The Help’s Fried Chicken
All good Southern and Texas girls know how to make fried chicken.
Over Christmas, my mother-in-law bought me The Help. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d like it.
See, I don’t tend to like a lot of adult books. Usually they have tons of sex and romance and I get bored. I like middle grade and YA stories with adventure and whimsy and fairies and kisses and uncomplicated relationships.
I have stuffed animals on my bed. Leave me alone.
But I loved the Help. I read it on the car the whole way home–finished it in three hours.
Ben requires me to bring 5 books on every trip. Otherwise, I talk. A lot.
But this weekend when we go visit Ben’s family in Shreveport, I actually get to see the help with my darling mother-in-law! I was so excited, I knew I promptly had to make fried chicken.
In the Help, Celia Foote is my favorite character. She’s a blond white trash girl who marries into society and has no idea what a “lady” is supposed to do. She treats Minnie like her best friend and begs Minnie to teach her how to cook so her husband can think she’s a proper wife. Well, I won’t spoil things, but lets just say I wouldn’t go to one of Celia’s dinner parties.
So naturally, I had to make fried chicken to celebrate. With macaroni and cheese, of course.
I’ve got a lot of fried chicken variations, but this one is the classic. I bet even Celia could have made it. So whip some up and sneak it into the theater…
I bet it’s great with popcorn.
Fried Chicken
3/4 cup AP flour
1 egg
4 chicken breasts, tenderized and sliced into strips (Or 6-10 chicken tenders)
McCormick’s chicken seasoning
Vegetable oil
Cut chicken and tenderize. Dip in egg, then flour. Heat 1-2 tbpsn of veg.oil in frying pan until begins to bubble. Place chicken in oil, flip after 2 minutes and sprinkle with seasoning. Repeat one or two times or until pan stops hissing. Repeat with other chicken pieces. Serve with macaroni and cheese, yeast rolls and collard greens.
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! A new Friday Five before we bring back a new serial story and Sidewalk Dreams Saturday!
August 25th, 2011 at 3:58 am
Your fried chicken looks so delicious. I have yet to read/see The Help, but I heard it was really good so I think I may take the plunge and read it. Happy Thursday.
August 25th, 2011 at 5:11 am
Yum! I read the book almost as fast as you did – so very absorbing! Can’t wait to see the movie!!
August 25th, 2011 at 5:11 am
Mmmmm…this looks scrummy! And I seriously need to read this book!
August 25th, 2011 at 5:23 am
Sounds like a good recipe. Fried is out on my diet right now, but will try it when I slip up.
August 25th, 2011 at 5:38 am
That is so funny! When watching that part, I thought to myself that I needed to make some good ol’ fried chicken! Looks so good.
If you like young reader books have you tried “The Invention of Hugo Cabret”? I read it last year, and it’s a WONDERFUL book!
August 25th, 2011 at 5:48 am
Ive never made fried chicken, i feel inspired!
August 25th, 2011 at 5:58 am
So yummy!
xoxox,
CC
August 25th, 2011 at 6:20 am
Yummy, I want some!
August 25th, 2011 at 6:44 am
YUM!!!
I loved The Help too — the book and the movie. I love when Celia shakes the fried chicken in the bag. lol. She is too cute.
August 25th, 2011 at 6:54 am
Oh that fried chicken looks awesome! I loved The Help and can’t wait to see the movie!
August 25th, 2011 at 7:26 am
I’d come to your house for dinner
August 25th, 2011 at 7:43 am
I’m jealous. I want to see The Help too. And have movie popcorn… a BIG bucket of it.
August 25th, 2011 at 7:52 am
Your fried chicken looks great!!! I loved The Help, the book and the movie since I could totally relate to it growing up in the south during that time.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:11 am
OMG, fried chicken is my favorite thing ever! I never made it myself though, I really need to try asap. Perhaps with an easier version first, just like yours here.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:53 am
I don’t fry anything. I’m afraid of hot oil. I can’t wait to see The Help. My dearly Beloved will have to sit through it. And I can’t read in the car; I get 3 day headaches from it. What a random comment, right?
