Recently there was a supposed ‘leak’ of the Colonel’s original recipe which was published in the Chicago Tribune
It contained a list of the secret ’11 herbs and spices’ so I thought I’d give it a go as fried chicken is one of my favourites and it was an excuse to buy a deep fryer.
I tend to avoid KFC etc unless on a road trip but haven’t eaten old fashioned Colonel Sanders chicken for years. I used to like the original “Crispy Strips” that KFC sold as they had no skin or fat and I also liked the wicked wings. The traditional “piece of chook” is too greasy and the batter is a bit floury. Time to make my own.
I was getting sick of making sausage rolls and pies as I have not put in any time to develop some more recipes. I put it out there in The Pie Project for followers to come up with some suggestions for different pies but only Adam posted a suggestion and that was for a seafood pie which suck. ( Sorry Adam) So I am still looking for new pie flavours and would be happy to test-run your favourite meat pie filling within reason and don’t say Kentucky Fried Chicken Pie as I have already thought of that ……it could go viral like the Cruffin and Cronut. Maybe next week.
Even the Colonel himself likes a pie – pictured here at Harry’s Cafe de Wheels
Armed with the recipe it was off to the shops to get the famous 11 herbs and spices, buttermilk, some chicken and a deep fryer – for $69 I chose the Sunbeam Multi Cooker which is just like an electric frypan only round and deeper. It can be used as a saucepan/frypan, a slow cooker and a deep fryer and I thought it could be useful to make my pie filling as well.
THE ORIGINAL 11 SPICES SECRET RECIPE? (As published in The Chicago Tribune)
Prep: 30 minutes
Soak: 20-30 minutes
Cook: 15-18 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 tablespoon salt
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 tablespoon dried basil leaves
1/3 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried mustard
4 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons garlic salt
1 tablespoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons ground white pepper
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, beaten
1 chicken, cut up, the breast pieces cut in half for more even frying
Expeller-pressed canola oil
1 Mix the flour in a bowl with all the herbs and spices; set aside.
2 Mix the buttermilk and egg together in a separate bowl until combined. Soak the chicken in the buttermilk mixture at room temperature, 20-30 minutes.
3 Remove chicken from the buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off. Dip the chicken pieces in the herb-spice-flour mixture to coat all sides, shaking off excess. Allow to sit on a rack over a baking sheet, 20 minutes.
4 Meanwhile, heat about 3 inches of the oil in a large Dutch oven (or similar heavy pot with high sides) over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. (Use a deep-frying thermometer to check the temperature.) When temperature is reached, lower the heat to medium to maintain it at 350. Fry 3 or 4 pieces at a time, being careful not to crowd the pot. Fry until medium golden brown, turning once, 15-18 minutes. Transfer chicken pieces to a baking sheet covered with paper towels. Allow the oil to return to temperature before adding more chicken. Repeat with remaining chicken.
I decided to make life easy and use chicken tenderloins which I put in the mixture of egg and buttermilk to soak
I arranged my spices in order and placed the measured quantities into small bowls
They all get mixed into the flour in a large bowl
The chicken is then dipped in the flour-spice mixture and left to absorb the flavour before a second coating
Only 10mins in the deep fryer and this is the final product
The flavour was noticeably not KFC maybe because the ingredients were a bit agrestic and just chucked in however this meant you could taste individual flavours.
Bare in mind this was skinless chicken tenderloins and resembled the original double-breaded “Crispy Strips” in texture (left) – the current fake crispy strips from KFC taste like your mum got them out of the freezer, microwaved them and put them in a cardboard box to go soggy. Next i am going to try wings / drummettes which should be more like Wicked wings (right)
They were also excellent cold and I took some across the road the next day at lunchtime and offered some to Jody and Boris who thought they were very tasty.
I would only say that the 4 tablespoons of paprika is a bit much and overpowers the other flavours slightly as you can see here in this photo from the original news story – lots of paprika !
Photo Journalists are always looking for an angle, a bit of a spin to attract attention, someone different to the everyday person, the unique opportunity. Being out and about as Lifesavers we have been lucky to be in the right place at the right time a few times over the years and have ended up being involved in a couple of published articles.
The first was when we were invited by Surf Life Saving NSW to attend a day at Luna Park in Dec 2014 for volunteers, emergency services and armed forces members as a lead up to the park’s 80th anniversary.
