fried foods

Jac said:

My mother passed away on April 27, 2005 and left my father and two
sisters. My father is 83 years old and I live with him and take care
of him. I can't seem to please him when it comes to cooking, although
I had done the cooking for the pass two years almost all the time. My
mailn problem is he likes fried foods and I do not fry foods and have
no idea how. I need some step by step directions for frying things
like Pork chops and also chicken and fish. He is not going to be a
happy camper until I learn to fry foods. I know they are not healthy
for a person but this is what he grew up on and what he wants. I would
appreciate any help with frying foods. Again, I am ignorant when it
comes to frying. LIke do you start out with grease in the skillet, do
you fry on high or med or low and approximate times. Please help me
if you can.

I am not a frequent poster but I use to be I just have not had the
time for the last few years due to my mother's sickness.

Hope to become more active in the near future once I get the estate
settled and all that stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Jacqueline

I'm sorry for your loss. My mother died just over a year ago and it's
hard to get over. My parents were married for 63 years. During the
past 20 years they mostly went out to eat. After my uncle retired, his
wife retired from cooking and Mom did decided to do that, too.

Dad is 85 now and doesn't like much salt or spices in his food,
although I'm sure that what he gets at the restaurants have plenty of
those ingredients. He is really set in his ways and picky. I think it
would be hard to cook for him every day.

What fried foods does your father like? Southern fried chicken, French
fries?
There is deep-frying and pan frying. For deep-frying I prefer an
appliance that has a temperature control, like the old Sunbeam fryers
you can find at garage sales. They are good for battered dishes. That
can be anything from shrimp and chicken to vegetables or fruit
fritters. A basic cookbook will have a batter recipe, and maybe the
Bisquick box might.

Pan frying usually involves dredging the meat or vegetable in flour,
then egg or milk or both, and either more flour or some other topping
like breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes. It's best to let the coated
pieces sit awhile to "set."
Just heat a pan, preferably cast iron (but steel can work) until hot
and add oil and sometimes some butter and fry the food. Chicken needs a
couple of inches of oil but a breaded fish filet is best in just a
little butter. My cousin did a baked fake version of fried chicken.
Coat chicken pieces in mayo and then crumbled cornflakes and bake for
about an hour. It really isn't bad. I know that this isn't extensive,
but a basic cookbook like Joy of Cooking will walk you through it.

If your dad just wants fried food at his age I would give it to him.
At that age you should be able to get anything you want. Cholesterol
schlemsterol!

Best of luck to you!

On 4 Jul 2005 00:05:38 -0700, "karen" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Karen,

Thank you so much for replying to my message, He wants things like
pan fried chicken, pork chops, no french fries and refuses to eat out,
although today we did because he went 4-wheeling and told me he would
not be back until dark and I had not planned on cooking and he rolled
in at 2 PM so he got Hardee's. He was not a happy camper but he did
understand.

Thanks about the loss of my mother, too, that has been one of the
hardest things I have done, but worse than losing her, which is
terrible, is watching my father grieve. I feel so sorry for him.

Jacqueline

Quoted message said:

I'm sorry for your loss. My mother died just over a year ago and it's
hard to get over. My parents were married for 63 years. During the
past 20 years they mostly went out to eat. After my uncle retired, his
wife retired from cooking and Mom did decided to do that, too.

Dad is 85 now and doesn't like much salt or spices in his food,
although I'm sure that what he gets at the restaurants have plenty of
those ingredients. He is really set in his ways and picky. I think it
would be hard to cook for him every day.

What fried foods does your father like? Southern fried chicken, French
fries?
There is deep-frying and pan frying. For deep-frying I prefer an
appliance that has a temperature control, like the old Sunbeam fryers
you can find at garage sales. They are good for battered dishes. That
can be anything from shrimp and chicken to vegetables or fruit
fritters. A basic cookbook will have a batter recipe, and maybe the
Bisquick box might.

Pan frying usually involves dredging the meat or vegetable in flour,
then egg or milk or both, and either more flour or some other topping
like breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes. It's best to let the coated
pieces sit awhile to "set."
Just heat a pan, preferably cast iron (but steel can work) until hot
and add oil and sometimes some butter and fry the food. Chicken needs a
couple of inches of oil but a breaded fish filet is best in just a
little butter. My cousin did a baked fake version of fried chicken.
Coat chicken pieces in mayo and then crumbled cornflakes and bake for
about an hour. It really isn't bad. I know that this isn't extensive,
but a basic cookbook like Joy of Cooking will walk you through it.

