Friedgrannys Recipes

EXTRA-CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Roughly chop 1 bunch rosemary, sage and thyme, 5 of the bay leaves and the 3 garlic cloves. Add to a bowl, and mix with the olive oil, 3 tablespoons salt and 2 tablespoons pepper. Rub the birds with the herb mixture so it sticks to the skin. Transfer the chickens to a roasting pan.
• Roast for 2 1/2 hours, or until the temperature between the breast and thigh near the bone registers 150 degrees F. At this stage the chickens are 75-percent cooked. Set aside to cool.
• When cool enough to handle, break down the birds into 10 pieces each, with the breasts boneless and halved. You will end up with a wing, leg, thigh and 2 pieces breast meat per half chicken.
• In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, hot sauce and sugar. Submerge the chicken pieces in the buttermilk and let sit for 30 minutes.
• Fill a large, heavy pot with grapeseed oil to a depth of 3 inches. Turn the heat on, and add the remaining bunches rosemary, sage and thyme, the remaining 5 bay leaves and the head of garlic, broken into cloves. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. The herbs and garlic will crisp up and perfume the oil as it comes to temperature. Once they are crispy, remove them to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside--they will serve as a garnish for the finished dish.
• In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rice flour, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/3 cup salt and 1/4 cup black pepper; mix thoroughly. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk (do not dry) and coat well in the flour mixture.
• Without over-crowding the pot, fry the breaded chicken until all the pieces are golden brown and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a clean kitchen cloth and season with flaked salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Line a serving platter with a paper bag, brown parchment paper or a clean napkin. Pile the chicken onto the platter. Serve with the fried herbs and garlic and the lemon wedges.

PAT AND GINA'S OVEN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Fit a sheet tray with a wire rack and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a pie plate or shallow bowl, whisk the eggs, mustard, honey, hot sauce, and salt and pepper, to taste, together until thoroughly combined.
• Add the panko, salt and pepper, to taste, the paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder to another pie plate and whisk to combine.
• Dredge the chicken through the wet mixture, then the dry mixture, patting the breading on so it adheres. Arrange on a wire rack lined sheet tray, making sure there is ample space between each piece of chicken. Give the chicken a spritz of the olive cooking spray. This will help brown and crisp up the coating.
• Put on the upper rack of the oven and bake until the chicken is golden and crisp. The temperature should register 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

GIGANTES

Steps:

• Add the beans to a pot with enough cold water to cover well. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until just soft throughout but not quite cooked, approximately 50 to 80 minutes, depending on the beans. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Add onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and their liquid, 2 cups water, honey, cloves, salt, and pepper and boil gently for 20 to 30 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Stir in the parsley and remove from heat.
• Place the beans in an oven-proof dish, pour tomato mixture on top, stir and spread mixture out evenly. Bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until beans are soft. (Check the dish during cooking and if needed, add a small amount of boiling water.) The dish will look crispy on top. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot 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! :).

MISS GILLIAN'S CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs and drumsticks in a large bowl or plastic container, along with buttermilk, hot sauce, and garlic cloves. Stir and coat the chicken, cover, and soak for 8 hours, or overnight, in the refrigerator.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Combine flour, salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning on a dinner plate. Dredge chicken in the flour mixture.
• Heat 2 inches oil in a large frying pan to 370 degrees F (188 degrees C). Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place 4 or 5 pieces chicken at a time into the hot oil; about half of each piece should be submerged in oil. Cook, being careful not to poke or touch the pieces more than is necessary, as this cracks the coating and leads to greasy chicken, until golden and no longer pink in the centers, about 4 minutes per side. Place on paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding more oil as necessary. Transfer chicken pieces to a large roasting pan.
• Roast chicken in the preheated oven until crispy, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

MICHAEL'S GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S FRY CAKES

Steps:

• Oil temperature should be at 375 degrees F.
• Add baking soda to the buttermilk. Let set while preparing the next steps.
• In a large bowl mix the sugar, crisco and egg.
• Add the baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the flour in small bowl.
• Mix flour mixture and buttermilk alternately into egg mixture until mixture holds together. Add a little more flour if needed.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until it springs back when pushed inches.
• Roll out, cut with a doughnut cutter.
• Drop in hot crisco, which has been heated to 375 F for about 3 minutes.
• Turn the doughnuts after they come to the surface of grease (about 1 1/2 minutes) and cook other side (about 1 1/2 minutes).
• Drain on paper towels.

FRIED GRITS

Steps:

• Add water and salt to a saucepan; bring to a boil; stir in grits.
• Cook grits until done, following the package directions.
• Remove saucepan from heat.
• Add in bacon and 1 tablespoon butter; stir until the butter melts.
• Pour grits into a greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loafpan.
• Cool; cover and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
• Remove grits by turning the pan over; cut loaf into 1/2 inch slices.
• Melt remaining 1/4 cup butter in a large fry pan.
• Fry slices over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until lightly browned, turning once.

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.