We were milling around to get into the park and waiting for Rhyse and Tracey, it was pretty busy as apart from the attractions put on there was an episode of My Kitchen Rules being filmed.
We had to wear our Life Saving gear and I was in patrol uniform, Jenny was in her SLS Officials shirt and Angus was in his Nippers gear which attracted the eye of a photographer who approached us and asked if we would pose for some photos
Whilst he was taking some shots he noticed the reflection of the Harbour Bridge in lens of my sunglasses and asked me to turn around, I thought “What is he doing I’m facing the wrong way” as he jostled me around to get the perfect position? Then it clicked.
He had framed the Harbour Bridge around my hat and had the reflection of the Luna Park Face in my glasses – amazing shot by Peter Rae Senior Photographer Fairfax Media
As part of the deal of being an “Instant Crowd” we were herded into an auditorium to listen to some speeches and then some performances before we were let loose on the park, some of the celebs were Alan Jones, Marcia Hines and Shannon Knowles
The kids had fun and Angus and Liam braved the Hair Raiser – see video here
We also ended up on Channel 7’s MKR as part of the crowd as we waited for our chance to try some food
We got to try most of the food
The Mums needed a drink so I had to have one too
Another Time we were interviewed was when we were on patrol at the beach and someone from Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches was taking photos. They asked about us and some of the younger life savers and did the following reports
Charlotte Durban says she wanted to become a lifesaver so she could contribute to her local area.
And that’s Dee Why. Charlotte [right] says she’s always at the beach and what better way to give back to the community by joining a surf club and to help save lives.
Young Joseph Jelic also lives locally. “This is my second season doing patrols and I love it. I just love the surf and being involved in an organisation like this,” he said.
Emma Katen comes from out of area and actually travels from Northmead to do her patrols for the Dee Why Surf Club. ”I was involved in nippers for a long time but this is only my second seasons of doing patrols,” Emma said.
Picture: Emma, Joseph and Charlotte
Rowena Clarke and Peter Firminger are the two mentors for Dee Why Surf Club’s youth patrol.
Patrol 4 was on duty yesterday [Sunday] morning but, such was the bleak weather, all was quiet in the surf.
”It’s predominantly kids between the ages of 14 and 21,” Rowena , one of the club’s vice captains, said yesterday.
”Pete and myself are the two mentors. Unfortunately, Pete has just broken his arm but he came down this morning to check on them.
”Pete is one of our eldest patrolling members and averages about 400 hours a season.”
Zach Dibben, who along with his girlfriend Jessica Cotterill, won the SNB Branch at SLSNSW Initiative of the Year Award for the ‘After Dark Program’ last season, was the Patrol Captain and also crew for the IRB yesterday.
Picture: Some of the Patrol 4 members – Joseph Jelic [left], Emma Katen, Charlotte Durban, Rowena Clarke [mentor] and Zach Dibben.
With her husband Craig Katen and daughter Emma doing patrols for Dee Why Surf Club, mum Jenny thought it was time to join them.
”I’d come to the beach and just sit around Jenny [Graves], ” said yesterday ”I did my First Aid yesterday and here I am today for First Aid [Sunday].”
This is Emma’s second season doing patrols. “I have been involved in nippers since I was six and I did my SRC last season,” Emma said.
Craig surfed at Dee Why for 35 years but only decided to become a lifesaver in more recent years.
Now he’s heavily involved with the club
Craig looks after the nipper boards as board steward for the club. ”I did my bronze so I could do patrols and help out. I am also a coach [nippers] and a committee member.”
And to think the family travels from Northmead
Picture: Emma, Jenny and Craig at Dee Why yesterday.
This photo was in the Manly Daily for Australia Day 2014 as Emma was the flag bearer along with our Orange bush nippers club
Royal Enfield Club of Australia – Hunter Ride 30th – 31st July 2016
The inner city people were meeting about 730am at Motociclo in St Peters, and then onto Royal Enfield Sydney at Burwood to pick up any people along the way.
The plan was to assemble at Windsor for breakfast . It would be then on to Wisemans Ferry, Spencer, Kulnura, Wollombi and finally Singleton.
Google Maps Link
Space is always precious on a motorcycle and since this is only an overnight trip all we took was a change of clothes and some shoes so we weren’t stuck in our motorcycle gear for the whole weekend.
