My niece, Natalia, coined the phrase chicken Melnick’s and it caught on with Amelia. Although her nuggets weren’t originally homemade, this is a recipe we put together. The nuggets and the fries are both baked, so no deep fryer needed. We may have had better luck with a deep fryer, cause after all this work, neither one of them would eat the damn fries. Too crispy for one and too soggy for the other, go figure. I enjoyed them though! The fries take a little longer in the oven than the nuggets do, so better to start them first, knock out the cutting and get them cooking in the water before dealing with the chicken. We used russet potatoes, a little goes a long way, we only did 2 potatoes and it was plenty (considering they didn’t eat them, any amount would have been plenty)
For the Fries:
3 Russet Potatoes (peeled or not, your call)
Olive oil
Salt
Step 1: Cut the potatoes to desired thickness and place into a pot.
(she’s posing for this and trying to look like she isn’t, hence the smirk)
Step 2: Fill with cold, salted water and put on the stove on high heat until it begins to bubble (don’t let it fully boil, you are just par cooking the potatoes and getting some of the starch cooked out)
Step 3: Strain par-cooked potatoes and place in a single layer on a sheet pan with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Place in 450 degree oven
Step 4: Keep an eye one them, one they start to turn golden brown, flip and return to the oven. We cooked them for about 30 minutes total, turned them half way through. If you mess with them too early or too often, they will break apart, just be patient here.
***Now during this whole cooking process, you have been preparing the chicken in between each step, so everything cooks for the right amount of time and comes out of the oven simultaneously, cause that always happens…
For the Chicken:
3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts cut into nugget sized cubes (trust whatever that means to you and go for it)
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Panko Bread Crumbs
We threw in some seasoned garlic salt as well, she loves that stuff
Step 1: Place the cubed chicken into a bowl, coat with olive oil, season with salt, pepper, and garlic salt.
Step 2: One at a time, coat the nuggets in panko and place on a sheet pan.
Step 3: Place in the oven with your already baking fries that are about half way done, remember those fries and how perfectly you timed everything? Good work! 
***OK, clearly my fries were not timed well as pictures don’t lie, just make it work, pull them when they are done, put them back in before serving, just get off my case!
Step 3: About 10-12 minutes, flip and back into the oven for another 5 minutes or so
***And voila, Chicken Melnick’s and Fries that you will love, and your kids will maybe like them, maybe not, depends on who knows what, Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are always the back up plan, but make your own, I already made you one meal tonight!!! Enjoy…
The Shredded Carrot 