Squash "Fries"

For crying out loud.  I could have eaten the entire plate of these.

There's an abundance of squash in the summertime.  You may run out of ways to serve it to your family.  Kids don't always eagerly gobble up squash that's been sauteed or steamed or boiled. 

These "fries," however, will disappear faster than lightning.

The keys to making these are (1) your little breading station "assembly line" and (2) Panko bread crumbs.  May I extol the virtues of these Japanese bread crumbs?  You can buy them anywhere now.  They make anything they coat crispy and delicious.

I would be inclined to bake these, which is the healthiest way to prepare them.  On this night, though, Curt already had the Fry Daddy fired up for some grouper he had recently caught, so I had him toss in my little squash project.  (Seriously, if you find a good man who can feed the family on what he grabs from the ocean or shoots in a field, marry him on the spot.)  All that to say, fry or bake away, whatever you are inclined to do.

I don't have a recipe to give you...just general steps.  This is FOR REAL easy.

First, the squash prep:
Wash 4-5 yellow squash (more or less, depending on how many mouths you are feeding). Trim ends and cut in half lengthwise.  Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and discard.  Cut the squash into fry-like shapes.  Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. 

Then, your assembly line:
Line up three bowls. 
1.  In the first, place 1/4 to 1/2 cup of flour (or cornstarch). Season with salt and pepper. 
2.  In the 2nd, beat one egg.
3.  In the third, place about a cup of Panko bread crumbs.  Season this with salt and pepper, too.

                                  The breading "station" moves smoothly if you order it from left to right. Have an empty plate at end to gather breaded squash.
                                      This same process works for breading most anything else - chicken fingers, green beans, etc.  The kids can help with this!

It's crucial to season in all steps of the process.  Squash is bland, like potatoes - it lends itself well in this dish but needs some salt!

Also, if you run out of an ingredient in a bowl, do not fret, sweet one.  Just add some more. This isn't exact.

First, dip the "fries" into the flour mixture.  Shake off excess, and dip into the egg.  Then roll in the Panko crumbs.  Now you are ready to fry! You can use a deep fryer or fry on the stove with 2 or 3" of oil.  Or, you could bake these in the oven, say 400 degrees until brown and crispy. 

Cook until golden and serve with ketchup or ranch dressing.  Thank me later.

Oh and this would be great with zucchini as well!