Southern Comfort: CVC's Best Cooking Recipes Unveiled

If there's one thing that truly binds people together, it's food. At CVC, we're all about embracing the warmth and comfort that comes from cooking and sharing homemade meals. Today, we're lifting the lid off our finest culinary secrets and unveiling some of our best Southern comfort recipes. So, roll up your sleeves as we guide you through the delightful world of Southern cuisine, one recipe at a time.

Southern Fried Chicken

No discussion of Southern cooking would be complete without mentioning the beloved Southern Fried Chicken. Here’s how you can replicate the magic:

• Ingredients:
  • 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • Salt and pepper
  • Oil for frying
• Instructions:
  1. Marinate the chicken in buttermilk overnight, or at least for 4 hours.
  2. Combine flour with spices in a large bowl. Season generously.
  3. Heat oil in a deep fryer or skillet to 350°F (175°C).
  4. Coat each piece of chicken in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess.
  5. Fry until the chicken is golden brown, about 15 minutes for wings, 17-20 for drumsticks and thighs, and 20-25 for breasts.

🍗 Note: For extra crispy chicken, double dip by coating in buttermilk and flour again before frying.

Biscuits and Gravy

This classic Southern breakfast dish is deceptively simple but outrageously flavorful:

• Biscuits Ingredients:
  • 2 cups self-rising flour
  • ²⁄₃ cup buttermilk
  • ¹⁄₄ cup cold lard or shortening
• Gravy Ingredients:
  • ¹⁄₂ lb sausage
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • Salt and pepper
• Biscuits Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
  2. Mix flour and shortening until crumbly, then add buttermilk, mixing just until combined.
  3. Roll out dough to ¹⁄₂ inch thick, cut biscuits, and bake for 10-12 minutes.
• Gravy Instructions:
  1. Cook sausage until browned, add flour, and stir to coat.
  2. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. Season to taste.
  3. Serve the biscuits topped with sausage gravy.

Lowcountry Boil

This one-pot feast is perfect for gatherings and brings together the flavors of the Lowcountry:

• Ingredients:
  • 5 lbs small red potatoes
  • 3 lbs sausage (andouille or kielbasa)
  • 4 ears corn, husked and cut into pieces
  • 4 lbs shrimp
  • Old Bay seasoning
  • 3 lemons
  • 1 stick of butter
• Instructions:
  1. Fill a large pot with water, add seasoning, bring to a boil.
  2. Add potatoes, cook for 15 minutes.
  3. Add sausage and corn, cook for another 10 minutes.
  4. Add shrimp, cook for 3-5 minutes until they turn pink.
  5. Drain the ingredients, then spread on newspaper. Melt butter over the boil and squeeze lemon juice over it.

These recipes showcase the heartiness of Southern cooking, bringing comfort to every bite. As you cook, you'll feel the soul of the South infuse your kitchen, making meals that are not just food, but experiences to be shared. Each dish is a story, a tradition passed down through generations, and now, it's your turn to tell that story. Let the aromas fill your home, and let the flavors connect you with the rich culinary history of the South.

How do you get chicken to be truly crispy in Southern Fried Chicken?

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The key to crispy chicken is in the double-dipping technique. After coating the chicken in buttermilk, dredge it through the seasoned flour, then dip it back into the buttermilk, and once more into the flour before frying. This creates an extra thick, crunchy crust.

Can you prepare biscuits in advance for the Biscuits and Gravy recipe?

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Absolutely! You can make the dough ahead of time, cut out the biscuits, and freeze them on a baking sheet. Once frozen, you can bag them. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time to ensure they’re fully cooked.

What sides go well with a Lowcountry Boil?

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A Lowcountry Boil is quite filling on its own, but if you want to stretch it further, you can serve it with coleslaw, hushpuppies, or a simple tossed salad. Another popular addition is garlic bread to sop up the buttery, Old Bay infused juices.

How can you make Southern Fried Chicken less greasy?

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After frying, place the chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet to let the excess oil drain off. Additionally, ensuring your oil is at the correct temperature (350°F) is key; too hot and the outside burns before the inside is cooked, too cool and the chicken soaks up too much oil.

What variations can be made to the Lowcountry Boil?

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You can add or replace ingredients based on what you have or your taste preferences. Add clams, mussels, or crawfish for a seafood twist. Some recipes include smoked turkey sausage or even lobster for an upscale version. The seasoning can also be adjusted; while Old Bay is traditional, Cajun spice or a seafood boil spice mix works well too.