Three years ago, my first year out of college, I went home a lot on the weekends. I lived in a nice town populated mainly with twenty- and thirty-somethings, yet come Friday, I just needed a break.
I wanted to go to movies in my hometown and shop at my old mall.
I wanted to buy groceries in the nicer grocery store down the street from my mom’s neighborhood instead of the A&P around the corner from my apartment (I adamantly refused to buy a “granny cart” to lug my packages and anyway, I didn’t think the store was that clean).
So, every other week or so, I found myself on a train to my mom’s Philadelphia suburb for a weekend of sleeping without the interruption of my roommates coming home at 4:00 a.m. with their new best friends for a late-night dance party complete with pizzas that would inevitably arrive after they’d fallen asleep.
With my entry-level salary, I didn’t always have a ton of money for entertainment but I looked forward to a Sunday ritual with my mom: spending the afternoon and evening watching movies, eating junk food and cooking meals: pot roast, lentil soup, baked ziti.
We called these “girls’ nights” but it was a tradition that we relied on, a tradition that helped both of us through respective difficult transitions.
We both looked forward to these afternoons, for each other’s company, and most importantly, a delicious dinner, one we never would have made for ourselves if left to our own devices.
When you’re starting out on your own, but don’t have the luxury of heading home on weekends for a little TLC, you can make your own home-cooked meals for friends, a roommate or even just for yourself (if you’re committed to eating oven baked friend chicken for your next five meals).
In the summer, this is best served with bacon potato salad and in the winter, creamy mashed potatoes would be a great side dish.
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ cup low-fat buttermilk
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 6 slices whole-wheat bread
- 1 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Using a paper towel to grip, remove skin from chicken. In a large bowl, toss chicken with buttermilk, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and teaspoon pepper. Marinate at room temperature 30 minutes (or refrigerate up to overnight).
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a food processor, pulse bread until coarse crumbs form. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and toss with oil. Bake crumbs until golden brown, 8 to 12 minutes, tossing twice. Transfer to a large bowl. Set a wire rack over sheet.
- Working with one piece at a time, lift chicken from buttermilk mixture (letting excess drip off) and dredge in breadcrumbs, pressing firmly to adhere. Transfer chicken to rack.
- Bake, without turning, until cooked through, 30 to 40 minutes, tenting with foil if browning too quickly
Were you homesick when you first moved out on your own? What made your own transition into the “real world” easier?
17 Comments
Buttermilk Baked Chicken | Never Enough Thyme - Recipes and food photographs with a slight southern accent.
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Edith
November 14, 2010 at 4:46 amI’ll be adding this recipe to my “quick dinner solutions” list in my quest to beat the dinner rush at our house every night. Thanks for the idea. I’ll be trying it soon for sure. Cheers!
Aggie
September 28, 2009 at 7:30 amThat breading looks fantastic!!
Lena
September 23, 2009 at 12:03 pmHi Maris!
This looks amazing. And it’s only 9 a.m. 🙂 BTW, Trader Joe’s has the best instant garlic mashed potatoes ever. You know, if you’re too lazy to make potato salad like me.
Laurie
September 22, 2009 at 4:33 pmSounds like a great “comfort food” recipe. But now I’m really missing my daughter who moved to LA from NY a year ago.
Cate O'Malley
September 21, 2009 at 9:57 pmLooks like perfect food (and great memories to boot)!
Jenn@slim-shoppin
September 21, 2009 at 11:08 amI love baked chicken like that!
I never really got homesick because my first year of college I went to school where my brother did (Iowa State) and after that, I came back home and lived with my twin sister, so that was great!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
September 21, 2009 at 9:29 amGood recipe for the family- I’m bookmarking. Liked your article on wellfed about tips for managing weight at BlogHerFood. That’s gonna be a tough one, but I’m working out a lot this week in preparation for it!! Look forward to meeting you this weekend 🙂
E.P.
September 20, 2009 at 7:40 pmYum, yum. I’m not one for regular fried chicken in my kitchen — too messy — but this looks totally doable and delicious, to boot.
I’m going to have to give it a try. Thanks for posting such fun recipies
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
September 20, 2009 at 5:48 pmAh, fried chicken, without the sinfulness! And I hope you and your mom still have girls’ nights every now and then; it’s a wonderful tradition.
thatShortChick
September 20, 2009 at 5:44 pmyour “girls nights” sound wonderful. It’s moments like those that I have with my mom that make it impossible for me to want to leave home =/
Joie de vivre
September 20, 2009 at 3:45 pmAww…I love girl days! That’s so sweet.
Thanks for the compliment about my boys. I do think they are cute as well. 🙂
Did you know that your blogger profile still sends people to your old blog site? Just thought I’d let you know. Thanks for visiting as always!
Nutmeg Nanny
September 20, 2009 at 12:00 pmWhen I was 19 I moved from Ohio to New York and knew no one. It was hard for me but I found comfort in making foods that reminded me of home. Eventually I started to try new things and started to not feel so bad about moving. I have now lived in New York for over seven years and I find that I love both my Ohio food and my New York food:) BTW this chicken looks awesome and that potato salad sounds divine! I need to try some:)
Paula
September 20, 2009 at 7:18 amThat looks absolutely delicious!
To be honest, I’ve rarely been homesick, When I lived at home, I craved my own space and I still love it now. My parents only live about ten miles outside of Glasgow so it’s not difficult to arrange to meet up in the city whenever the urge takes us.
deeba
September 20, 2009 at 4:42 amOh I love this. You even made the breadcrumbs from scratch.Way to go! This is on yummy oven baked chicken! Garlic mashed potatoes? YES!!!
Eralda (The Split Pea)
September 20, 2009 at 1:19 amMmmm…I love this recipe. It was one of the first American dishes that I loved. Great weeknight meal as well.