a tale of two chickens

Recently, I did a group project in my Applied Food Chemistry class about fat-modified food products. My group decided to do a “Southern” theme and made comfort-food favorites, like macaroni and cheese, greens, a breakfast frittata, peach cobbler and fried chicken.

Fried Chicken.

I was in charge of the chicken, so I decided to treat Andrew to a “two-for” in one week–fried chicken twice!

My group pitted Paula Deen’s Southern Fried Chicken against Ellie Krieger’s Honey-Crisp Oven Fried Chicken (from her cookbook in my collection, no less).

I started by making the traditional deep-fried version.

I served it with mashed sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts. The chicken turned out just like you would get at Popeye’s–crispy, light brown skin and perfectly moist.

A few nights later, I tackled Ellie’s oven-fried version. It relied on a buttermilk soak for tenderness, bone-in, skinless thighs for moisture and a bit of sweetness from honey. The “breading” was a heavily seasoned cornflake cereal mixture.

I served it with two cold salads: a potato salad and an apple, fennel and golden raisin salad similar to one I get at Wegmans a lot.

Our verdict: Ellie’s won! The healthier version was more flavorful and the crispy crust was just as pleasing. That, and no giant oil mess or quart of oil to dispose of. I would definitely make this again.

Here are a couple photos from the actual group project, which was about two weeks ago now.

Our class chose Ellie’s version too, by 57% percent. What can I say, she’s good.

lasagna, applesauce, cupcakes, pancakes and East Aurora

Saturday morning, Wendy, the kids and I walked to the farmer’s market in search of Idared apples for making applesauce. A couple weeks ago, Mrs. Nye gave me some applesauce to try and I couldn’t believe how good it was. I decided the weekend Wendy was here would be an excellent time to do some canning. (Turns out Wendy isn’t that much of a canner; instead she preps everything and freezes MASS amounts of food all the time. While single-handedly watching two youngsters running all over the house. And her husband is never home because he’s an ortho-surgery resident at Hershey Medical Center. Just call her super-mom.)

Our walk was a little challenging; the walk to the farmer’s market is A LOT longer with two little kids, and hot chocolate got everywhere. But, we succeeded in buying the apples and made a quick trip into Tops to get the ingredients for dinner.

Upon returning home and cleaning up some hot chocolate-covered jeans, we all–even Andrew–headed out for brunch at Charlie’s.

Natalie snacked on some jam packets while we waited for our food. Andrew and I split a daily special and I enjoyed my usual blueberry pancake; Wendy and Natalie split a ham and cheese omelet. Baby Austin happily snacked on some Cheerios in a high chair next to us. After lunch, Andrew went home while the rest of us went shopping at Fisher Price.

Instead of spending the afternoon on Main Street later that afternoon like we thought, Wendy and I prepped my favorite lasagna for dinner, while the kids napped.

Gary, Wendy’s hubby and “daddy,” called while we were finishing up and they got to video chat. Adorable. We missed you here, Gary!

Later that evening, we all–Andrew, too–headed out to Firefly for cupcakes. Natalie enjoyed a Vanilla Birthday Cake, although she ate mostly the icing.

I worked on the applesauce while Wendy put the kiddos to bed and by the end of the night, we had seven pint jars to put away.

This morning, I went for my usual run at Chestnut Ridge with my running group–friends from school–and then came home to a very awake group!

I made pumpkin pancakes, served with a little applesauce (what wouldn’t fit into our jars last night) and maple syrup butter. Andrew dined on two (well, one and a half) Manhattan Bagel “everything” bagels–I snacked on one on my way home from my run.

And the rest of the pancakes? Into the freezer they went!

Natalie and Austin went down for an early nap after brunch, so Wendy and I headed out to Main Street and hit Vidler’s first. I was totally impressed; Vidler’s is a big, busy place with people and stuff EVERYWHERE, and we simply wheeled around with a two-year-old and a stroller. Wendy never once lost her cool. She picked up some stocking stuffers and then we headed to Taste for a break and snacks.

After Taste, we toured the rest of Main Street, including the sewing store (where Wendy bought some fabric to make Natalie a dress–again, she’s domestic like that), Fowler’s (sponge candy and chocolate wings for Gary!) and Toy Loft. Let’s just say Natalie and Austin made out on this trip in terms of presents.

We made a quick trip to Tops for Andrew-requests (zip-lock baggies and vanilla ice cream) then headed home to get the kids fed and in bed. Us adults are watching the last available episode of Breaking Bad (Andrew is addicted, and I fear Wendy might be now, too), drinking wine and using our technology–Wendy her phone, me my blog and Andrew his Netflix.

It’s been so fun having Wendy and her kids here. She’s an amazing mom (seriously, I am in such awe) and it’s so touching she braved the trip solo to come visit. I hope she had as much fun as I did 🙂 I’m so blessed to have had (and still have!) such great girlfriends from college.

visitors!

We have visitors this weekend!

My girlfriend, Wendy, and her two kiddos came from Hershey, Pa., to visit for the weekend. Wendy and I were friends in college and she was one of my bridesmaids in my wedding.

As usual, we had Pasquale’s pizza and wings for dinner.

I think Natalie liked the orange she was eating more than the pizza, but Wendy loved both the pizza and wings, and baby Austin was happy to be held.

We built a fort for them–Austin is the happiest baby EVER.

Natalie is enamored of the “kitty cat” and would love nothing more than to cuddle and play with Odie every moment.

Wendy also came bearing a gift – another t-shirt quilt! Awhile ago, I sent Wendy a bunch of old t-shirts to make into a quilt for me (she’s domestic like that), and it is finished 🙂 I figured I’d much rather pay her to do it than some random stranger online. I’m sewing-challenged; my aunt helped me make my first t-shirt quilt.

Andrew’s still bed- and couch-bound, but I think he’s up for doing brunch/lunch today at Charlie’s, and then Wendy and the kids and I are going to spend some time on Main Street after their naps. I think Andrew might meet us at Firefly for a cupcake break later on, too…

Right now, we’re cleaning up from breakfast and us non-gimps are headed to the farmers’ market!