If your dad just wants fried food at his age I would give it to him.
At that age you should be able to get anything you want. Cholesterol
schlemsterol!

Best of luck to you!

Jacqueline, I agree with Karen about an appliance with a temperature
control. I have an electric skillet that is invaluable for deep-frying.
I can set the dial to the desired temp, and it adjusts up and down
until it reaches it.

There are many cooking websites around. Try www.cdkitchen.com for a ton
of fried recipes. Just use their search feature. Many of the recipes
are detailed in their cooking instructions.

For pan fried pork chops, you can just season the chops to your liking,
then dredge them in flour or not. Heat a skillet over medium high heat,
add some shortening or cooking oil, brown both sides. You can then
lower the heat, cover and finish on the stove, or finish in the oven.

Good luck!

Jac said:

On 4 Jul 2005 00:05:38 -0700, "karen" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Karen,

Thank you so much for replying to my message, He wants things like
pan fried chicken, pork chops, no french fries and refuses to eat out,
although today we did because he went 4-wheeling and told me he would
not be back until dark and I had not planned on cooking and he rolled
in at 2 PM so he got Hardee's. He was not a happy camper but he did
understand.

Don't take this the wrong way, but your 83 year old father went 4-wheeling?

Jill

Quoted message said:

Thanks about the loss of my mother, too, that has been one of the
hardest things I have done, but worse than losing her, which is
terrible, is watching my father grieve. I feel so sorry for him.

Jacqueline

Quoted message said:

I'm sorry for your loss. My mother died just over a year ago and
it's hard to get over. My parents were married for 63 years.
During the past 20 years they mostly went out to eat. After my
uncle retired, his wife retired from cooking and Mom did decided to
do that, too.

Dad is 85 now and doesn't like much salt or spices in his food,
although I'm sure that what he gets at the restaurants have plenty of
those ingredients. He is really set in his ways and picky. I think
it would be hard to cook for him every day.

What fried foods does your father like? Southern fried chicken,
French fries?
There is deep-frying and pan frying. For deep-frying I prefer an
appliance that has a temperature control, like the old Sunbeam
fryers you can find at garage sales. They are good for battered
dishes. That can be anything from shrimp and chicken to vegetables
or fruit fritters. A basic cookbook will have a batter recipe, and
maybe the Bisquick box might.

Pan frying usually involves dredging the meat or vegetable in flour,
then egg or milk or both, and either more flour or some other topping
like breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes. It's best to let the coated
pieces sit awhile to "set."
Just heat a pan, preferably cast iron (but steel can work) until hot
and add oil and sometimes some butter and fry the food. Chicken
needs a couple of inches of oil but a breaded fish filet is best in
just a little butter. My cousin did a baked fake version of fried
chicken. Coat chicken pieces in mayo and then crumbled cornflakes
and bake for about an hour. It really isn't bad. I know that this
isn't extensive, but a basic cookbook like Joy of Cooking will walk
you through it.

If your dad just wants fried food at his age I would give it to him.
At that age you should be able to get anything you want. Cholesterol
schlemsterol!

Best of luck to you!

jmcquown said:

Don't take this the wrong way, but your 83 year old father went 4-wheeling?

One of my favorite comics is The Elderberries (Dusty and his car with
no wheels)....
http://www.ucomics.com/theelderberries/2005/07/03/

"Jac" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My mother passed away on April 27, 2005 and left my father and two
sisters. My father is 83 years old and I live with him and take care
of him. I can't seem to please him when it comes to cooking, although
I had done the cooking for the pass two years almost all the time. My
mailn problem is he likes fried foods and I do not fry foods and have
no idea how. I need some step by step directions for frying things
like Pork chops and also chicken and fish. He is not going to be a
happy camper until I learn to fry foods. I know they are not healthy
for a person but this is what he grew up on and what he wants. I would
appreciate any help with frying foods. Again, I am ignorant when it
comes to frying. LIke do you start out with grease in the skillet, do
you fry on high or med or low and approximate times. Please help me
if you can.

I am not a frequent poster but I use to be I just have not had the
time for the last few years due to my mother's sickness.

Hope to become more active in the near future once I get the estate
settled and all that stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Jacqueline

Frying foods is really quite simple and surprisingly lower in fat that you
think. I am a little unclear on your meaning however if you mean browning or
frying like fried chicken, or deep fat frying. So here goes:

The number one consideration is temperature control - make sure you start at a
proper temperature for frying. Most foods like a 350 degrees + temperature, if
you try to fry at a lower temperature the food will be greasy.

