Originally posted on February 26, 2006.

I have always wanted to try my hand at making homemade fried chicken, and this was my first attempt. After checking out numerous other recipes and tips I bought the stuff and gave it a try. I think it will take some more practice to make it like the Colonel, but it turned out ok for a first attempt. I also wanted to note that the cost goes down as you make more chicken, since the buck and a half worth of shortening could have made a ton more.

Basic Instructions:

1. Soak chicken pieces in buttermilk overnight, I just add some buttermilk to the zip lock freezer bag it’s in and leave it in the fridge overnight.
2. Whisk together all-purpose flour, salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and black pepper.
3. Dredge chicken pieces (legs, thighs or wings) through flour mixture.
4. Melt Crisco^® shortening and heat to 360° (use a deep-fry thermometer)
5. Gently place chicken pieces in heated oil and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Turn pieces and continue cooking for another 8 to 10 minutes.
7. Remove and drain on a cooling rack or some paper towels.

Now onto the pictures for the rest! Good stuff..

Here are our basic ingredients. Some chicken pieces that have been soaked in buttermilk (6 to 24 hours is good), flour, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and Crisco^® shortening.

Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder and cayenne pepper (optional) to the flour and whisk together well.

Dredge the chicken pieces through the flour mixture and coat thoroughly.. When I was done I set them in the fridge to rest for a bit while I got the cooking oil going.

I melted about 1/3 (16 oz) of a 48 oz tub of Crisco^® shortening and then heated it up to about 360°.

Note: When working with hot oil or shortening always make sure your fire extinguisher is charged up and nearby. And in the unlikely event you ever do have a grease fire never throw water on it!

Gently ease the chicken pieces into the hot shortening using a pair of tongs so there’s no splashing.

Cook the chicken for 8 to 10 minutes.

Carefully turn chicken pieces with your tongs.

Cook chicken another 8 to 10 minutes on the other side.

Remove the chicken pieces and drain on a rack or some paper towels.
Although mine didn’t come out looking as good as a southern grandma’s fried chicken it tasted good! I think I might try to fry some in my cast iron skillet next time, I’ve seen a few suggest doing that online.

Originally posted on December 4, 2005.

Since the holidays are upon us once again I decided to make some chocolate chip peanut butter cookies. The ingredients are simple, and they’re inexpensive to make. Three dozen homemade cookies for less than a bag of Chips Ahoy^®, woo?

Basic Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° (use an oven thermometer!)
2. Mix together softened butter, brown sugar and white sugar in mixing bowl.
3. Mix in egg and vanilla.
4. Mix in peanut butter, baking soda and salt.
5. Mix in all-purpose flour.
6. Fold in peanut butter and chocolate chips.
7. Spoon onto a greased sheet pan.
8. Bake 10 minutes at 375°, then cool on a cooling rack.

Now onto the pictures for the rest!

Here are our basic ingredients. Some all-purpose flour, brown sugar, white sugar, peanut butter, butter, salt, vanilla extract, an egg and some baking soda.

Note: After taking this photo I decided to go with a combination of peanut butter and chocolate chips, instead of just straight chocolate chips..

After letting a stick of butter sit out and get soft, break it up into pieces in a mixing bow and beat it some with the mixer. Then add in the 6 tbsp of brown sugar and 6 tbsp of white sugar..

Beat the butter and sugars together until mixed well with your hand mixer.

Add one egg to the butter and sugar mix..

Then add in 1 tsp of vanilla extract.

Note: The cute little “shot glass” measuring cup I’m using measures ounces, teaspoons and tablespoons. And it’s available on Amazon.com for $3.50, click here to get one!

Beat the mix again well with your hand mixer.

Add 1 cup of peanut butter, ½ tsp of baking soda and ½ tsp of salt.

Then beat it up good again with your hand mixer.

Mix in 1 cup of all-purpose flour with your hand mixer until completely combined.

Then fold in ¾ – 1 cup of chocolate chips with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Note: I used a combination of peanut butter and chocolate chips..

Spoon small globs of the cookie dough onto a greased sheet pan. I space them out a little, so I get about 12 per sheet.. If you’re using a smaller “cookie sheet” this will be less.

Note: I use the spray lube, but you could also lightly grease with vegetable oil.

Bake for 10 minutes at 375°, or until the edges start to get a little hint of brown around the edges. And they’ll be pretty soft, so don’t touch them right away!

Set the sheet pan on the stove top to rest for 10 minutes before attempting to remove the cookies. After 10 minutes place them on a cooling rack and cover with a dish towel to cool for 20 minutes before doing anything with them.

And here are the cookies on the cooling rack. I already ate two, and they’re good!