Remembering Viola - And The Great Times That We Shared!

I know that this is an odd post, but I just did something that I have not done for at least 10-years. I made Fried Chicken (in my new Delonghi Fryer - https://www.wayfair.com/DeLonghi--DeLonghi-Livenza-4.5-Liter-Deep-Fryer-with-Easy-Clean-Drain-System-D44528DZ-L7510-K~DLG2580.html?refid=GX562052773365-DLG2580&device=c&ptid=322738120978&network=u&targetid=pla-322738120978&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=38379292&fdid=1817&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt5SmnqHb-AIVkZJbCh15_AdLEAQYASABEgIBKPD_BwE -

I KNOW, I KNOW, some of you are screaming at me that its not healthy. Like I said, it has been at least 10-years since I've done this - and I did it for nostalgic reasons. As my life story - https://www.amazon.com/Surgeries-Cancers-Travels-Recipes-Chicken/dp/B0B4FPH65N/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1656801113&sr=1-2 -

Viola, the amazing woman that raised me much of the time, taught me how to fry chicken. Then, at her 'Family Reunion' of 600 or so extended family members, they gave me the nickname "Fried Chicken Richard" - telling me that my fried chicken was the best fried chicken that they had ever had. Others have told me the same thing since.

So today was sort of Bittersweet. I miss Viola - and those days long ago. But, I THINK Viola would have been proud of my Fried Chicken today - I hope so anyway. We used to dream about starting sort of a different type of Fried Chicken chain - Farm to Table Fried Chicken made "Our Way" - Pieces, 'Tenders', Drummettes (look them up) rather than Wings. Sandwiches, Traditional Fried and now Air-Fried too, sides and desserts.

Oh well, Today was a good day.