Sunday Dinner

Nana’s basics

Sunday dinner and supper

Fried chicken was a staple of my growing up years.  In my very early childhood we raised chickens in the chicken yard behind our house.  Nana could butcher, clean, and prepare chicken like no one I have ever known.  It was likely her most famous dish to be served to the many people who would sit at Nana’s table for Sunday dinner.

Skillet Fried Chicken:

1 whole fryer cut into pieces

Salt and flour the pieces

Lay aside

Melt Crisco in a large skillet over a hot fire

Add the chicken – one piece at a time – until all are in the skillet

Turn the chicken as it brows –

Once it is crispy on all sides – cover the skillet – turn down the heat – and allow it to cook for 30 minutes.

Fried Chicken Pan Gravy:

This was a staple – you could not have fried chicken without Nana’s skillet fried chicken gravy.  It would be like a day without sunshine to not have the gravy with the chicken.

After the fried chicken has been removed from the skillet cover the bottom of the skillet with flour.  With a wood spoon stir the flour until it absorbs the drippings from the chicken.  When it is all absorbed slowly add milk – stirring continually until the gravy thickens – let boil for a few minutes.

Mashed Potatoes:

Take several potatoes peel, rinse, and cover with water in a pan and boil until tender.  When tender pour off the water – reserve some for the potatoes.  Mash the potatoes – adding salt, butter, the reserved water and milk.

Fresh Green Beans:

Clean and stem green beans – whatever amount you will need for dinner.

Set aside

Cut up and brown several strips of bacon in a pan

When bacon is brown – add green beans, ¼ - ½ cup of water, season to taste bring to a boil – cover – cook until tender

Voila you have a Sunday dinner (or any other day for that matter) fit for any who stop by.  Oh yes, in Nana’s kitchen all guests are welcome to the table.

And left over mashed potatoes (always make more than you can eat) makes great potato salad for Sunday supper – or fried potato pancakes.

Nana’s Potato Salad:

Mix left over mashed potatoes w/

Miracle Whip – to taste

A dollop of yellow prepared mustard

Salt and pepper

Cut up and add hard-boiled eggs

Stir and serve

Nana’s Potato Pancakes:

Left over mashed potatoes mixed with flour to make the potatoes stiff.

Pat into round cakes

Fry in hot skillet with oil.

Serve hot.

Now there you have a Sunday dinner and supper in Nana’s Kitchen: simple country recipes for simple country folks.