The second consideration is the pan or pot and/or heat source. You'll want to
use a heavy pan or ever a Dutch oven to "hold the heat".

Third, remember when you add foods the cold food will lower the temperature of
the oil. So start with the temperature higher than the food you want to fry and
don't crowd (overload) the pan.

Forth, since you are inexperienced get a frying thermometer so you can test the
temperature of the oil.

Fifth, learn to read the bubbles, the smaller the bubble and the slower the
bubbles come out of the food the closer to done the food is.

Sixth, for safety reasons remember "wet" food and hot oil cause fires and
injury. Be careful.

Finally use the right oil for the job, be it lard, solid shortening, peanut oil,
or vegetable oil, remember that different oils have different "smoke points".

As far as coatings are concerned just read recipes and follow the instructions.
You'll be ok there just be sure to "dry" the food before starting the coating
process.

One last point - see if you can find some Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

Good luck,

Dimitri

Jac said:

My mother passed away on April 27, 2005 and left my father and two
sisters. My father is 83 years old and I live with him and take care
of him. I can't seem to please him when it comes to cooking, although
I had done the cooking for the pass two years almost all the time. My
mailn problem is he likes fried foods and I do not fry foods and have
no idea how. I need some step by step directions for frying things
like Pork chops and also chicken and fish. He is not going to be a
happy camper until I learn to fry foods. I know they are not healthy
for a person but this is what he grew up on and what he wants. I would
appreciate any help with frying foods. Again, I am ignorant when it
comes to frying. LIke do you start out with grease in the skillet, do
you fry on high or med or low and approximate times. Please help me
if you can.

I am not a frequent poster but I use to be I just have not had the
time for the last few years due to my mother's sickness.

Hope to become more active in the near future once I get the estate
settled and all that stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Jacqueline

jac, i spent a few seconds on google and came up with this link.
http://www.baking911.com/howto/fry.htm it has some good basic information but
i'd be willing to bet there are plenty more good sources out there to learn
recipes and techniques.

sf said:

jmcquown said:

Don't take this the wrong way, but your 83 year old father went
4-wheeling?

One of my favorite comics is The Elderberries (Dusty and his car with
no wheels)....
http://www.ucomics.com/theelderberries/2005/07/03/

Love it! I have to wonder if this elderly gent can go 4-wheeling why he
can't fry his own food.

Jill

Jill,

My 83 year old father, not only 4-wheels but he also still hunts,
fishes, plants a garden and helps to can the food and also mows about
9 acres of grass each week. Most people think he might be in his late
60's and never had anyone guessed how old he was and gotten it right
unless they were close to his age and went to school with him. Here's
a picture of my father, nephew and nephew's girlfriend taken 10 days
after my mother died. I think he looks old in this picture but he had
also been working all day in the garden.

http://www.mountain-breeze.com/jay/tn_p1010082_sm.html

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't take this the wrong way, but your 83 year old father went 4-wheeling?

Jill

Oh and for who ever recommended a cooking site. I actually have a
recipe site and have had since 1996 but still don't know how to fry
things. LOL

Thanks everyone,

Jacqueline

Quoted message said:

Love it! I have to wonder if this elderly gent can go 4-wheeling why he
can't fry his own food.

Jill

He could fry his own food but I figure this, he works outside all day
long and the least I can do for him is give him a decent meal. My
father was a mess sergeant in WWII for a couple of years before he
started transporting troops across the country. He was also in combat
not to lessen his 8 yrs of military by saying he was just a mess
sergeant or just transported troops. He is a grand fellow and he and
my mother were married 57 years and he is now lost without her.

Jacqueline

Jac said:

Jill,

My 83 year old father, not only 4-wheels but he also still hunts,
fishes, plants a garden and helps to can the food and also mows about
9 acres of grass each week. Most people think he might be in his late
60's and never had anyone guessed how old he was and gotten it right
unless they were close to his age and went to school with him. Here's
a picture of my father, nephew and nephew's girlfriend taken 10 days
after my mother died. I think he looks old in this picture but he had
also been working all day in the garden.

http://www.mountain-breeze.com/jay/tn_p1010082_sm.html

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't take this the wrong way, but your 83 year old father went
4-wheeling?

Jill

Oh and for who ever recommended a cooking site. I actually have a
recipe site and have had since 1996 but still don't know how to fry
things. LOL

Thanks everyone,

Jacqueline

He looks hale and hearty for his age, Jacqueline.

