BALLETCATESSEN: Ashley Bouder's Final Curtain Food - Fried Chicken and Mash Potatoes

I know most people have their ultimate food favorite. The one meal or dessert that you would have if it was your last meal. Dancers definitely have that and I want it to be a feature in my blog. I'm calling it Final Curtain Food. This season I feel so lucky to have been dancing a lot with Prima Ballerina Ashley Bouder. So the more I was thinking about doing this feature the more it became clear she had to be my first one.

When I told Ashley about my idea it didn't take her even two seconds to respond, "mine is Fried Chicken and Mash Potatoes." I have never cooked fried chicken in the American Southern style, but I knew where to find the recipe. Paula Dean, Y'all. Of course, I did a bit of research on fried chicken but no one else's reviews came even close to hers. This recipe was quit easy to make, I chose to marinate the chicken in buttermilk prior, even though it didn't call for it.
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Paula's Twig Fried Chicken with Modifications by Antonio Carmena
2 cups of buttermilk
1 Teaspoon of Cayenne pepper
3 eggs
1 cup of hot red pepper sauce (recommended: Texas Pete)
2 cups self-rising Flour
House seasoning (1 cup salt, 1/4 cup black pepper, 1/4 cup garlic powder
1 Chicken cut in to pieces (we all like dark meet so I only bough legs and thighs)
Peanut oil

Pad dry your chicken and marinate in the buttermilk and cayenne pepper for at least 4 hours (one day preferably). An hour before frying drain chicken and let it dry. In a bowl beat the eggs and add the hot sauce. In another bowl put your flour. Pad dry the chicken again and season with the house seasoning. Dip the seasoned chicken in the egg and hot sauce mixture, and coat well in the flour.

Heat the oil to 350 F in a deep pot. Fry the chicken until brown and crisp. Dark meat about 13/14 min white meat 8/10.
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We finished our show of Vienna Waltzes on Sunday at 5.30. It was 7 when my partner and I got to Ashley's apartment. Her husband Matt sadly was away working which made me think, "great more for us." As soon as she open the door her two wonderful dogs came to greet us. I was so happy to see them and Michael was in heaven. When I started cooking I made two new best friends.

While preparing for dinner Ashley told us that her grandmother use to take her to have Fried Chicken and it's always been special for her since. It seemed to bring back some great memories and warm feelings for her. I also asked her what was her favorite Fried Chicken her answer: KFC. She said there is something in that seasoning that is no where else.

The Chicken came out super moist and very crispy on the outside. Ashley said it was good but she wonder how it would taste if we marinate the chicken in the egg/red pepper sauce. That girl likes it spicy.