"Fried" Pecan Chicken Fingers

This is a great recipe for tailgating, although it must be prepared ahead of time. It is best if you prepare it the night before and cook it right before leaving for your event. This will keep it crunchy and tasty.

For this recipe you will need the following ingredients: 1 cup pecan halves, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 package of boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins (or thighs if you prefer dark meat), 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, vegetable cooking spray, and green onion curls for garnish.

Place pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan and bake at for 10 minutes at 350 degrees or until lightly toasted. Process toasted pecans, baking mix, salt, and pepper in a food processor until pecans are finely ground. Place 1/2 cup of the pecan mixture in a large bowl. Add chicken and toss, making sure each piece is coated.

Whisk together the eggs and buttermilk. Dip the chicken in and add the remaining pecan mixture. Arrange chicken in a single layer on a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Lightly coat the top of the chicken with vegetable cooking spray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 425 or until chicken is golden brown. Arrange on a serving platter and garnish, if desired.

If your tailgate party has a grill, you can also bring the chicken fingers along and cook them up in foil right on the spot. You can eat them with dipping sauces or just plain. Either way, this is one tasty tailgate recipe.

You can find this recipe online here:
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1626827