You've been given some good advice about frying. I don't fry much, either
but I know at least how to gauge the temp and when to bread, flour or
batter, or not. You'll either want (as suggested) an electric skillet with
a temperature setting on it or a good set of cast iron. Fried pork chops
are simple. Dredge them in seasoned flour and let them sit a bit, then
dredge them again. Meanwhile, get your oil hot (about 1/2 inch). Don't
crowd the skillet. 2-3 chops, max. Brown them well on one side, then on
the other. If you're paranoid about bacteria in pork, put them in the oven
and finish them that way.

Got a grill? Maybe your dad would like grilled chops or chicken. Grilled
veggies are good, too. Oh, and if he likes everything fried, how about
fried zucchini or yellow squash? Egg wash and seasoned cornmeal treatment
on slices of those, deep fried until golden brown.

Jill

jmcquown said:

sf said:

jmcquown said:

Don't take this the wrong way, but your 83 year old father went
4-wheeling?

One of my favorite comics is The Elderberries (Dusty and his car with
no wheels)....
http://www.ucomics.com/theelderberries/2005/07/03/

Love it! I have to wonder if this elderly gent can go 4-wheeling why he
can't fry his own food.

Here's a hint.
http://www.ucomics.com/theelderberries/2005/06/29/

That Dad is vibrant and I hope he lives life to the fullest he's
allowed. When you're 83, if you have your own teeth and a digestive
system that doesn't complain... eat, drink and SMOKE whatever you
enjoy. You've lived long enough to merit people NOT fussing over you
and telling you how your bad habits are going to cut your life short.

--
Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.

Jac said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

He could fry his own food but I figure this, he works outside all day
long and the least I can do for him is give him a decent meal. My
father was a mess sergeant in WWII for a couple of years before he
started transporting troops across the country. He was also in combat
not to lessen his 8 yrs of military by saying he was just a mess
sergeant or just transported troops. He is a grand fellow and he and
my mother were married 57 years and he is now lost without her.

Jacqueline

He will have to grieve and during this time I would cater to him. It
could take some time. My dad seems to like to keep busy around the
house and start new projects. What's your dad doing outside, yard
work? It sounds like good exercise.

I think the people here have given you some good ideas. I love fried
pork chops with onions. What about fried eggs? And bacon? I worked at
a nursing home and liver and onions was very popular. I've been
racking my brain for other fried recipes but just come up with the
typical, like fish or chicken. My dad does like fried eggplant. Just
slice and salt and let it sit, rinse and dry. Dredge in flour and then
beaten egg and crumbs or more flour. Or even do that with tomatoes.
Fried shrimp?

It is nice that you want to take care of this grand fellow. I'm an only
daughter and I know I want my old dad to be happy in his latter years,
and I don't care if he spends all his money on whatever he wants.
Sheesh, I had a brother complain about treating Dad to a meal after
Mom's funeral. We treated him to a meal at one of their neighborhood
places and the owner greeted him. This was so cheap, but it was homey
for Dad. The brother probably took him to a costly place to show off.
My guess was that Dad didn't have a good time.

Best to you!

Jac said:

Jill,

My 83 year old father, not only 4-wheels but he also still hunts,
fishes, plants a garden and helps to can the food and also mows about
9 acres of grass each week. Most people think he might be in his late
60's and never had anyone guessed how old he was and gotten it right
unless they were close to his age and went to school with him. Here's
a picture of my father, nephew and nephew's girlfriend taken 10 days
after my mother died. I think he looks old in this picture but he had
also been working all day in the garden.

http://www.mountain-breeze.com/jay/tn_p1010082_sm.html

Your Dad is 83 in that picture???? BTW: You look barely over 20.

sf
who feels like an old fart now

"karen" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

It is nice that you want to take care of this grand fellow. I'm an only
daughter and I know I want my old dad to be happy in his latter years,
and I don't care if he spends all his money on whatever he wants.
Sheesh, I had a brother complain about treating Dad to a meal after
Mom's funeral.

Gee, I think your father paid for plenty of meals over the years for
your brother. Besides, if you're just going to whine about spending
a few bucks, keep it. Don't pay for dinner then act like you did
anyone a huge favor.

nancy

Don't worry that's not me in the picture that is my nephew and his
girlfriend and she is just barely sixteen nephew is eighteen. But
yes Dad is 83 in that picture, well no he was 11 days shy of 83, LOL
that was just before his last brithday.

I lived with my mother and father and have taken care of both of them
for years, although Dad has been pretty much able to take care of
himself until Mothere died. My parents were in retail furniture
business and they didn't sell it until Dad was 75 years old, he just
didn't think he would like retirement but he loved it, I don't know
how he feels about it now.

