CHICKEN BURGER WITH A DRIZZLE OF HONEY

This was supposed to be the best chicken burger ever! Homemade bun, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, red onion, fiery pepper jack cheese, mayo... and then I ruined the chicken. Well not totally ruined, but it was over cooked. Why? Because I'm lazy, and I didn't pound it thin like the recipe instructed me to.

But I still want to share the recipe for the chicken, because, when properly made, it's awesome. So juicy, flavorful, and then you top it with a drizzle of honey, that, with all the other flavors going on, just make that burger oh so special.

I don't fry often, especially with my kids around, because I'm so scared of what can happen, so it's even more frustrating that one of the few times that I do fry something, I ruin it. I mean, it wasn't totally ruined, we ate it and it was okay, but we all knew how good it could have been. At least the bun made up for the chicken fail. This homemade burger bun is to-die-for. Check out my baking blog for the recipe. Even the asparagus was perfectly cooked! Love asparagus this time of year.

honey kissed fried chicken sandwich

recipe adapted from life's ambrosia

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, rinsed and pat dry
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
oil for frying
4 homemade buns
mayonnaise
honey
tomato slices
lettuce leaves
sliced red onion

Place chicken breasts in a resealable plastic bag. Pound with the flat side of meat mallet until flattened to 1/4 inch thick (a rolling pin would work too).

In a bowl whisk together buttermilk, egg, 1 1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt and Tabasco. Transfer to resealable plastic bag, and add chicken. Shake bag to that the chicken is fully coated with the marinade. Remove all the air from the bag, seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

After marinating the chicken, place flour, baking powder and 1 tablespoon of seasoning salt in a resealable plastic bag. Remove chicken from marinade and transfer to flour. Shake to coat. Allow to sit for 15 minutes.

Heat 1/ 2 inch of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil starts to shimmer, sprinkle a little flour over it. If it sizzles its ready. Fry chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.

Split buns. Spread mayonnaise on buns. Place chicken breast on bottom half of roll, drizzle 1 teaspoon of honey over each chicken breast. Add tomato, lettuce, onion and top half of roll.

Do not, I mean DO NOT leave out the honey. I swear, it takes this burger to a whole other place! So yummy!