One thing: when you fry, gotta have clean oil. You already know that, of course, but just in case some of our FReeper friends here don't happen to know that.
Here's a quick fun one -- kids love it...and I'm not so sure that an Iron Chef or two might not use it.
Take 6 16-oz. pint beer glasses, put 'em in the fridge. Melt and sweeten about 4-8 oz baker's chocolate in the SMALLEST DEEP PAN/POT YOU HAVE, just wide enough for the glasses in the best case, use your favourite sugar to sweeten, add honey even. 4-7 minutes, tops, just on low heat (depends on your stove/range). Stir it gently just to make sure the texture is even. Nice thick melted chocolate, right?
Turn the heat down to just minimal warm, keep it liquid, stir it if you need to keep it thick liquid.
In a different and larger pan/pot/whatever, even just a big old pitcher, put 3/4 gallon whole milk, add half-tsp paprika, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 oz peppermint oil (or, easier, crush up a bunch of Pep-O-Mint Life Savers, about 2 rolls), add a little cocoa powder and/or cinnamon if you want. Exotic version, add 10-20 oz coconut milk, and stir it thoroughly (pretty good, try it!).
Put this in the fridge, too. When the glasses are good and cold, just dunk them in the melted sweet chocolate, coating the rim and somewhat down the edge of the glasses, inside and outside. Put 'em back in the fridge, or a freezer if you like, to harden the chocolate.
When you want to serve, take out the glasses, fill with the spiced milk -- pour it right down the centre of the glass -- toss in a straw if you want...that's it.
Kids will throw the straw away immediately -- they'll just do what margarita drinkers do (obviously in a non-alcoholic way), and enjoy the flavour on the rim along with the drink.
Never seen a kid yet who didn't like this little concoction.
FReegards!
Thanks for the recipe although I will have to test it before giving to the grandkids. :)
Requests for gumbo are still being ignored, but the battle continues!!!LOL