Southern Fried Chicken

Ingredients
Oil for frying (peanut oil recommended)
1 broiler/fryer chicken (2 1/2 to 3 pound), cut into pieces
2 eggs
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup liquid flavorings (hot sauce, worcestershire, soy sauce, etc) vary the amount according to your taste
Salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste
2 cups flour, seasoned with your own “secret blend” of spices (garlic powder, onion powder, etc.) or plain flour works just fine


Directions
1.Start your oil heating while you go through the other steps. If you are using a deep fryer, fill it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are cooking the chicken on your stove top then get a deep pot and fill it 1/3 full with oil. Turn the burner to medium high (6 on a scale of 10) and heat the oil to approximately 350 degrees F.

2.Wash the chicken thoroughly and then pat dry with paper towels. Keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to start cooking.

3.In a bowl mix the water and eggs (if you are going to use hot sauce or any other liquid flavoring add it at this stage). Whip the mixture with a fork until thoroughly combined. This then becomes an egg wash.

4.Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper then dip them in the egg wash and coat them completely in the flour. If you want a thicker crust on the chicken, dip the pieces in the flour first, then the egg wash and then the flour again (this will, of course, require more flour).

5.Place chicken pieces in hot oil. Cover and fry until crisp and golden, approximately 15 minutes. Sprinkle lightly with salt while the pieces drain on paper towels.