Mozzarella Sticks

While growing up, string cheese was one of my favorite snacks to nibble on after school. I mean, who doesn’t love ripping off pieces of cheese and indulging in every strip you eat?  In this recipe, I used string cheese to make another favorite snack, mozzarella sticks. With its hot melted goodness on the inside and crunchy texture on the outside, these homemade mozzarella sticks are just as enjoyable as string cheese.

Ingredients

• 16 pieces string cheese
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 whole eggs
• 3 tablespoons milk
• Panko Crispy Bread Crumbs – Italian Style
• canola oil
• marinara sauce, for dipping

Directions (FYI my pictures portray a smaller serving size)

1. Slice string cheese pieces in half.
2. Place flour in a small bowl.
3. In another bowl, whisk eggs and milk together.
4. Pour the bread crumbs into a separate bowl.Do the following to each piece of string cheese:
5. Roll the string cheese in flour.
6. Dunk it in the egg/milk mixture for about 30 seconds.
7. Next, place into bread crumbs and use your hands to sweep crumbs all over the string cheese.
8. Gently remove and place on a dish or cookie sheet. Repeat until string cheese pieces are coated.
9. Place the dish in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to flash freeze.
   This will hold the coating and prevent the mozzarella stick from falling apart when frying.
10. Pour canola oil into a large skillet so that the oil is 1 1/2 inches high. Turn on stove to medium heat.
    When hot, add mozzarella sticks several at a time.
11. Watch closely and turn over to brown evenly, cooking less than two minutes.
    You do not want the cheese to bubble and leak.
12. Remove to paper towel lined plate.
13. Serve warm with marinara sauce.