Longbranch Mercantile & Lil Merc Airstream Cafe

Longbranch Mercantile @ 4th Annual Winter Warm-up Craft Fair this SAT!

Denise Hays of Longbranch Mercantile & Lil Merc Airstream Cafe will be at the 4th Annual Winter Warm-up Craft Fair this SAT 11/12 from 10 AM - 4 PM !

What's on the menu? ....

• Vintage Santa cookies
• Of course!  Triple Ginger cookies
• U Decorate Gingerbread Houses with all the fixin's
• Chocolate Bourbon Mini Bundts
• Holiday Gift Breads (in all kinds of flavors)

Try now ... reserve for the holidays!

Special Note for all your Lil Merc Airstream Cafe fans ~ Lil Merc will be sleeping in and enjoying a much needed day off!

Hope to see you Sat!

Test Kitchen Tuesday - Fried Chicken Gus' Way

During the summer - gotta love good fried chicken for a casual dinner for two or picnic lunch.  Vernon "Gus" Bonner of Mason, Tennessee makes the world's best fried chicken - only thing is - he isn't sharing his recipe!  Total bummer... no worries though - Saveur Magazine to the rescue!  Here's the recipe I ALWAYS use. You can make this scrumptious chicken tonight - I'll show you how! 

 
Step 1:  Soak chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least 2 hours - I usually soak overnight.

 

Step 2:  In a ziptop bag, combine flour, paprika (smoked is so yummy here), cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.  Shake each piece of chicken in the seasoned flour mix until coated.

 
 Step 3:  Heat up about 3/4" of peanut in large skillet until hot but not smoking.  Turn heat down to medium.  Fry chicken until golden brown and crispy 12 - 15 minutes per side.  Drain cooked chicken on paper towels.  Fearful of undercooked breast pieces - no worries ~ I use a cable probe thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165 degrees F.  Works awesome!

 
Step 4:  Admire your work while it cools and eat!