Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara

Have I mentioned that love cheese? I thought so. I went to Sam's Club this weekend, and I stocked up on string cheese. Although my kids think they are mice from time to time and would have no problems eating 60 sticks of string cheese, I thought I could make these to help free up some fridge space. They are so good. Mozzarella cheese is great by itself, but when it is coated in crumbs and Parmesan cheese and fried... oh boy, something wonderful happens to that cheese. I love it. Mozzarella sticks used to always be a favorite appetizer of mine at restaurants, but now I can make them at home with little effort. Mmm....
Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara:

6 sticks string cheese
1/4 c Parmesan cheese
1/4 c seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 c flour
1 egg
2 T water
oil

Marinara:
14 oz can diced tomatoes
2 T olive oil
1 t minced garlic
1/4 c minced onion
1 T parsley
1 t Italian seasoning
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Pour oil into a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the oil reaches about 315 degrees.

Prepare the marinara sauce. I just whipped this up off the top of my head, but it tasted great. Heat the 2 T oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic. Saute for a couple minutes. While it is cooking, put the diced tomatoes in a food processor and pulse a few times, so the tomatoes are not so chunky. Pour the tomatoes in the saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Simmer until the mozzarella sticks are ready.

For the mozzarella sticks:
Put the flour on a plate. Roll the cheese sticks in the flour to coat all sides. Make sure you get the little ends, too.
Put the egg and water onto a shallow plate. I know you love my daughter's little pink plate back there. Classic. Roll the flour coated cheese sticks in the egg. Again, make sure you get the ends coated. You'll also want to make sure that cheese is coated all over the place.
Combine the Parmesan and bread crumbs on another plate. I was going to use the Scooby-Doo plate, but decided to use the plain blue one. If I didn't decide against it, I would have felt obligated to do the whole post in Scooby-Doo voice. That would be no good. Roll the flour and egg coated cheese stick in the bread crumb and cheese mixture. Coat it really well.

The oil should be ready by now. Carefully drop the cheese sticks in the oil. I did 3 at a time. Cook them for about 1 minute or until they are golden brown. Remove them with a metal slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel lines plate.

Serve them warm with the marinara sauce. t-a-s-t-y.