Southerners and wannabes rejoice – today is Fried Chicken Day! Being a born-and-bred Texan, nothing says home to me like a really good fried chicken leg (yes, I’m still a kid at heart, I guess). My grandmother makes fried chicken with the best of ‘em. I’m not sharing the recipe, though. Mainly because I haven’t been entrusted with it yet. It’s that good, folks.
So where did the best way to eat a chicken originate? Most would tell you in the deep south, but they’d be wrong. Believe it or not, fried chicken goes all the way back to China, Egypt, and Rome according to the history of those ancient cultures. As far as it becoming an American staple, we can thank my ancestors, the Scots, for introducing the deep frying method of cooking chicken to new world.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The deep south does play an important part in fried chicken as we know it today. The African cooks used spices not known in the Scottish culinary repertoire which enhanced the flavor of the bird. This is the fried chicken we know and love today. The slaves were allowed to keep chickens, so they became the fare of feasts when a special occasion arose. To this day, fried chicken is a popular “Sunday dinner” meal for all races in the south.
So what will you do today to celebrate? I strongly suggest you find a fried chicken recipe and whip up some good ol’ fried chicken! Too scared to try a new recipe? No problem. That’s what KFC is for, honey!
