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With JAN D’ATRI

GetOut Contributor

Homemade chicken nuggets great almost any time

The kids are finally back in the classroom, and when they come home from school or sports they are generally ravenous, right?

It’s a pretty good bet that if given a choice between chicken nuggets and anything else, my guess is it’s going to be the nuggets.

So, why not make them delicious and perhaps healthier than the fast food version?

Plus, kids love to cook these days, and if your young ones are old enough to be safe around the cook top and oven, this might be a great meal that they can make themselves. (Studies show that when kids take the initiative to cook a meal, they enjoy not only eating the food, but are more apt to want to learn how to prepare meals more often.) I discovered that on a field trip a few years ago to a Boys & Girls Club where I was teaching a cooking class.

About 50 kids huddled around as I taught a handson cooking demonstration. They were mesmerized. Many shared their at-home cooking experiences with Mom and Dad. I was, quite frankly, stunned at their interested in every aspect of cooking, whether chopping and dicing, sautéing and of course, sharing what they had prepared.

Back to the chicken nuggets. This recipe is fairly simple and super delicious, and it’s the kind of recipe that may flesh out whether you have a budding Jacques Pepin or Julia Child just waiting to cook up something fun for the family. ■

Ingredients:

2 large egg whites, slightly beaten 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce 1/4 cup flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper 1 cup vegetable oil (if frying in pan)

1/4 cup olive oil (if baking in oven) 2 large chicken breasts or 3 skinless bones less thighs, cut into 1 1/2 to 2 inch pieces.

Dipping sauces of your choice

Directions:

If baking chicken nuggets in the oven, pre-heat to 375 degrees. If cooking nuggets in frying pan, add oil to pan and turn heat to medium high.

In a bowl stir Worcestershire sauce into beaten egg whites and mix well.

In another shallow bowl or baking dish, mix together flour, cornstarch, salt and pepper.

Dip each piece of chicken in egg white mixture, then into the flour mixture.

If baking nuggets in the oven, place chicken pieces on a baking sheet. Lightly brush nuggets with olive oil. Bake for about 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

If frying nuggets, place chicken pieces in pan with hot vegetable oil and cook on each side until golden brown and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes.

Serve hot and dip in your favorite sauces.