Ingredients

• 225g/8oz fresh breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp chilli flakes
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 chicken breasts
• skin left on
• 2 free-range eggs
• beaten
• oil
• for frying
• 30g/1oz butter
• 300g/10½oz plain flour
• 300g/10½oz polenta
• 200g/7oz icing sugar
• 1 level tbsp baking powder
• 1 free-range egg
• beaten
• 250ml/9fl oz milk
• 200g/7oz butter
• melted
• vegetable oil
• for deep frying
• 175g/6oz plain flour
• 1 tbsp sugar
• about 100ml/3½fl oz ice-cold water (enough to make a batter)
• 3 bananas
• cut into thick chunks

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
• For the Maryland chicken
• combine the breadcrumbs and chilli flakes in a bowl and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Season the chicken and dip into the beaten egg
• then the breadcrumb mixture
• to coat all over.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken for about 12 minutes over a medium heat
• turning frequently
• until crisp and golden-brown.
• Dot the chicken breasts with butter
• place onto a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake for ten minutes
• or until the chicken is completely cooked through.
• For the cornbread
• place the flour
• polenta
• sugar and baking powder into a bowl and mix well. Place a deep
• ovenproof dish into the oven.
• Make a well in the centre of the dry mixture and add the beaten egg and the milk. Mix well
• then add the melted butter.
• Pour the mixture into the hot ovenproof dish
• transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes
• or until golden-brown.
• For the banana fritters
• place the vegetable oil into a deep
• heavy-bottomed saucepan and heat until a small cube of bread sizzles and turns golden when dropped into it. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)
• Place the flour and sugar into a bowl and add enough water to make a smooth batter. Dip the banana pieces into the batter to coat.
• Carefully place the bananas into the hot oil and deep fry for 4-5 minutes
• or until crisp and golden-brown.
• To serve
• place the Maryland chicken
• cornbread and banana fritters onto a large platter.