Raven LOVES to be in the kitchen, especially with Papa Hurston.
This particular evening the plan was to have Meme's Fried Chicken (Yum!) - so I started prep the necessary items when I was informed by Raven that I
could not do anything that had to do with the Fried Chicken. That in fact, Meme's Fried Chicken is Raven & Papa's job -
only.
OK. No Problem. So I made Tender Pepper biscuits to go with the comfort food deluxe dinner at hand.
Papa took to teaching Raven the finer points of flouring, milk-bathing, dipping and frying the chicken. The following is what I picked up while Papa coached Raven.
Meme's Fried Chicken:Ingredients ~
1 chicken with about 6 legs (or 1 whole chicken and a package of legs is a more probable find)
Vegetable oil to cover fryer pan about 3/4"
2 cups or so milk
2 cups of AP flour
with fork, stir in the following spices:
Kosher salt & ground black pepper to taste and a hand full of "special spices" that Papa finds in the spice rack. While eavesdropping, I think I heard poultry seasoning, cumin, paprika, garlic salt or powder and a little of this and little of that (we'll have to see if we can get those from Raven or Papa)
Directions ~
dredge chicken pieces lightly in flour
dip in milk
back into flour for a good dredge
into hot oil
- now, here's a good tip: strain and keep some of your frying oil from one cooking session to the next. It's best to put it into a Mason jar and keep in the fridge. Mark it as suchor someone kindly cleaning out your fridge may toss it. Also, if cooling it in a mug, please inform anyone else in the kitchen with you what the contents of the mug are, for they should not drink or toss out. (speaking from personal experience on this one. I didn't drink, but did toss one batch ONCE at Meme & Papa's house)
Frying time ~
Do not go messing with the chicken while it is cooking. Let it fry in about 1 inch or less of vegetable oil until you see the sides start to turn golden brown, turn once and allow to cook uncovered until other side is brown. This should take about 20 to 25 minutes. Serving ~
Make your gravy after draining off most of the grease. (somewhere in there the veg oil turned into grease)
Serve with mashed potatoes & green veggie of choice (we prefer broccoli or green beans) and biscuits.
Mind you that this meal is only to be consumed upon occasion that you are prepared to work it off. There is no lack of caloric intake here :) but it sure is Yummy!
The Okie Oilers got a place right by the pond, just like they planned. Raven was the "head of household", so she had to go get their "deed" to the land. They had a barn/general store. Fenced in land area for their farm animals and a flower garden. They all took a minute to rest in their camp chairs before lunch. I think they all had a great time and the weather worked out for us beautifully!
I have a family of monkeys! Luke's taken to climbing like walking. I guess it's in his blood. 
Raven has the most confidence in the bouldering room. 
I guess it is the padded floor? She's not trusting the ropes yet.
Even on a day that's about 60 degrees - the inside of the climbing gym is cold. Albeit this was the week that didn't get above freezing for 4 days.
The kids bundled up and enjoyed the slipping and sliding and freezing.
Oh and the bouncing. Breaking the ice was too much fun!
They used bamboo sticks to write on the pool.
Raven's 3rd grade program was about Oklahoma, featuring such songs as "Don't lay that Trash on Oklahoma" and "Rhinestone Cowboy". They did a really nice job, and I think Raven did not stop smiling on stage.
Luke's 2nd grade program was the Christmas program. The song the boy's in his class danced to was "We need a Little Christmas". They did a good job and all had fun!
Raven, Luke, Daddy & Papa played catch out front last weekend in Frederick. Raven did pretty good with her catches. Luke never gave up! (not that all of the tosses were that good either) He eventually caught the ball, but I had stopped taking pictures by then :)
Raven had just done a great front flip off of the diving board at the Frederick Country Club pool. She was very happy and proud of herself.
The kids were looking at a catalog of birthday party stuff. There was not a tugging match of which page to look at, no yelling about anything. Amazing. I had to get a picture of it!
