I Made Fried Chicken!

That's right everyone, I made fried Chicken, The Help style!  For some reason ever since seeing The Help I've wanted to try and make fried chicken, and although Minnie made it look easy, there are many detailed components involved. 

  

First I cut up a whole young chicken, after I let it thaw in my fridge overnight. Now there is a specific way to cut up chicken, which I looked up online. Robert kept asking me why I didn't just practice on our precut, frozen chicken tenders, but I wanted to do it right. I even wanted to kill my own chicken and de-pluck it and everything, but I don't have any chickens and I'm not one for slaughtering animals, so I settled with a frozen one from Costco.

After cutting up the chicken I seasoned it with a T of paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and 2T of chicken seasoning and garlic powder.  I used half of the mixture to season the chicken, and the other half I mixed in with 2-3 cups of flour.

Then I mixed about a 1 cup of milk and 1-2 eggs together, you want more egg than milk, so mix accordingly.  Then you just dip the chicken in the egg mix then roll it in the flour with seasoning.  Then you want to dunk it and roll it again.  

once I had them all nice and floured I separated my chicken into two parts my white meat together and my dark meat together, because they will cook at different rates. Also you don't want to crowd the chicken, make sure there's plenty of space for each piece.

Before I even start rolling my chicken, however, I first fill up my skillet with 11/2-2 inches deep of vegetable oil and 1-2 cups of crisco and set it to medium high, generally right in the middle at about a 4 or a 5.  Then I gently placed all my white meat in first and you want it to sizzle, but not bubble and scorch your fingers. Now the key is to only turn your chicken once, and since white meat needs to cook for 16-20 minutes and dark meat 20-30, I just left it on one side for half the time, then flipped it for the second half.

Once pieces were finished I placed them on a paper towel to soak up the grease, then on a cookie sheet and in the oven to stay warm while I cooked the rest of the chicken

I'm actually surprised that the chicken turned out so well, it was definitely a crowd pleaser, and I can't help but be proud!  The entire time though I had Minnie in my head saying "I don't buuurn chicken....", and I didn't!

The Twins are Here!

Milo Enoch and Maverick Stanford Thompson were born on June 29, 2012 at 3:52am at American Fork Hospital.  We went in for our scheduled ultrasound and non-stress test at 37 weeks when the doctor told us that the boys were measuring slightly off, and I looked miserable so I should get induced and have the babies. (Excuse me!? What a terrible reason to force the babies out!)  However I ended up going into labor that night naturally anyway, and gave birth to two beautifully healthy baby boys, who were able to come home with us a couple days later with no NICU time, yay!!

The doctor on call was a jerk and the nurses were super mean, and they pretty much threw my birthing preference sheet for a calm natural birth out the window.  They literally refused to follow anything on my list and the doctor point blank said that he would not deliver me unless I had an epidural, or my other option was a c-section! What?!? I'm getting worked up again writing this! Anyway, we went in at midnight I was dilated to a 4, and I progressed super quickly, they barely had time to get an epidural in before wheeling me back to the operating room to deliver. Point is they arrived safe and healthy, so gad that all our prayers were answered.

So since the boys' arrival we have been EXTREMELY busy, as you can tell I haven't even posted their birth until now, 3 months later... not that that's saying much considering my blogging history.

Anyway, I love how cute they look on their bellies sporting some cloth diapers on the left, and on the right they look so tiny in their car seats ready to go home from the hospital. (Milo is on the left and Maverick is on the right in both pictures.)

After nursing, the boys generally fall asleep in my lap, and this is my precious view, I just love these little guys!

The boys in their adorable mickey outfits made by their aunt Tammy.

Many times while nursing, the boys would hold hands.  I can't think of anything more precious. On the right is how I generally look in the morning, trying to get some sleep, waiting for the never ending day to end... I'm still waiting, but it's worth it, and has been one of the best forever long days of my life!

At about 2 months our little family ventured on our annual Payson Lake's Family Campout with the twins in-tow. It was their first exposure to camping, and I think they loved it!

Avery loves her brothers, as you can tell, and is always thrilled at the chance to hold them.  Coincidently her new favorite book lately is Little Mommy, and she is definitely always willing to help.

The boys at their 2 month check ups and Avery at her 18 month.  This doctor's visit was pretty crazy, so I'm glad I had a few helpers.  All three kids passed with flying colors!

Pictures from the boy's blessing day, Milo is on the left and Maverick on the right.

Avery playing as "Little Mommy" with her two dolls. She always has to have two dolls in her hands, one apparently just isn't enough.

 So although life is a little crazy at times, we love the little additions to our family!