Picnic for the Planet & Some Fried Chicken

This Friday April 22 is Earth Day. And to celebrate, The Nature Conservancy is encouraging people all around the world to step outside and head to their favorite outdoor spot to enjoy good food in the company of great people.

Picnic for the Planet is a celebration of the planet we live on, the food it provides and the people we share it with--after all, there's more to Earth Day than just recycling; our food choices can have huge impacts on our environment as well. According to The Nature Conservancy, you can take the following actions to make better food choices for the planet:

1. Eat Smart: Learn what's in your food, where it came from, and who it impacts.
2. Eat Local: Where possible, buy food that is in season from local food producers.
3. Eat Sustainably: Eat sustainable seafood — one of the only things that we eat that we still get from the wild.
4. Eat Green: Eat more fruits and vegetables — it's good for your health and the planet's.
5. Eat Out: Join us in the Picnic for the Planet!

To participate in Picnic for the Planet, people can choose a location and plot a picnic here: meetup.com/natureconservancy to help spread the word.

Heck, at the very least just head outside on your own and have a private picnic with some good eats.

What's that you say? What should you throw in your picnic basket? Well, chefs around the country (like Mario Batali, Alice Waters, and Eric Ripert) have all offered up their favorite picnic recipes to provide some outdoor eating inspiration.

And if those recipes aren't enough, how about some Filipino Fried Chicken from yours truly?

Chicken Fit for a Picnic

My recipe for fried chicken is a very simple and straightforward one. All I do is marinate some chicken wings in a mix of soy, kalamansi juice, garlic, and pepper. After an overnight soak, I drain the wings from the marinade, then just throw them in some hot oil--no flour, no batter. Not only does the marinade provide a wonderful tang to the chicken, but it also produces a nice mahogany color after frying.

And although my fried chicken is delectable hot out of the frying pan, it's also great when served at room temp, or even cold out of the fridge--perfect chicken for a picnic outside!

Filipino Fried Chicken

Serves 2-4

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup kalamansi juice, or lemon juice
4-5 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2-3 pounds chicken wings
Vegetable oil, for frying

Combine the soy sauce, kalamansi juice, garlic, and pepper in a medium bowl. Place the chicken wings in a large zip-top bag, then pour the marinade into the bag. Marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator.

The next day, drain the chicken from the marinade. Pour oil into large skillet until the oil reaches a depth of 1/4-inch. Heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees F. Working in batches, fry the chicken wings in the oil for 3-4 minutes per side.

Comments

[pleasurepalate]

That fried chicken looks awesome! I'm going to make that. :)

[BurntLumpia]

Thanks abbey. Hope it turns out well for you.