Crispy Cornmeal Dusted Fried Chicken

Everyone enjoys hot, crispy fried chicken from time but have you ever tried making it with cornmeal instead of flour?  I’d never prepared it any other way than the deep fried, coated in flour mixture I learned from my mother.  However when I stumbled across this recipe in the LA Times, I decided to change things up.

I was pleasantly surprised how the cornmeal, orange zest and maple syrup create a tasty summer time dish.  It’s perfect for a picnic and you can prepare them ahead of time.   If you prefer,  shorten your prep time by using hen pieces rather than a whole hen.   But if you’re interested in picking some fried chicken up instead of preparing it yourself, I suggest Something Good Restaurant on 6th Avenue in Des Moines.   She’s been cooking for over 20 years and has perfected the art of fried chicken.