Ode To Pickles...

Perfect timing with this post, huh? It's like I'm pregnant or something!!

I've never met a pickle I didn't like. Wait...scratch that. Bread 'n butter, sweet gherkins. GAG!!! They shouldn't even exist, but that's an entirely different post for a different day. I guess I should say I've never met a DILL pickle I didn't like. I'll take a pickle any way I can get it, but a fried pickle is the ULTIMATE!! If you've never had a fried pickle, slap yourself on the hand real quick, then prepare to read this recipe and make some!! They are seriously so stinkin' simple and require virtually no prep, and you more than likely have all of the ingredients needed on hand. 

Last night, I suddenly decided I had to have some fried pickles. Like I said, it's like I'm pregnant!! Well, my first idea was Sonic!! I love my Sonic ever so faithfully, but I've never been head over heels about their fried pickles. Too heavy and greasy, in my opinion. But I was willing to eat even theirs to satisfy my craving. Well, evidently they're no longer on their menu. Boo. Oh well, like I said, I didn't really like 'em anyhow. Knowing of no other restaurants nearby that serves them, I knew what I had to do. 

Thus, the smell of "fried stuff" in my house at 8:30pm last night. I rarely fry stuff because the smell lingers for days! Oh, and there's that whole "bad for you" thing. Now, in my opinion, the best fried pickles are in "chip" form...I mean, obviously. The breading is light, not too thick, and crispy. There's nothing worse than a thick-breaded, soggy pickle. Last night's batch was OK. I was desperate and they sufficed. I wasn't entirely thrilled with how they fried up, though, so I tried round 2 today. I made some changes and they turned out SO much better. I'm pretty sure this recipe is a winner! It's probably a good thing I ran out of pickles. But I know what's going on the grocery list. :)

Let me just say, I did not measure a THING!! I really never measure, unless I'm baking. I just know how much I like of certain things and add until it's right. You can judge by how many pickles you're using and can tell about how much flour, etc. will be enough for them.

Fried Pickles(AKA: Little Discs of Heaven)

Ingredients:

- corn meal mix (this is great because it's got your corn meal and your flour in one!)/you'd probably need a cup for a whole jar of pickles

- plain bread crumbs (these may not be absolutely necessary but added a great crispiness)/probably 1/4 or 1/2 of the amount of corn meal mix

- creole seasoning, adds great flavor/just a few shakes of it

- whole milk (you can use buttermilk, but I never buy it and whole worked fine)

- dill pickle chips drained(your favorite brand. I like Mt. Olive)

- vegetable oil

Directions:

- Make sure your pickle chips are drained and dried off on a paper towel. I like to do this because it makes the milk stick better, which makes the coating stick better, which makes for better fried pickles!

- Get your oil heating in a pan on about med-high heat. I used about an inch of oil in the pan. You really don't need too much.

- Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Pour milk in another bowl.

- Dump pickles into milk, a few at a time. Then transfer to dry mixture and coat well. Shake off excess coating, then drop in hot oil. I always flick a little water into the pan and if it sizzles a lot, it's hot and ready.

- Fry a couple minutes per side until golden brown. You'll know when they're ready, trust me.

- Using a slotted spoon or a handy little spider strainer like the one below, carefully remove pickles and put them on a paper towel lined plate to drain.

I LOVE mine!!! You can get 'em at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. It's great for short cut pasta and veggies, too.

- Serve with your favorite accompanying sauce, Ranch for me!!!, and devour! (my favorite Ranch dressing is Naturally Fresh, which can be found with the produce and bagged salad. It's refrigerated. Closest to the good ol' restaurant ranch I've found!)

 These little guys are so dangerous, but oh so good! They came out crispy and not greasy AT ALL!! This is a winner, folks! I have a feeling our house will have that "fried stuff" smell a lot for the next 6 months or so. ;-) Might need to buy stock in Febreze! HA!

I hope you get to try out this recipe and you like these bad boys as much as I do (did, haha!!).

Happy Friday, guys!! Have a super awesome weekend!

P.S. I wanted to leave a quick THANK YOU to everyone for all the sweet comments you've left about our double blessings!! I have read them all, and they have all touched my heart. It's been hard to keep up with replying to all of them because there have been so many. I feel blessed by all of you.
I appreciate your kind words and congratulations more than you know! :)