Fried Chicken and Waffles

So, being engaged is great. I keep getting all of these wonderful presents! My awesome future sisters-in-law threw me a shower last weekend (thank you!) and one of the lovely gifts I received was a waffle iron. Jamie was so excited and insisted on having waffles for dinner one night this week. I saw this as an opportunity to finally try fried chicken and waffles. I'd heard about it, but never actually had it. Boy was I missing out! Not exactly wedding-diet material, but if you want a really hearty, really delicious dinner, this is it. And we topped it off with some Champagne because, why not?

I got the fried chicken recipe from Cook's Illustrated and it's safe to say it's the best fried chicken I've ever had (and certainly ever made). It does require some time (and I even cut back from the 5 hour prep they suggested to 2 hours because it was after work). The brine is incredibly flavorful and really soaks into the chicken, and the crust is unbelievably crispy - with juicy, juicy meat inside. Home run! Jamie loved the combination of the maple syrup and the crispy fried chicken.

Engagement Pie!

Not for me! Our best friends, Chip and Siobhan, just got engaged too! Such a fun and celebratory time. (Jamie and I have now deemed ourselves Champagne people.) We were SO happy about this engagement and wanted to give them a little treat. They so sweetly sent us a bottle of bubbly when we got engaged, continuing our new Champagne dependence. Both of them have a weakness for strawberry rhubarb pie, and by some stroke of luck, I found rhubarb in February, and some pretty good looking strawberries (both at Essex Street Market). I made the crust (Martha's pate brisee recipe) and personalized it with a big engagement ring and a C and an S on either side. Next time you need a special treat for a special occasion, try personalizing your friend's favorite pie. I think it was a big hit! (Chip ate half of it out of the tin with a spoon before leaving our apartment.)