Jailhouse grub not so grubby these days
CAPE COD TIMES
Chef Chris Hargy, 36, trained at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I. and once owned a family restaurant. Now he prepares meals for the 30 inmates at Dukes County House of Corrections and teaches those interested how to cook. Here are some of his recipes - basic meals that taste better-than-basic because of Hargy's special touches, like adding just a touch of white vinegar to macaroni and cheese.

Southern Fried Chicken

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (four ounces each)

1 quart buttermilk

2 cups flour

2 cups bread crumbs

Salt, pepper, celery salt, to taste

Canola oil for frying


Marinate chicken breast in buttermilk for at least four hours. Combine flour and bread crumbs with salt, black pepper and celery salt. Dredge and coat chicken pieces in breading very well and let sit 20 minutes. Heat enough canola oil in deep pan to completely submerge chicken. When oil is hot enough cook chicken 7 to10 minutes. Drain on a paper towel.


Biscuits

5 cups flour

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons baking powder

1/2 pound butter

2 cups milk


Combine flour, salt and baking powder. Blend in butter until incorporated very well. Make a well and add milk, mix until combined and fold dough over unto itself 15 to 20 times. Roll out to one-inch thick and cut out rounds. Brush tops with melted butter, bake 12 minutes in 350-degree oven. Makes 20 large biscuits.


Twice Baked Potatoes

4 baked potatoes

Sour cream, bacon, cheese, garlic, chives, herbs, corn or any other add-in you like

Parsley

Mozzarella cheese


Cut cooked baked potatoes in half and scoop out insides. Make your normal mashed potatoes and add your favorite ingredients (sour cream, bacon, cheese, garlic, chives, herbs, horn). Scoop mashed potato mixture into potato skins so they are very full, top with parsley and mozzarella cheese. Bake in 350-degree oven 30 minutes.


Carrot Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package yellow cake mix

1 package instant vanilla pudding

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 cups carrots, grated

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup nuts


Combine cake mix and pudding. Mix in orange juice, oil, eggs and cinnamon. Mix well, then fold in carrots, raisins and nuts. Cook in 350-degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool before frosting.


Orange Cream Cheese Frosting


8 ounces cream cheese

1 stick butter, room temperature

3 cups confectioners' sugar

3 tablespoons orange juice

1 tablespoon orange zest


Combine cream cheese and butter. Add confectioners' sugar, a bit at a time until well combined. Add orange juice and zest, mix two minutes more.


Jag

One small onion, diced

6 slices chopped bacon

Butter, for sautéing

2 to 3 pounds spicy sausage (like chorizo or linguica)

2 cups rice

1 can kidney beans, drained and washed

Salt and black pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon chicken base (paste sold for soup-making)

4 cups water


Sauté onion with 6 slices of chopped bacon in butter. Add 2 to 3 pounds of spicy sausage and sauté five minutes more. Add rice, kidney beans, salt and pepper, chicken base, and water. Mix well. Cover with lid and bake in 350-degree oven about one hour or until all liquid is absorbed.


Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

4 cups milk

1 tablespoon chicken base

1 tablespoon white vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 to 3 cups shredded cheese

Cooked elbow pasta, about one pound

Ritz crackers, crushed for topping


Combine flour and butter in pan, cook 5 minutes, slowly add milk, mixing well. Bring to a warm temperature and add chicken base, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Mix in shredded cheese until melted and sauce is thickened. Mix well with cooked elbow pasta, top with crushed Ritz crackers and more cheese, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Chocolate eclairs

1/3 cup butter

1 cup water

1 cup flour

5 eggs

Chocolate pudding, pre-made


Melt butter with water, mix in flour and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes then mix in eggs, one at a time, mixing well between eggs. When finished, spoon out on to a baking sheet in golf-ball size portions. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. After cooked and cooled, cut in half and fill with pre-made chocolate pudding.

(Published: April 13, 2005)