Chicken & Watermelon

Not every recipe you develop is going to be conventional. In fact, it might be that the best ones are a bit outside the box. Or perhaps, they are staring us straight in the eyes in a way that we can’t quite grasp.

I live and work in Florida, so tropical items tend to be the theme a lot of times. Fruits, fish, you get the idea. It fucking hot outside yo. Sometimes it can get a bit monotonous. Often it’s downright challenging to come up with something innovative. After all, ain’t nothing out there that hasn’t been done… ‘cept maybe this. I’m a genius.

Welp, you can call me the got-dang rain man, because on this day I came up with something that was truly unique. Really out there. I thought to myself, “SELF!”, because that’s what I call myself, “people really love two things. Fried chicken… and Watermelon!”

Now, I know what you might be thinking, but trust me, I’m not the dullest light bulb in the tool box. I know when I might be treading on delicate territory. So I went right up to my friend and I asked him. I said, “Tyrone!?” (Or Kevin, it’s up to you.)

“What’s up,” he asked.

“Is it racist if I do a special with fried chicken and watermelon together?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Guess it depends on whether or not it’s good. It gonna be good?” he continued to ask.

“Well, I’ll tell you what. I’ll prep it and plate it for you tomorrow and you can tell me if it’s good or not,” I pleaded.

So it was settled. Tyro…err….Kevin was gonna give me the green light to run my next big dish. Less than a day to find out what he thought! So I went home, I went to bed and I got back to work early in the morning. I prepped ahead a couple of hours so it would be ready for him when he arrived.

That night Kevin died in his sleep from a massive heart attack. Heart disease ran in his family. I never found out whether the recipe was racist or not.

Pickled Watermelon
-Apple Cider Vinegar, 4 Cups
-Water, 4 Cups
-Sugar, 2 Cup
-Thyme, 4 Sprigs
-Salt, 4 TBS

Procedure:
Cut the Watermelon in half. Save half and clean the other half. Remove skin and cut Melon into sizeable chunks. Pour your pickling ju over the melon and let marinate for 24 hours.

Fried Chicken
-Flour, 2 Cups
-Buttermilk, 2 Cups
-Your Favorite Hot Sauce, 1/2 Cup
-Salt, 2 TBS
-Pepper, 2 TSP
-Chicken, 10 drums and thights
-Vegetable Oil, 3 Cups

Procedure:
So, I’m assuming you don’t own a deep fryer. That’s aight. We’re gonna kick it old school. First, pre heat your oven to 200 degrees.

-Combine all the ingredients, except for Oil and Flour. Do this process at the same time as you begin your Watermelon Pickle, to let them marinate for 24 hours.

-The next day, remove your chicken from the marinade and one-by-one dredge with flour. Shake off any excess and set on a wired rack over a sheet tray until they’re all dredged.

-Place rack in oven for 15 minutes.

-Add oil to a frying pan and heat to 350 Degrees.

-Remove your chicken from the oven and in batches, add to frying pan. About 10 minutes on each side.

-Using a thermometer, test your chickens internal temperature to be sure they hit 160 degrees.

Now, you’re all done! Take a bight of the chicken and chase it with pickled watermelon. You tell me!