Crispy Picnic Chicken Food

CRISPY PICNIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first six ingredients. Place the butter in a shallow bowl. Dip a few pieces of chicken at a time in butter, then place in bag; seal and shake to coat., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50 minutes or until chicken is tender and juices run clear. Serve hot or chilled.

PICNIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness. In a shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and seasonings. Place egg in another shallow bowl, dip chicken in egg, then in the crumb mixture. , In a large skillet, brown the chicken in oil and butter over medium heat for 3-5 minutes on each side or until chicken juices run clear.

CRISPY SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. In large plastic container, dissolve 2 tablespoons salt in about 2 cups water. Remove skin from chicken pieces (optional) and place in container. Add more water if necessary to cover chicken. Place lid on container and place in refrigerator for about 1 hour.
• 2. Pour milk into a bowl. Add egg and beat with fork till fairly smooth and set aside. In another bowl add flour, seasonings and soup base. Mix well with fork. Dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture, then dip in milk and egg mixture. Roll in flour mixture.
• 3. In a large deep iron skillet add oil to about 1" deep. Heat oil to about 375 degrees and add chicken pieces. You must do this in batches of about two pieces of chicken at a time, so as not to overcrowd your pan. Cook chicken about 7 to 8 minutes per side or until juices run clear. Transfer chicken pieces to serving platter. You may also use a deep fryer set at about 350 degrees. Add only a couple of pieces at a time and cook for about 15 minutes or until juices run clear.
• 4. ALTERNATE METHOD: Heat oven to about 400 degrees. In cast iron skillet, brown chicken pieces in hot oil. Transfer chicken pieces to a broiler pan coated well with cooking spray and bake for about 20 minutes or until juices run clear. Remove from oven and transfer to serving platter.
• 5. Chicken soup base is a moist powder. It's available in the soup/bullion aisle in most grocery stores and it is relatively inexpensive.

PICNIC FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the honey giardiniera butter: Add the butter, honey and salt to taste to a bowl and mix until smooth. Stir in the giardiniera until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the chicken: Add the chicken thighs, reserved giardiniera brine and pickle brine to a plastic zip-top bag and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
• When ready to fry the chicken, fill a Dutch oven halfway full with oil and heat to 350°F.
• Set up a dredging station: Pour the buttermilk into a large bowl and in a separate large bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, paprika, salt, pepper and cayenne until well combined. Use your tongs to drizzle some of the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture.
• Remove 1 or 2 pieces of the chicken from the brine at a time and submerge in the buttermilk. Add 1 piece of the buttermilk-soaked chicken at a time into the flour mixture and turn to completely coat the chicken. Transfer to a plate and repeat until all the remaining chicken is well coated.
• Add the chicken to the hot oil in batches, 2 or 3 pieces at a time, and cook until brown and crispy, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack on a baking sheet to drain. Serve immediately with the giardiniera butter or let cool and store on a wire-rack on a sheet pan, lightly covered, in the fridge overnight. Serve at the picnic at room temp. Served with softened honey giardiniera butter.

PICNIC CHICKEN IN A BASKET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, sesame seeds, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seeds, salt and pepper. Dip the chicken drumettes in the flour mixture and shake off any excess. Next, dip the chicken in the beaten egg and then coat each piece thoroughly in the flour mixture again.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter and the olive oil in a large skillet. Brown the chicken thoroughly, about 3 minutes per side, over medium heat. Put the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and bake 20 minutes.
• In the meantime, to prepare the bread basket, cut a large top in the bread round. Scoop out the inside of the loaf, leaving about ¾ inch of bread all the way around the edge.
• For the Herb and Seeds Butter Sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the remaining sauce ingredients. With a pastry brush, spread the sauce over the entire inside of the loaf and inside of the top. Place the loaf and top on a cookie sheet.
• At this time the chicken should have cooked for the 20 minutes. Remove chicken from the oven and brush the drumettes with BBQ sauce and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until done. Also put the bread in the oven at the same time and bake uncovered for 15 minute. Remove both cookie sheets from the oven and put the chicken in the bread round and put the bread top on. Wrap the bread basket in several layers of heavy duty foil, surrounded by several layers of newspaper. It will remain very warm for several hours this way. Enjoy your tailgate or picnic party!

OVEN-FRIED PICNIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine buttermilk and garlic. Add chicken pieces and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Arrange rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Line large shallow baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking oil. In large bowl, combine bread crumbs, oregano, basil, marjoram, salt, and pepper; toss well to blend.
• Drain chicken and discard buttermilk. Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken in bread crumbs until well coated, then place, skin side up, on baking sheet. Spray pieces lightly with cooking oil.
• Bake chicken until golden and cooked through, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
• Transportation tips:
• If you cook the chicken just before leaving, you can transport it warm, uncovered, in a basket lined with foil and paper towels. If you make it a day ahead, let it cool, then refrigerate it overnight. Pack the cold chicken in a covered plastic container lined with parchment paper.