Do You Have a Strong Heart and Clear Mind?

Actually, on second thought, I don't care about the clear mind, but you should have a very strong heart before deciding to help me test this recipe. This is the chicken fried steak with country gravy that's going in the cookbook. If you'd like, follow the written recipes below and see what happens (besides massive deliciousness and not having to eat again for about 8 hours). Enjoy!

Chicken Fried Steak (makes 4 portions)

4 (6-ounce) beef cube steaks

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup milk

vegetable oil as needed

Season both sides of the cube steaks generously with salt and pepper.

Whisk together the eggs and milk in a pie pan and reserve. Add the flour, paprika, and white pepper into a second pie pan, and mix well to combine.

One at a time, dip the cube steaks into the egg mixture, turning to coat completely, and then dredge in the flour, coating both sides. Place the egged and floured steaks on a plate, and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Add about a 1/4-inch of vegetable oil to a large skillet, and place over medium-high heat. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the steaks and cook about 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.

Remove and drain for a couple minutes on a wire rack set over some paper towels. If working in batches, keep the cooked steaks in a warm oven until the rest are done. Serve immediately topped with country gravy.

Country Gravy (makes about 3 cups)

4 ounces ground pork sausage, or pork sausage link with casing removed

3 green onions, light parts chopped, green parts sliced and reserved

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups cold milk

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

pinch of cayenne

Lightly brown the sausage in a medium saucepan over medium heat. As it cooks, break the meat up into very small pieces with a wooden spoon. Add the light parts of the green onion and the butter; saute for a few minutes, until the onions are translucent.

Stir in the flour and cook this pasty mixture for 3 minutes. Whisk in the cold milk gradually until combined. The gravy will thicken as it comes up to a simmer. When it simmers, reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Before serving, season with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste.

Note: the thickness of this gravy is easily adjusted by adding another splash of milk towards the end of the cooking process. For an extra thick version, reduce the milk by 1/2 cup.