Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwiches

-------------Ingredients------------

• 3 Boneless chicken breasts
• 2  C Buttermilk
• 1  1/2 C Flour
• Salt
• Pepper
• 2 tsp Adobo
• 2 tsp Paprika
• 2 tsp Onion Powder
• 1 Tbsp Sugar
• 2 tsp Oregano
• 2 tsp Parsley
• Buns
• 1 Tomato
• Mayo
• Oil for frying

-------------Preparation------------

Day Before:

Place the chicken in a large ziploc bag. Add the flour, buttermilk, and seasonings.

Zip the bag up and shake. Place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

The next day:

Heat vegetable oil ( enough to cover all your chicken) or peanut oil in a large stock pot until 300 degrees

Place chicken in the boiling oil and cook until the chicken is browned.

Cut the chicken and make sure that it is full cooked.

Serve on buns with mayo, tomato, and cheese of your choice.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Smashed Peas over Toast

-------------Soup Ingredients------------

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 medium leek, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced crosswise 1/2" thick

• 1 celery stalk, sliced crosswise 1/2" thick

• 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs

• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

• 1/2 cup orzo

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill

• Lemon halves (for serving)

-------------Soup Preparation------------

Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.

 Add leek and celery and cook, stirring often, until vegetables are soft, 5-8 minutes. 

Add chicken and broth; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, 15-20 minutes. 

Transfer chicken to a plate. Let cool, then shred chicken into bite-size pieces.

Meanwhile, return broth to a boil. Add orzo and cook until al dente, 8-10 minutes.

Remove pot from heat. Stir in chicken and dill. Serve with lemon halves for squeezing over.

-------------Toast Ingredients------------

1 garlic clove, quartered

1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for toast

Kosher salt

2 cups shelled fresh peas (from about 2 pounds pods) or frozen peas, thawed

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1 tablespoon finely chopped preserved lemon peel (from 1/2 preserved lemon), divided

1 tablespoon (or more) fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes plus more for serving

Freshly ground black pepper

12 slices country-style bread or ciabatta, toasted

-------------Toast Preparation------------

Combine garlic, parsley, 1 tablespoon oil, a pinch of salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Add peas and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender, about 5 minutes for fresh peas, about 2 minutes for frozen. Drain, reserving cooking liquid.

Transfer pea mixture to a food processor; pulse until a coarse paste forms. 

Transfer to a medium bowl; mix in chives, 1/2 tablespoon preserved lemon peel, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. 

Aleppo pepper, and 2 tablespoons oil. 

Stir in reserved cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls until mixture is still thick but spreadable. 

Season pea mash with salt, black pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired.

Drizzle toast with oil; top with pea mash, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon preserved lemon peel and more pepper, and drizzle with more oil.

My Graduation Party Preparation

I love to throw parties. We like to have a couple big ones a year- I always worry we aren't going to have enough food, beverages, and people to fill the house. That never seems to be the case, and they always turn out a pretty big hit. When I was thinking about what I would like to do after graduation, I thought a party would be the perfect idea. What a fun way to mix family and friends together- we can start at 4pm and party all night.

Here's how I am going about throwing my graduation party:

First Step

.Invitations:

Second Step

. Food.

{{ The BBQ joint we are using is Hello My Name is BBQ

we are going to order BBQ chicken, BBQ pork, mac-n-cheese }}

--------Additional snacks and dessert---------

{ Cheese and Crackers}

{ Chips and Salsa}

{ Veggies and Dip }

{ Pasta/Potato Salad }

{ Cupcakes }

Third Step

.Beverages:

For the various people attending { friends and family} we are going to offer various beverages including soda, lemonade, wine, beer, and champagne.

{{ Fun lemonade ideas }}

{{ I should invite this guy to carry the Keg! }}

{{ Fun soda options for the kids. }}

{{ champagne toast }}

Fourth Step 

.Aesthetics  { decor, tables, seating }

{{ Paper lanterns are an easy cheap way to bright up your outside party }}

{{ Need more flowers outside? I always save our coffee cans thinking I will be able to find a use for them. Well I finally found a cool way to utilize them! This is a super was to make your backyard or house smell and look beautiful }}

---------

{{ If you are like us and don't have a long table available for food 

  you can rent a buffet table and tablecloths. 

We are going to rent that along with 2 round tables and chairs to go with for seating}} 

Fifth Step

. Games/Activities.

We are debating what the most age appropriate activity to offer would be. Currently we are thinking corn hole for the day and beer pong for the night.

Sixth Step

. Music.

 Play your favorite tunes! We will probably keep Pandora on all day/night.