The first picture on this page was taken just about a year before my
mother died, she was 76 at the time it was taken, she didn't really
look her age either. I can't say the same for us girls, we all look
our age or older I think.

http://www.mountain-breeze.com/mother/index.html

I appreciate all your all's help with frying foods. I have several
cast iron skillets but not an electric one, I guess I will have to hit
Walmart for one of those, well I think I have one in the attic but I
would not dare try to find it. Too hot to go up there.

I hope to be around more after this week. Dad has to go to the doctor
tomorrow and I go myself on Friday and will take my sister on the 13th
to her heart doctor, she has been on the heart transplant list for 3
years now but is doing much better and they do not think she will need
it now. Praise the Lord.

Jacqueline

Quoted message said:

Your Dad is 83 in that picture???? BTW: You look barely over 20.

sf
who feels like an old fart now

Jac
http://www.mountain-breeze.com
Mountain Breeze Kitchen

Jacqueline, What a beautiful testimonial. Thank you for sharing it
with this news group.

Jac said:

My mother passed away on April 27, 2005 and left my father and two
sisters. My father is 83 years old and I live with him and take care
of him. I can't seem to please him when it comes to cooking, although

I had done the cooking for the pass two years almost all the time. My

mailn problem is he likes fried foods and I do not fry foods and have
no idea how. I need some step by step directions for frying things
like Pork chops and also chicken and fish. He is not going to be a
happy camper until I learn to fry foods. I know they are not healthy
for a person but this is what he grew up on and what he wants. I would

appreciate any help with frying foods. Again, I am ignorant when it
comes to frying. LIke do you start out with grease in the skillet, do

you fry on high or med or low and approximate times. Please help me
if you can.

I am not a frequent poster but I use to be I just have not had the
time for the last few years due to my mother's sickness.

Hope to become more active in the near future once I get the estate
settled and all that stuff.

Thanks in advance.

Jacqueline

If done properly, in hot oil, fried food is no more unhealthy than any
other. A quick searing in hot oil seals the food, browns the out side
and then the food can be removed from the cooking oil and finished in
the oven. Greasy fried food come from putting the food in oil that is
not hot enough, then the food absorbs the oil, rather than the oil
sealing the outside of the meat.

If you do a google search on "sauté" you will probly find more precise
instructions.

Fish cooked au meuniere is lightly coated in flour and quickly fried in
hot butter. Clarified butter can be heated to a higher temperature than
ordinary butter. Other individual serving sized pieces of meat can be
done the same way, or with a bread and egg coating or with milk and
flour or a batter. An individual piece of meat may be simply seasoned
and then quickly seared in hot oil to seal it, the heat reduced and
finished cooking.

Large piece of meat such as pot roasts are browned in hot oil then set
to stew in stock or other liquid.

Bite sized pieces of veggie can be done the same way with a coating of
milk or eggs and flour. Mushrooms are very nice this way.
---
Joseph Littleshoes

Jac said:

Don't worry that's not me in the picture that is my nephew and his
girlfriend and she is just barely sixteen nephew is eighteen. But
yes Dad is 83 in that picture, well no he was 11 days shy of 83, LOL
that was just before his last brithday.

I lived with my mother and father and have taken care of both of them
for years, although Dad has been pretty much able to take care of
himself until Mothere died. My parents were in retail furniture
business and they didn't sell it until Dad was 75 years old, he just
didn't think he would like retirement but he loved it, I don't know
how he feels about it now.

The first picture on this page was taken just about a year before my
mother died, she was 76 at the time it was taken, she didn't really
look her age either. I can't say the same for us girls, we all look
our age or older I think.

http://www.mountain-breeze.com/mother/index.html

What an wonderful tribute to your mom!

Quoted message said:

I appreciate all your all's help with frying foods. I have several
cast iron skillets but not an electric one, I guess I will have to hit
Walmart for one of those, well I think I have one in the attic but I
would not dare try to find it. Too hot to go up there.

I hope to be around more after this week. Dad has to go to the doctor
tomorrow and I go myself on Friday and will take my sister on the 13th
to her heart doctor, she has been on the heart transplant list for 3
years now but is doing much better and they do not think she will need
it now. Praise the Lord.

Jacqueline

Quoted message said:

Your Dad is 83 in that picture???? BTW: You look barely over 20.

sf
who feels like an old fart now

Jac
http://www.mountain-breeze.com
Mountain Breeze Kitchen