablespoon tablespoon EVOO EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil), once around the pan (extra-virgin olive oil), once around the pan

2.

tablespoons tablespoons butter butter

6.

medium medium onions onions, thinly sliced

Salt and and black pepper black pepper

Leaves from 1 sprig of rosemary rosemary, finely chopped .

pint pint grape tomatoes grape tomatoes, halved .

cup fresh cup fresh basil basil, about 10 leaves .

cup shredded or grated cup shredded or grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, a handful cheese, a handful

4.

thick slices thick slices crusty bread crusty bread

1.

garlic clove garlic clove, crushed

1.

tablespoon tablespoon balsamic vinegar balsamic vinegar (eyeball it) (eyeball it) .

cup cup white wine white wine, a couple of good glugs

6.

cups cups beef stock beef stock

8.

slices slices fresh mozzarella fresh mozzarella cheese cheese