Fried Chicken and the Fixin's

Tonight Mom, Mel, Russ, and the girls came for dinner. It's been a while since we had a family dinner. The girls provided wonderful entertainment as usual. They were super-excited because they got to take a bubble bath in the "big bathtub." For dinner, we had Fried Chicken, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Cheese Biscuits. The girls liked the "chicken nuggets" (with ketchup, of course) and the potatoes.

Fried Chicken
1 (1.5-pound) package boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut each breast in half)
Buttermilk
All-purpose flour
Salt and pepper
Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
Peanut oil

1. Marinate chicken in buttermilk to cover in refrigerator for 8 hours.
2. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in plate. Roll chicken in flour mixture, dip in buttermilk, and roll in panko.
3. Heat oil in large Dutch oven. Cook chicken in hot oil until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels, and sprinkle with salt.

Loaded Mashed Potatoes
2 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into cubes
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
4 slices chopped bacon, cooked
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Cook potatoes in water to cover in a large Dutch oven until tender. Drain and return to pot. Stir in butter and next 3 ingredients. Stir in salt and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture into a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
2. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.

Green Beans
2 bags frozen green beans
5 bacon slices, chopped
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in large saucepan. Bring to a boil, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or until beans are tender.

Cheese Biscuits
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup butter, cut into cubes
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3/4 cup buttermilk

1. Combine flour and butter until mixture resembles sand. Stir in cheese and buttermilk. Spoon mixture into lightly greased muffin cups.
2. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden.