Finger Food Friday on Saturday: Edition My House Smells Like Fried Food

Allright.  I've said before that I'm not a quitter.  I committed at the beginning of summer to do a FFF for the whole season, and that is the ONLY reason why you're seeing a post here tonight.
That, and the fact that a few of you wrote and told me that you loved Finger Food Friday.  Lesson #1 on getting your way with Meanie Mom: Flattery will always light the way to my vain little heart.

So here it is.

Tonight we're doing Onion Rings.  It's a recipe from the September Edition of Everyday Rachael Ray Mag.  I guess I love her, despite the fact that her recipes usually call for a million ingredients that don't really end up complimenting each other.  It's like she throws an elaborate party with a bunch of people who have nothing in common.  The party ends up okay, but you walk away knowing your evening would have been more enjoyable if you'd just stayed home with a bottle of wine and a Netflix.

Check me out with my metaphors.

Anyway, I tend to look for her less complicated recipes.  Here's all the ingredients you'll need for onion rings:

That's 3 cups of pancake mix, 3 onions (I only used one.  Long uninteresting story.), 2 cups of Club Soda or Seltzer Water (Is there even a difference? Serious, if you know, please inform me.  It's one of those trivial facts that I hate not knowing the answer to), 1 1/2 tsp. of Chili Powder, and enough Vegetable Oil to fill up your frying pan to 3 inches.

First thing is obvious.  Cut up your onion rings.

Wear some goggles.  I don't care how dorky you look.  Serious!  Wear them, unless you want to tear up like you're watching the final scenes of Rudy.  

Ruuuuuuudy! Ruuuuuudy! 

Kills me.

Anyway.  I'll try harder to stay focused tonight.  Let's keep going. 

Next, you dump 3 cups of pancake mix into a bowl. 

Then you add 1 1/2 tsp. of chili powder.  Remember, I don't really ever measure.  I just eyeball it.  So feel free to live on the edge like me.  

Then you mix it up with some salt.  Oh yeah, I forgot to mention salt in the ingredient list.  Just go ahead and pretend like I remembered.  It's 1tsp or so.  

If you're even measuring.  

Next, you slowly whisk in the Club Soda until everything is nice and smooth. 

See that above?  Not smooth. Keep going.  

There, that's better.  By the way, I really should have used a larger bowl, but what could I do?  I was knee deep in the middle of FFF.  Besides, it's all part of the 1 onion vs. 3 onion story I mentioned earlier.  

Don't ask.  

Okay, now you dip your rings in and get them nice and coated.  

You may want to kind of dangle the onion above the bowl and let all the excess batter drip off.  It'll save you some mess.  

You're welcome.  

Next, you heat up your oil in your frying pan (the recipe says to about 325 degrees, but I just watch it and make sure that it's rippling hot.  That's worked better than any old thermometer so far.).

Drop those babies in there and fry them up for 2 minutes, turning once.  

You know what's going to go on my bucket list?  "Learn to take a good picture of food frying in a pan." Why can't I ever get a good shot of that?  

Anyway, take them out and drain them on a paper towel or a paper bag.  Salt them, and voila!  Onion Rings. 

Just look at all that greasy goodness.  Yum.  

By the way, sorry bout the terrible quality of photos today.  Ever since I got back from Vegas, my camera has been acting up.  My photography friend followers- Charlotte?  Natalie?  Mr. C?  Any suggestions are welcome.   Tell me what to do with these shadows and bright spots.  I'm beyond annoyed.  

Despite my faulty camera, the family reacted well to onion rings.  They brought a smile to 9's face. 

By the way, did you notice that 9 got a hair cut?  He starts high school on Monday.  High school! And this weekend I taught him how to back my car out of the driveway.  

Did I tell you guys that I met him when he was in Kindergarten? 

I think the theme of my summer has been "Time doesn't care about how young you feel, the fact of the matter is you're getting old, sister." 

 At least I'm having fun doing it. 

You all have a good night.