Granny Fosters Sunday Fried Chicken Food

GRANNY FOSTER'S SUNDAY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Add 2 tablespoons salt, the sugar, vinegar, and bay leaves and stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Place buttermilk in a large, shallow bowl. Lift chicken from brine and transfer to buttermilk. In another large, shallow bowl or zip-top bag, stir or shake together flour, 1 tablespoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and pinch of cayenne to combine.
• Line a platter with a brown paper bag and place near stove. In a large cast-iron skillet, heat shortening over medium-high until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350 degrees to 375 degrees (a small cube of bread should brown in less than 1 minute). Oil should be deep enough to come halfway up sides of chicken; the level will rise slightly when chicken is added. Beginning with larger pieces, lift chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and dredge or shake in flour mixture until evenly coated. Shake off excess.
• Working in batches, add chicken, skin side down, to pan (do not crowd pan); reduce heat to medium. Fry until golden brown on both sides and juices run clear when thigh is pierced with a knife (an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh, avoiding bone, should read 165 degrees), 10 to 12 minutes per side.
• Transfer chicken to platter to drain. Season with salt and pepper and let sit 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GRANDMA'S SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash chicken pieces and place in a deep bowl. Cover with buttermilk and hot sauce, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Melt shortening in a cast iron skillet to a depth of about 1 inch.
• Heat to about 370º. (No thermometer needed, really. It'll get hot enough while chicken rests AFTER coating if you have your flame on about medium.) If it starts to smoke, turn it down immediately a bit.
• In a doubled brown paper lunch sack, mix together all of the dry ingredients.
• Remove chicken from bowl.
• Using additional seasoned salt and pepper, lightly coat to season chicken.
• Place chicken in bag, one piece at a time. Shake well until thoroughly coated.
• Dip each piece in the buttermilk and coat with flour once again.
• Shake off excess; place on waxed paper for 15 minutes or until dry.
• Place chicken, skin side down, in hot shortening.
• Do not crowd skillet.
• Brown until golden on bottom (good)(skin) side. When chicken pieces are golden on one side, turn pieces over, cover with tight fitting lid, and reduce heat to a simmer, turning chicken pieces ocaisionally, for 35 to 40 minutes or until juices run clear and chicken is tender. *When lid is placed on, and heat is reduced to a good simmer, the good side of pieces are the top sides. After about 10 minutes, turn back to skin-side down. After another 10 minutes or so, turn back to skin-side up for the last 10-15 minutes.).
• Uncover and cook 5 minutes longer for "crispy on the outside" crust. Remove at once, skipping this step, if a softer outside is preferred. My grandma and great aunts always drained their fried chicken on brown paper grocery bags. This seems to work best for me, too. Paper towels work "ok", too. *If doubling or making alot of chicken, or just wanting to keep it warm til the rest of your side dishes are done and ready to serve, place chicken on brown paper bag-lined cookie sheet in very low oven. GREAT cold, too!
• 4-6 servings.
• To make chicken fingers:.
• Use 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips about a 1/2-3/4 " thick. I skipped the buttermilk and hot sauce part, and dipped them into the flour mixture first, then into 1 egg beaten with about a half of a cup of half and half cream and a little hot sauce. Then back into the flour mixture. Worked out PERFECTLY. I lightly browned them in hot oil on one side, turned them, then put a lid on them. I then only cooked them for 8 minutes. I removed the lid, turned them and cooked them another minute. Drained them on paper towel.YUM!
• *One extra tip: Don't ever turn chicken by piercing with a fork, all the juices will run out and the meat will be dry. Always use tongs and have a sharp spatula handy to get underneath just in case a little bit wants to stick. You don't want to lose that good breading! :).

SUNDAY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first seven ingredients. In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs and milk. Dip chicken in egg mixture and shake off excess. Add a few chicken pieces at a time to the bag; seal and shake to coat. , In an electric skillet, heat 1/4 in. of oil to 375°. Fry chicken, a few pieces at a time, for 6-10 minutes on each side or until chicken juices run clear. Drain on paper towels.

GRANNY'S SIMPLE WAY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Wash chicken.
• My Granny always cuts the breast halves in half.
• Salt all chicken pieces good on both sides.
• Let sit for 20 minutes on paper towels.
• Put oil in frying pan and heat to medium high.
• Shake chicken in flour.
• Carefully add chicken pieces skin side down first and brown on each side.
• Turn burner down on medium.
• Cook until done. (cooking time varies on different pieces.).
• Drain on paper towels.

GRANNY'S FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season the chicken generously with the salt and pepper. Cover the chicken and refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to 8 hours.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and Tabasco sauce. Place the flour in a separate bowl.
• Pour the oil 1/2 inch deep into a 12-inch cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet and heat over a medium flame until the oil measures 350° on a candy thermometer.
• Starting with the 4 pieces of dark meat, dredge the chicken in the egg mixture, then coat in the flour, shaking off any excess. Place the pieces in the oil and fry, turning often, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the juices run clear. Transfer the chicken to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the 4 pieces of white meat, and fry, turning often, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the juices run clear. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Serve immediately.

SUNDAY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except chicken and oil. Place about 1 cup flour mixture in a paper or plastic bag. Shake a few chicken pieces in the bag at a time, coating well. On medium-high, heat 1/2 inches of oil in a large skillet. Brown chicken on all sides; remove to a large shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-60 minutes or until done. Recipe makes enough coating for three chickens. Store unused mixture in an airtight container.

CONTEST-WINNING SUNDAY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 11 ingredients. Place about 1 cup flour mixture in a large resealable plastic bag; add chicken, a few pieces at a time. Seal bag and shake to coat. Store remaining mixture in an airtight container and save for another use., In a large skillet, brown chicken on medium-high heat in 1/2 in. of oil on all sides; remove to a large shallow baking pan., Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-60 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.