This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
You know that satisfying feeling when you tuck into an exceptionally delicious meal? Exceptional not only because of its taste but also because of its familiarity. It could be one your mum cooks, or your dad, partner, flatmate, sister, brother or friend. It's a comforting meal. Nothing fancy, I'm not talking twelve courses of gastronomic delight, but it settles you, makes you feel contented, makes you feel at home.
In It's Not Me It's You by Mhairi McFarlane, Delia invites her brother – a grown man who lives with his parents and doesn't get out much – to come and stay with her. Delia's life has recently been turned upside down, and it's still not straight, but she wants to show Ralph around this new life. To take him out of his bedroom where he plays his computer games and do something different.
All Ralph wants, however, is to be with his sister, but to still play his computer games. So Delia fills the flat with Ralph-type-food and sets about cooking for him. One of the dishes she puts together is "piles of chicken in panko breadcrumbs" with "the 'Glasgow salad' of chips and ketchup". Exactly Ralph's type of meal.
I adored Delia. I also adored her story. Delia is a trusting, creative, thoughtful and strong character who doesn't feel the need to conform. She enjoys making where she lives a home, rather than just a place to rest her head, be it through photographs of her dog, Parsnip, or creating homely, delicious food. And she enjoys doing this for other people, such as her brother or her best friend, as well as herself.
Delia also has a wonderful romance. But I'll let you read the book to find that out. Because it is a beauty.
In the meantime make yourself some fried chicken in breadcrumbs, get yourself the book, and settle down for a feast and read of absolute contentment.
Equipment
Bowls/plates, saucepan, a chopper like a food processor (or a sharp knife and patience), frying pan.
Ingredients
Amounts will depend on how much chicken you want to eat/serve, but you will need:
Bread – day-old bread is good OR panko breadcrumbs
Chicken breasts or thighs
Plain flour in a dipping bowl
1 egg, beaten in a dipping bowl
Method
- First, make your bread crumbs. Now, Delia uses Panko breadcrumbs, which you can get from the supermarket. But if you have any old bread (not mouldy, just stale) then throw it in the food processor, blitz, and put into a bowl ready for dipping.
- Get your raw chicken, dip it into the flour, both sides, then into the egg, both sides and finally into the breadcrumbs, both sides.
- Repeat for all pieces of chicken.
- You can either place on a baking tray and bake for around 20 minutes (depending on your size of chicken – always make sure it is cooked throughout!) or shallow fry in a frying pan with some vegetable or sunflower oil.
- Serve with chips and tomato sauce.