My Name Is John And I Cannot Fry Chicken
John Liu
12 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (76)
teresa_nc7
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Going past the stir-fry
Comments (30)It's hard to make generalities about over 1 billion people, lol. But I have found that there are many, many Chinese families who don't stir-fry at all, or do it very seldom. Not every American family eats burgers and hot dogs, either, for a local analogy. I guess if others judged American culture by TV ads and billboards, they would think we all lived on a daily diet of McDonald's Big Macs! But in general, many Asian cuisines do have a "triple path". There is home cooking; there is restaurant cooking; and there is banquet, or feast, food. I was talking to my Hong Kong-born Chinese-Portugese DH a few weeks ago, and he (finally) remembered to tell me a story about one of his uncles who died over 15 yrs ago. This uncle was famous in the family for making the Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce, or ho yau gai lan as it used to be spelled (I'm terrible with the new spellings, sorry). I've done this dish, and it seems very simple. Blanch the gai lan, stir-fry it quickly, drizzle it with oyster sauce. What's so hard about it? DH told me his uncle was so meticulous and painstaking about doing this dish, it was intimidating even to just watch him. Every cut had to be a precise size, the water had to be just the right temperature, the timing was down to the second. The wok had to be heated for XX number of minutes with just enough oil but not too much; the tossing and last-minute steaming done always the same way. In six decades of eating, DH says his uncle's gai lan remains the best. And every time, because he was so exacting about it, it was always perfect. But it was a lot of work, done to ensure that nothing was left to chance. He very seldom made it, in fact. Just the news that there was going to be a party and that Uncle had promised to make his gai lan, was enough to make everybody, even reluctant-to-socialize teenagers, show up for dinner! Oh, and outside of the gai lan, hardly anyone in DH's family, all 200+ members in Vancouver BC, stir-fries. Most of them don't even own a wok, which is interesting because otherwise they've kept their HK culture intact very assiduously. Unlike the American relatives, all of whom by the second generation barely remember their Cantonese, all the Canadian relatives speak Cantonese at home, so that even the fourth generation little kids are bi-lingual....See MoreCanned bone-in chicken thighs...my experience
Comments (19)Well, I opened another pint of chicken thighs, added a little more chicken broth and made fluffy dumplings with a new box of Bisquick and it was so good. At this rate, all the canned chicken thighs will be gone before I get snowed in. Thank you, Annie. I am well, but the hops have been put off until the spring when they are usually planted. We have one other hops farmer in my county and he swears by planting them in the fall, but most people hold off until spring. I couldn't get the help I needed to get the acre prepared and the plants in. I haven't been lazy, though. I'm putting the finishing touches on a new coop and run for my girls. I should be able to move them in tomorrow. And I'm making a couple of swings for them. I'm also thinking of enlarging my flock. There's all the garlic as well and I've got ginger and turmeric coming in next March. I'm working like crazy to get things ready for a Christmas Bazaar next Saturday and waiting for my training to start to become a certified firefighter with our county's volunteer fire department. Can you imagine a 73 year old female being a firefighter? Well, I try to keep active and can do a lot of things those a lot younger than I can do. It was the cakes I made for their last fish/tenderloin fry that clinched it, I'm sure. Seriously, I was a member of the Emergency Management Agency here for several years and a ham radio operator for about 25 years. Also, I've had some medical training and could go on to get certified in that phase as well. I'm looking forward for a slow down once winter sets in, but will be prepared to be busy once its over. Madonna...See MoreKAW: How do you fry your chicken?
Comments (45)"If I'm in the mood for fried chicken, I go to KFC." Yanno, I USED to be fine with KFC. I don't know what it is about it, but I just cannot eat it anymore - leaves a greasy heavy taste and does not feel good in my tummy at all. I never eat there anymore - just cannot tolerate their fried chicken. But that's okay cuz we have SO many places here that make killer fried chicken. Way too easy to get to! As far as the "art of home cooking", I think it is certainly still there. But for many of us, at least in my case, I am older, live alone, son is off on his own (which means I never have a house full of teens eating though dishes as fast as I can make them), and I swear the older I get the more things it seems I have to do. I always thought it would be the reverse....but it's not darn it. So convenience is much more important for me now. I rarely even eat dinner during the week (I hit the gym after work and really only want a snack when I get home) so I just don't have the need or "want to" to spend time cooking up meals that will probably leave leftovers that get tossed anyway. There are certainly exceptions of course - I seriously crave chicken pot pie when it starts getting cold weather, so that is one of my "singnature dishes" that I take the time to make. And even if the BF does not finish it, I will portion it out into containers and freeze it for my lunches. Some things are worth spending a little time on, LOL....See MoreMy chickens! I want to show them off for enjoyment...
Comments (27)I felt sad about putting them outside last Friday. But they seem to love it, a lot more room to move around than in large basement boxes. In a couple of days or so they will be more ranging free, once they get used to where Home Base is... not completely as my neighborhood is full of foxes, hawks and owls. But they will have a home outdoors they can enjoy. The black Australorpes and the buff Orpingtons remain really friendly. I'll let them enjoy their run starting tomorrow morning. Above, way back in babyhood... Australorpe, Orpington, and a Wyandotte lurking in the background. Buff Orpington in foreground, and over at about 11 am, clock wise. Right behind is a Buckeye. Photo taken 6/24. PS thanks for all the feedback and comments!...See Moreravencajun Zone 8b TX
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBumblebeez SC Zone 7
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agowizardnm
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJohn Liu
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoGina_W
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agosoonergrandmom
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRusty
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoteresa_nc7
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agorob333 (zone 7b)
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agococonut_nj
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJohn Liu
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agocj47
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoantiquesilver
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBumblebeez SC Zone 7
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJohn Liu
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agolakeguy35
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoUser
12 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJohn Liu
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoUser
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaprile421
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaprile421
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agodonna_loomis
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoPieonear
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoritaweeda
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoazmom
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJohn Liu
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agodebrak2008
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agostrawchicago z5
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJasdip
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoryseryse_2004
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJasdip
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agokitchendetective
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoaprile421
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agodcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
FEEL-GOOD HOME8 Tips for Harmony in the Kitchen
Frustrated by the arguments that arise over kitchen duties? Check out these coping strategies
Full StoryPETSWhat You Need to Know Before Buying Chicks
Ordering chicks for your backyard coop? Easy. But caring for them requires planning and foresight. Here's what to do
Full StoryARCHITECTUREA More Perfect Union: When Space and Materials Harmonize
For successful architecture to happen, your space and materials need to have a great relationship
Full StoryGARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIESGardening for the Bees, and Why It’s a Good Thing
When you discover how hard bees work for our food supply, you may never garden without them in mind again
Full StoryPRODUCT PICKSGuest Picks: The Well-Stocked Starter Kitchen
We’ve got all the kitchen basics and tableware you need (or that recent grad needs) to make cooking a joy
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNLight-Happy Changes Upgrade a Small Bathroom
Glass block windows, Starphire glass shower panes and bright white and blue tile make for a bright new bathroom design
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNPearls of Wisdom From a Real-Life Kitchen Remodel
What your best friend would tell you if you were embarking on a renovation and she'd been there, done that
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESOh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds
Keeping a garden amid hungry deer can be hard, but these plants should fare well
Full StoryFUN HOUZZHow to Survive an Epidemic of Walking Dead
Tips to use around the house and garden to prep for the zombie apocalypse
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Turquoise Cabinets Snazz Up a Space-Savvy Eat-In
Color gives a row house kitchen panache, while a clever fold-up table offers flexibility
Full Story
bulldinkie