Ingredients

  • Oil, for frying
  • 1 cup flour
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • One 8-ounce bag party snack mix, pulsed in a food processor until fine
  • 6 individual string cheeses, cut in half
  • 1 pound chicken tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 8)
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 medium jalapenos
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon grainy mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Pinch cayenne
  • Pinch ground garlic
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Oil, for brushing
  • 8 soft French rolls
  • 1/2 head Bibb lettuce
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced thin
  • Jeff's Buttermilk Ranch, recipe follows
  • 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon fresh dill, minced
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Pinch salt
  • Pinch ground black pepper

Method

  • For the mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers: Fill a Dutch oven halfway with oil and heat to 350 degrees F. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Add the flour, eggs and crushed party mix to 3 separate shallow dishes.
  • Coat the cheese and chicken pieces first in flour, then egg, letting the excess drip off, and then coat in the snack mix.
  • Fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain and then season with salt and pepper.
  • For the poppers: Halve the jalapenos lengthwise, removing the seeds and leaving the stems on.
  • In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, horseradish, honey, mustard, Worcestershire, cayenne, garlic and some salt and pepper.
  • Spoon this mixture into each of the split jalapenos and brush with oil.
  • Bake until the tops are brown and the skins are slightly blistered, 10 to 12 minutes.
  • For the sandwich build: Open the each roll and layer with fried mozzarella, chicken tenders and jalapeno poppers.
  • Top with a piece of lettuce, a couple slices of tomato and Jeff's Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
  • Mix the mayonnaise, buttermilk, dill, garlic, honey, mustard, salt and pepper in a bowl.
  • Store in an airtight container.