the other white....meat

I remember being in Vegas and ordering some chicken tenders at a pub and being ultimately disappointed when chicken fingers showed up on my plate instead. Maybe it was the desert air or the anise flavoured IPA I was drinking or the fact that I was feeling all romantic-like since I was on my honeymoon, but I just liked the word "tenders" and I didn't really think that would translate into the foodstuffs of little kids and restaurant chains. Oh well, live and learn.

Now don't get me wrong, I love foods like chicken fingers in that they are a means to an end and the end being sauce. Yes, I love me a good sauce and I'm not really that picky when it comes to the vehicle that gets me there. The other night I was visiting my friend Kristen and she had just pulled out some breaded baked tofu from the oven just so that she could have something to dip into some yellow mustard. Hmmm, that got me to thinking. Normally when I bake tofu, I marinate it and then use the end result in a yummy sandwich or to top some rice and steamed vegetables, but I liked Kristen's idea better! So I whipped up some homemade bbq sauce and came up with these beauties. Kristen just went all white trash vegan and dipped the tofu in oil before dipping in the breadcrumbs, but I liked the idea of an egg dip better. I'm sure a vegan with health on her mind could figure out a less fattening solution. As well, use any spice combination you like, the tofu won't mind at all.

tofu tenders
1 block of extra firm tofu, sliced into "fingers"
panko crumbs
paprika
salt & pepper
oregano
1 egg, beaten
the dipping sauce of your choice

1. Heat oven to 400 and spray a cookie sheet with vegetable oil. On a large plate, dump some panko crumbs and season with paprika, oregano & salt and pepper. Mix well with fork. In a separate bowl, beat 1 egg and dip each piece of tofu into the egg mixture and then the crumb mixture and place on cookie sheet.

2. Bake in the oven until the tofu is golden brown, about 30 minutes or so. Remove from oven, arrange in a pleasing pattern on a plate and serve with your favorite dipping sauce.