The EVOLUTION Magazine July-2023 | Page 46

COOKING with CANNABIS

Add Some Bang to Your Celebration with These Chicken Nuggets

With Delicious Farm Fresh Chicken by Chef Dana Cunningham

We are in the mists of Summer , and all I can think about is making the freshest food for my family . I am loving all the fresh vegetables and fruit we are producing and seeing at the market . I always support our local farmers , so if I am not growing it , I buy my produce from the other farmers at the market . One thing that I was determined to tackle this summer was prepping food for an easy lunch or snack because we are always on the go . I have tested so many chicken nuggets from the store and can ’ t find one I am completely satisfied with , mainly because there are just too many ingredients in them !

When I think of a chicken nugget , I think it ’ s just chicken and breading , which we create with flour . Those should be the two main ingredients , right ? Well , making homemade chicken nuggets may sound scary , but it is actually super easy ! I have a meat grinder , so I can grind my own chicken breast from the chickens we raise right here on our farm . If you do not have a meat grinder , you can get one on Amazon for about $ 70 or ask your local meat counter to grind chicken for you . This recipe also works with ground turkey , which is readily available at the grocery store .
Another quick tip : Making your own chicken nuggets means you can sneak in vegetables ! I sometimes use a little roasted cauliflower in mine because the flavor is mild and no one really notices . These little gems can be made ahead of time and then put in the freezer ! This is the part that I love . To do this , just cook them until the internal temperature reaches 165 , let them cool , and then stick them in a freezer bag . They will stay good for up to four months . When I want to cook some for a snack , I just put them in my air fryer and let them go for a few minutes ! Poof , ready-to-eat , homemade chicken nuggets !
For the infusion , I add my oil directly to the meat mixture , so that I can mix it in really well and make sure it is distributed as evenly as possible . Make sure to mark the infused nuggets so they don ’ t get into little hands !
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts or ½ lb of ground chicken or turkey 2 tablespoons of infused oil or butter ½ cup of flour ½ cup of Panko bread crumbs 2 eggs ½ cup of milk Salt and pepper to season
46 JULY 2023
The Method
1 . Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2 . Grind chicken breast with a meat grinder and place in a bowl . Sprinkle with salt and pepper to season , and drizzle infused oil or melted butter . Mix well .
3 . Place ½ cup pf flour and ½ cup of Panko bread crumbs in a food processor and pulse until combined .
4 . Place flour mixture in a medium bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper to season .
5 . In a separate medium bowl , crack 2 eggs and whisk while adding ½ cup of milk .
6 . Form ground chicken or turkey into 2 oz nuggets . About 2 tablespoons each .
7 . Place each formed nugget into the flour mixture , then dip it into the egg mixture , and then nonce again in the flour mixture to cover completely . Then place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet . 8 . Repeat until all nuggets are finished . 9 . Place baking sheet into the oven and bake for 5 minutes . After 5 minutes , flip the nuggets over and put them back in the oven for 10 minutes .
10 . The chicken nuggets will be done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees and the outside breading is browned .
If you have any questions or you would like to connect with our farm , visit www . sunsetgrovekearney . com and click “ Get on the List .” We will send you weekly updates about what ’ s Fresh and available at Sunset Grove , Kearney , MO . Email to dana @ infusedkc . com .
Dana Cunningham is a Kansas City Native trained in French and American cuisine . She owns Infused KC , Kansas City ’ s CBD infusion think tank and focuses her culinary efforts on the farm-to-table concept at her four-acre homestead . She provides cooking classes in Kearney , MO . Follow her on Facebook , @ infusedkcmo or YouTube @ sunsetgrovekearney . Get your CBD at , www . infusedkc . com .