Our saddle bags can fit one small backpack each side containing our clothes (jeans T-shirt and hoodie) and we have have a tank bag for our personal items – wallet, phone, cap, sunglasses, neck warmer, water etc
I have a small pannier bag containing tools, spare tubes and cables and I added another pannier to the back bar containing our wet weather gear even though it wasn’t expected to rain it is handy to combat the cold. The second pannier works like a backrest for Jenny but also makes it slightly more difficult for her to get on and off with her hip.
Jenny and I loaded up the bike and left Northmead about 8am for Windsor
Immediately I felt the cold and wished I’d put the wet weather gear and my winter gloves on, my jacket has a traditional collar and does not do up all the way which lets a jet of cold air in around my neck and down my back. Naturally cold air pools in low lying areas and in the shadows and you could feel the change in temperature as we rode through these different geographic features, however we we soon in Windsor basking in the sun.
We arrived at the Bridge Cafe and found Gerad having a coffee so we ordered breakfast. Marie arrived from the Blue Mountains and then Ian from the South and finally the city folk Mike, Gupreet, Roger, Jo and Peter.
Cynthia and Bruce (El Presidente) dropped in to see us off which was nice of them.
After breaky/coffee we left for Wisemans Ferry via Wilberforce, crossing on the Sackville Ferry and up through Maroota.
We crossed the Hawkesbury again and proceded along the northern bank of the river heading for Spencer, Being in the shade it was cold and wet with moss on the road in places only getting relief briefly when the road turned north into the sun or stretched towards the river away from the towering mountains and cliffs of the region.
Soon we were in sunny Spencer where we stopped at the General Store for morning tea.
A lovely spot run by a very hospitable bloke who was very keen to have us bike riders and clubs visit his small riverside community.
He told us of bike club nights that they hosted and how they arranged a chef and a BBQ and people ate dinner by the river and he offered to take a group photo for us.
We wound our way up out of the Hawkesbury river country into the Watagans and stopped at Jerry’s Cafe in Kulnura for a quick fuel stop and then to Wollombi for lunch.
Lunch was at the very pleasant Cafe Wollumbi.
Via the Broke Road, through Broke It was not long and we were in Singleton where “MOST” of us checked into the Mid City Motor Inn.
Roger had found another motel down the road but Mike and Gerad chose to book into the Imperial Hotel across the road from our Motel.
I relayed to Mike the phone conversation I had with the Imperial about their rooms and facilities and how I was advised by them to stay at the Mid City Motor Inn across the road.
Mike’s response was something like “Oh No ! at least it was only $20 !”
About 15mins later he and Gerad turned up back at the motel with a room key, Gerad exclaimed “Hallelujah !” as he entered the room and they told us the story of how the first room in the pub had the door kicked in and the second, which was allocated to them had someone already in it and only one bed and that the barmaid had kindly refunded his 20 bucks. All good in the end.
After changing I followed Ian and Peter across the road for a sherbet. and shortly after was joined by Mike and Jenny and Roger where we discussed dinner.
Initially we anticipated eating at the hotel however It was unanimous that we seek alternative arrangements as it was more of a pub bistro than restaurant with Burgers, Surf and Turf and Chicken Parmy on the menu.
Next closest choice was a time-warp to the 70’s at the Motel’s dining room where they also had Beef with a Medley of Seafood, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Garlic Prawns or Pasta Boscaiola…Hmmm
We ended up not too far away at the Pearl Light Palace for Chinese which was beautiful and they even had chopsticks how fancy !
The next morning we geared up and got ready for our return trip down the Putty Rd.
After refuelling we stopped in town at the Grainery for breakfast which was a bit slow as being the only place open they had a bit of a crowd. Excellent food and service though.
The trip down the Upper Putty from Bulga was great I had not done it before on a bike and I really hooked into those bends and managed to make Jenny feel sick on the back which Jo reprimanded me for with just a “look”.
I was full of sausages eggs bacon mushrooms tomato toast and coca cola so I was sort of glad the road opened up for some easy cruising in the middle section.
We stopped at the Grey Gum Cafe for a coffee which is about 90km from Windsor and then back to Sydney
I caught up with Greg from Royal Enfield Sydney / Eagle Rider Sydney who (like Santina) suggested Jenny and I try a Harley one weekend
Thanks to Peter Jackson for organising such a great ride which will become a regular I’m sure.
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