Southern Livings Best Fried Chicken Food

SOUTHERN LIVING'S BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon salt with 3 quarts water in a large bowl or container. Add chicken, cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Drain, rinse with cold water and pat dry.
• Stir together remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Sprinkle half the mixture evenly over chicken.
• In a large sealable plastic bag, combine remaining pepper mixture and flour. Add 2 pieces chicken to bag and shake well to coat. Remove chicken pieces, shaking off extra flour, and set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Take a large (10- or 12-inch) cast-iron skillet or chicken fryer, for which you have a lid, and fit with a candy or deep-frying thermometer. Add oil and bacon drippings and heat to 360 degrees over medium heat; the oil will ripple and possibly give off a few wisps of smoke.
• Using tongs, immediately add chicken pieces, skin side down (work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding pan). The oil will drop to about 325 degrees, where it should stay; adjust heat so that oil is bubbling gently around the pieces. Cover and cook 6 minutes; uncover and cook 9 minutes. Turn chicken pieces; cover and cook 6 minutes. Uncover and cook another 5 to 9 minutes, depending on size of pieces. If necessary for even browning, turn pieces over a few times toward the end.
• Drain on paper towels or paper bags. Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving.

SYLVIA'S SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In plastic bag, combine salt, 1 teaspoon of the black pepper, and the garlic powder.
• Sprinkle over the chicken and let stand at least 20 minutes (but overnight in the refrigerator is better).
• Place flour, the remaining 1/4 tsp. black pepper and paprika in a plastic bag.
• Add the seasoned chicken and shake until each piece is covered with flour.
• In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat, add chicken pieces and reduce heat to medium.
• Cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until chicken is nicely browned on the bottom.
• Turn and cook on the other side for another 7 to 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels before serving.

BEST SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, beat eggs and milk. In another bowl, combine flour and seasonings. Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture, then in flour mixture. , In a large skillet; brown chicken in oil on both sides. Cover and cook the chicken over low heat for 45 minutes or until juices run clear. Remove chicken from the skillet; keep warm. Reserve 1/4 cup drippings in skillet. , For gravy, stir in the flour, salt and pepper. Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until browned. Combine milk and water; add to skillet. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add browning sauce if desired. Serve with chicken. Garnish with oregano if desired.

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat peanut oil in a large deep pot to 350°F (do not fill more than half full--you don't want a hot-oil spill-over accident!).
• For sauce mixture: in a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs with the water.
• Add hot sauce and whisk together well.
• Pour this mixture into a large plastic zip-top bag.
• For seasoning mixture: In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
• For dredging mixture: In a another bowl, mix flour, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Rinse and pat dry chicken pieces with a paper towel.
• Cut breast pieces in half across ribs.
• Sprinkle chicken generously on both sides with seasoning blend.
• Drop a few chicken pieces of chicken into bag of sauce mixture and squish around to coat thoroughly.
• One piece at a time, roll chicken in flour mixture and drop into hot oil.
• Don't crowd chicken pieces--I cook about half the chicken at a time.
• Fry chicken until brown and crisp.
• Drain on paper toweling.
• Dark meat will take about 14 minutes, white meat about 10 minutes.
• Remember smaller pieces cook faster than the larger ones.
• You can check for doneness by piercing to the bone in the thickest part with a fork.
• If the juices run clear, it is done.

SOUTHERN LIVING'S COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Steps:

• sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over steaks.
• Set aside.
• combinecracker crumbs, 1 cup flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and red pepper.
• whisk together 3/4 cup milk and eggs.
• Dredge steaks in cracker crumb mixture; dip in milk mixture, and dredge in cracker mixture again.
• POUR oil into a 12-inch skillet;heat to 360 degrees.
• Do not use a nonstick skillet.
• I like to use a cast iron skillet for this.
• Fry steaks 10 minutes.
• Turn and fry 4 to 5 more minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove to a wire rack on a jellyroll pan.
• Keep steaks warm in a 225 degree oven.
• Carefully drain hot oil, reserving cooked bits and 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet.
• whisk together remaining 1/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 4 cups milk.
• Pour mixture into reserved drippings in skillet; cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, 10 to 12 minutes, or until thickened.
• Serve gravy with steaks and mashed potatoes.
• Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

SOUTHERN LIVING'S RITZ CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine butter, Dijon, and garlic powder in shallow dish.
• Combine cracker crumbs and cheese in a shallow dish.
• Dip chicken in butter mixture and dredge in cracker crumb mixture.
• Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.