CFS!

We say "pop" in Buffalo, therefore we are midwestern. We also have the world's finest cuisine like the Chicken Finger Sub, when you want that franks-bleu-chicken combination in sammich form. Jim's Steak Out, a late night fast food establishment, offers 12-inch subs, but since their expansion in the last decade, their prices have risen over 200%. As with any fast food chain, one wonders about the quality of their ingredients. Finally, when one visits Jim's, it will undoubtedly be overrun by drunks which is at best annoying and time-consuming and at worst, dangerous.

In my years away from home, my friends and I have been experimenting with this recipe. I will share with you how to make a CFS "cake," as we have on special occasions, such as the birth of Our Lord or of This Blogger.

From Wegmans:
-a few pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs, or breasts if you are feeling healthy
-chunky bleu cheese dressing*
-frank's hot sauce*
-a big crusty round bread
-sliced cooper cheese*
-buttermilk
-few eggs, whisked
-coarse bread crumbs (like Panko)
-butter
-garlic cloves, chopped
-tomatoes, chopped
-torn crispy iceberg lettuce*
-red onion, chopped

*stick with this kind even if you like real bleu cheese or don't think iceberg is nutritious enough. TRUST ME.

So, if you are like me and bought the thighs, you will need to shape them a bit (thighs are a bit rounder and don't lie flat in sammiches like breasts do). After you wash them and place them on a cutting board, cover them in saran wrap and get your rolling pin or tenderizer. Be careful not to splash chicken juice everywhere as you flatten them to your liking. After, place them in a bowl of buttermilk-seasoned-with-Franks in the fridge and leave them for at least a few hours (this part is optional because we're not deep-frying and we have the eggs to make the crumbs stick, but definitely soak the chicken beforehand if you must use breasts because they are dry).

While you wait, you can prepare everything else. With the bread, slice a big round hole in the top, and then tear out most of the bread as we will build the sammich inside.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and set up an assembly line:
1) chicken in bowl with milk
2) dish with eggs
3) dish with bread crumbs
4) baking dish with butter and garlic

Try to let the excess milk drip off the chicken, dip it in the eggs, then cover in crumbs, then place flat in pan. You might have to do multiple rounds depending on how much chicken you have. If you prefer, toast the bread at this point.

When the chicken is done, unscrew the top of the Franks bottle and pour liberally over chicken. Line the inside of the bread bowl with slices of cheese. Place Franks-drenched chicken on top so it lies flat. Follow with dressing, then lettuce, tomato, and onion. Slice and serve like a pie!

Execution and photography by T-bone (http://spicylentilcandles.blogspot.com/)