There’s thunder and lightening from where I’m sitting looking out my kitchen window, with no sign of let-up for July 4th. If that means a change of plans for you from an all-American barbecue, consider the Independence Day tradition of the American South: fried chicken. While I grew up in an Italian household, fried chicken was always a special dish and it fit in just fine with potato salad and all the other American trimmings. Whether it’s Kentucky-fried, Georgia-fried, or Italian-fried, it’s as American as grilling on the Fourth of July. Here’s my recipe, sprinkled with some fried chicken history. Happy 4th!

Peppery Italian-Fried Chicken Wings, from Italian Home Cooking: 125 Recipes to Comfort Your Soul, by Julia della Croce
Photo: Hirsheimer & Hamilton
I am definitely trying this Julia! Can hardly wait! And I’m not American so don’t have the built in genes for fried chicken, only an Italian soul!
I think you do have an Italian soul, Phyllis! Let me know how your fried chicken turns out!