Always Order Too Much Fried Chicken
My boyfriend said something stupid last night. “We didn’t need to order that much fried chicken,” he said stupidly.
Sorry sir, how dare you.
As with pizza, you can’t just order (or cook) the amount of fried chicken they plan to eat that evening. To do so would be shortsighted, stupid and, as I said, stupid. Ordering one serving of fried chicken robs one cold fried chicken, and cold fried chicken tastes good. Ordering that society tells us “too much fried chicken” is actually responsible meal planning.
Cold fried chicken is delicious. Unlike other fried foods that used to be hot but are now cold, such as fries, fried chicken retains its crunch. The fat hardens to form a thin layer of what I call “chicken butter,” and the seasonings shine brighter when they no longer fight the hot fat for space on the palate. It’s no exaggeration to say that I prefer cold fried chicken over fresh hot chicken (though admittedly that would be a close challenge).
Cold fried chicken is the best and most interesting chicken salad , but it’s also the perfect lunchbox protein without any modifications or additions. Just throw it in your lunchbox or bag. Made. Even if it warms up a little and turns into room temperature fried chicken, it’s still good. No, that’s great.
It is also a good food (or snack) for those times when your body demands something substantial but satisfying in the middle of the day when you are very busy and cannot cook. It’s fun and a little decadent, and who doesn’t want some midday decadence?
Please understand that when I say fried chicken, I mean bone-in chicken pieces, not nuggets (which can be hit or skipped when they cool) or tenders (which may actually be ok, depending on the one who cooks them, but not so well). I always thought that meat tastes better right away with a bone, but in this case it’s just more practical. A chicken with bones is easier to hold in your hands while you go about your business – after all, what are bones but a natural meat handle? (Did I water my garden this morning with a piece of fried chicken in my non-dominant hand? Yes, and I would do it again!)
So carefully, carefully, order greedily, order too much fried chicken, and then put the “leftovers” in the refrigerator. It may sound decadent, but it counts as meal planning, and meal planning is always a responsibility.