Bye, Bye Buttermilk!

Over the weekend, a conversation with fellow foodie blogger Tahrikh led to a recipe light bulb. He asked me how to achieve the super crunchy crust on a fried chicken. I went into automatic chef mode and laid out my tried and true buttermilk fried chicken recipe. Then the wheels started turning and I wondered, "what if I used coconut milk/cream instead?". I decided to try it and the result was simply masterful. Test it yourself. I'm certain you'll be just as excited as I was.
Also, my recipe will be in a more relaxed, easy to follow, conversational format. I hope you dig it. Yes, I said that.


Start with 1 cup coconut milk or cream. Add to it 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp salt and1/4 tsp cayanne pepper. Add 1lb chicken parts and let marinate in fridge for at least 20 minutes.

In a separate medium bowl, combine 1 cup of flour, 1 tbsp corn starch, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp ground ginger and 1/4 tsp garlic powder.

Heat vegetable oil for frying, testing it's readiness but inserting a wooden spoon. If it sizzles, your a go!

Remove chicken from coconut milk and drain. Completely coat in seasoned flour, lightly shaking off excess and fry until golden brown and juices run clear. Remember to turn them to ensure even browning.

Simply, remove from pan, drain on paper towel and sere with your favorite sides. As you can see, I like veggies and potatoes :-)

***Want a crispier crust? Simply double the coconut milk and double dip the bird...flour/coconut milk/flour/fry. It's that simple.

Tasting Queens Road Trip Part 3: Miss Strawberry

One super wet Saturday in June, the Tasting Queens group set out for Mattituck Long Island to attend the much talked about Mattituck Lion's Club Strawberry Festival. It wasn't just any day, it was my sister Shellon's birthday so we were extra excited to leave the city in search of food, fun and adventure.

The skies cleared for a brief moment and we held on to hope that the forecast of sunshine and clear skies would hold true as opposed to the gloomy weather that surprised us when we set out for our mini road trip.

The drive was smooth. We coasted along the Long Island Expressway to exit 72, then down some quite scenic country roads. The views were sweeping and peaceful. Passing by numerous farms and open spaces once again woke up that tiny nagging urge to have a produce farm. We chatted about what it would be like as we drove by a few with "For Sale" signs.

We decided to stop at a little farm for some produce shopping, strawberry picking and ice cream. Due to the down pour that started shortly after we got out of the car, we were only able to purchase some produce (rainbow chard, purple carrots, assorted jams and raw/organic honey). The ice cream was delicious! We were adventurous and tried a few new flavors of lemon basil and triple peppermint. The lemon basil ice cream was a delight. It was light and boasted a fresh burst of lemony flavor. The mint was refreshing and had bits of crushed mint leaves. We were disappointed about not being able to go strawberry picking but the ice cream calmed our broken hearts for the time being.

We drove on continuing to enjoy the lush open lands and fabulous homes along the way. We arrived at the festival at about 4 pm in the afternoon, ready for the fun it promised. What we found was what looked to be a typical state-style fair. Rides, and the typical vendors lined that open field. There must be more, we told ourselves and paid the entrance fee and wandered inside. Among the usual suspects were a few strawberry related vendors, selling chocolate covered strawberries, pies and jams. We indulged in a few herb plants, strawberry jams (from Lancaster County, PA) and a few other knick-knacks.

The highlight of our day came when we met Miss Strawberry herself and were able to take a photo with her.

Overall the day was decent, and we made the best of what it was. It would have been great if the rain held up, so that we could have enjoyed perusing the strawberry fields, picking ripe berries and eating as we went, but alas, it was not meant to be.