August 25th, 2011 at 9:07 am
I have that book on my shelf and I really, REALLY need to read it. Thanks for reminding me! The chicken looks fantastic.
August 25th, 2011 at 9:10 am
Good book, good chicken.
Mimi
August 25th, 2011 at 11:14 am
That chicken looks so delish!! I can’t wait to try it out…I have been waiting to try a new chicken recipe!
WM
August 25th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Looks yummy!!
August 25th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
This looks delicious and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love fried chicken!!!
August 25th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Oh my husband and son went to see this movie and they said there were lots of tears….uh oh…..I don’t like teary movies!!!!
August 25th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Great idea for a book club book and then you could serve fried chicken afterwards!
August 25th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Haven’ read the book or seen the movie yet but I know I want that chicken! Have a fun time this weekend in Shrevesport
August 25th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Wow! Your chicken looks incredible! Thanks for sharing your recipe. I will have to try this out for my boyfriend! xo style, she wrote
August 25th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
I love love loved The Help. Such a great book. Fried chicken is definitely the meal the celebrate seeing the movie
August 25th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
That fried chicken looks great! I really want to read The Help and see the movie! From all I’ve heard, I know I’ll love it!
August 25th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Glad I’m not the only one who still has stuffed animals! And who doesn’t like adult books unless they’re full of swordplay, kings and dragons!
August 25th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
You know, you may as well just invite me over to your house for dinner (or whatever meal is next). Will all these food pictures, you’re just begging me to beg you for an invitation!
August 25th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
My boys will devour this in seconds!
August 25th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
The Help was a fantastic read!
August 25th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I love this pairing: The Help and fried chicken, it’s perfect! Also, you are so lucky that you can read in the car. If I try, within five minutes we have to make an unscheduled pit stop because of car sickness.
August 26th, 2011 at 5:12 am
I’ve been longing to see The Help .. when it gets here I’ll go .. as Jenn says I can’t read in the car .. so I sleep! Nothing better than southern fried chicken .. so thanks for showing us .. cheers Hilary
August 26th, 2011 at 6:27 am
I have stuffed animals on my bed too! I too wish I could read in the car. Your fried chicken looks scrumptious, duckie. I’m not much of a movie goer but I would LOVE to see that movie. Perhaps, I should start with the book. It seems to be my kinda reading.
Thank you so much for sharing, I sure wish I could devour a piece of that chicken!!!
August 26th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Excellent recipe, I wish some talk too!
August 26th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
OH I love a good fried chicken, but I don’t deep fry. I find it very frightning. I once started a horrible fire that way. I also hate the spitting oil. I think i just don’t know how to do it properly, but I’m not brave enough to try it again. Maybe you can visit me in england and make me some?
*kisses* HH
August 26th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Loved the book and cant’ wait to see the movie!
August 27th, 2011 at 9:06 am
LOVED the movie. ANd I love fried chicken. I have my favorite recipe and it is from taste of home — it involves buttermilk. I have been wanting to make it. Maybe I should!
August 27th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
I would have held out for a guy who likes talking to me. I hope he doesn’t stuff biscuits in your mouth when you’re out eating with him.
August 27th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
first of all, i love mccormicks. second, i think i’m the only person left in the world who hasn’t read this book or seen the movie. thirdly, fried chicken is food of the gods–nice work!
August 28th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Mmm, mmm! Can’t wait to butcher some chickens later this year so we can have fried chicken again.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:05 am
Fried chicken is such a bee-u-tee-ful thing! Oh how I love it so. HAven’t been making it much lately since I’m trying to cut back on flour-related products. I think I may be having withdrawal soon and will make it again.
Food & Wine magazine did a recent piece about “The Help” and the cooks behind the movie and the traditional recipes used to create the ones in the movie. Definitely worth checking out for the fried chicekn recipe.