Fancy Fried Cheese Sticks.

Fancy Fried Cheese Sticks

• 1/4 pound firm but not hard cheese per serving (cheddar or montrey jack, swiss, mozzarella all work well)
• 1 Poblano pepper per serving (good with cheddar), or 2 strips bacon (cooked but not crispy) per serving (good with swiss), or 2 slices prociutto per serving (good with mozzarella)
• 6 toothpicks per serving
• White Flour for dredging
• 1 egg per serving, separated
• 1/2 tablespoon white flour per serving
• salt to taste
• Oil for deep frying

Heat the oil to 365 degrees farenheit.

Cut the cheese into six separate roughly equal-sized cubes per serving (about 2/3 ounce each).

If using poblano chile's, remove the skins -- do this by broiling them on each side until the skin is blackened, and then place inside a paper bag for 15-20 minutes to sweat the skins off; slice the chiles to create six strips per serving. If using bacon, cook the bacon and cut each strip in thirds to create six strips per serving. If using prosciuto, slice each piece into three strips. Wrap a strip (of whatever) around each piece of cheese, holding it in place with a toothpick.

Dredge each peice of cheese in white flour.

Whip the egg whites until they form peaks (a mixer at medium speed does the job).

Combine the yolks, flour, and salt.

Add egg whites to the yolk mixture, and stir until smooth.

Coat each piece of cheese in the egg mixture.

Fry about six at a time, until golden brown. Be sure to get both sides of each piece (they float), spooning oil over them or using implements to hold them under the oil.

Serves: ??

Preparation time: 45 minutes