Chicken Fried Steak

This is an awesome recipe for chicken fried steak that I got from my mom (courtesy of Southern Living). We had it for dinner tonight and it was amazing (not to mention cheap!).

Ingredients:
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 sleeve saltine crackers, crushed
1 1/4 C. flour, divided
2 t. salt, divided
1 1/2 t. pepper, divided
1/2 t. baking powder
4 3/4 C. milk, divided
2 eggs
1 C. oil (peanut, canola or vegetable)
4 cubed steaks

Heat oven to 225. Place a cooling rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet.

1. Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper (or Everglades seasoning, if you have it).
2. Combine crackers, 1 cup flour, 1 t. salt, 1/2 t. pepper and baking powder in a shallow dish.
3. Whisk 3/4 cup milk and eggs in another dish.
4. Dredge steaks in cracker mixture, being sure to press crackers into steak. Next dip steaks into the milk and then dredge in cracker mixture again.
5. Pour oil into a skillet (NOT non-stick, you need the crumbs for the gravy, I use my cast-iron skillet and it works great) and heat to 360 degrees.
6. Fry steaks for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
7. Put steaks on cooling rack inside rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven.
8. Drain the oil, reserving at least 1 T. oil plus the bits/crumbs on the bottom.
9. Add 1/4 cup flour and whisk for 1 minute.
10. Gradually add remaining 4 cups of milk, 1 t. salt and 1 t. pepper. Whisk constantly for 10 - 12 minutes, or until desired thickness.

The only thing missing from our meal tonight was mashed potatoes. This recipe makes a TON of gravy, so don't forget the taters!

Enjoy!