Talk of the Town: What are those 11 secret herbs and spices anyway?

Did you hear the latest? The secret recipe is on the loose at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Well, sort of. Col. Harland Sanders’ handwritten recipe of 11 herbs and spices was removed earlier this week from safekeeping at KFC’s corporate offices for the first time in decades.

According to our news-gathering friends at The Associated Press, the temporary relocation is allowing KFC to revamp security around a yellowing sheet of paper that contains one of the country’s most famous corporate secrets.

The brand’s top executive admitted his nerves were on edge despite the tight security he lined up for the operation.

“I don’t want to be the president who loses the recipe,” KFC President Roger Eaton said. “Imagine how terrifying that would be.”

So important is the 68-year-old concoction that coats the chain’s Original Recipe chicken that only two company executives at any time have access to it.

The company refuses to release their names or titles, and it uses multiple suppliers who produce and blend the ingredients but know only a part of the entire contents.

Now you can make your own KFC.

Plenty of cooks have proposed their own fried chicken recipes that they say rivals KFC’s. Here’s one example by Angela Harris, whose family lived 30 minutes from the original KFC restaurant in Corbin, Ky.

The following is what she says might be in the secret coating.

Copycat KFC Original Chicken recipe

2 envelopes tomato soup mix, preferably Lipton Cup-o-Soup brand

2 envelopes Italian dressing mix

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons dried chervil (optional, but makes a huge difference in taste)

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon powder

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon tarragon

1/2 teaspoon sage

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 cups pancake mix, preferably Bisquick brand (self-rising flour can be substituted, but won’t taste as good)

The fried chicken coating is enough for a whole chicken, cut up.

Soak chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least one hour in the refrigerator.

Remove chicken from buttermilk and roll in the chicken coating mixture above.

Let chicken sit at room temperature while waiting for the oil to get hot.

Deep fry if possible for the most authentic copy of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe.

If that is not possible, use a cast iron skillet.

Do not crowd the chicken when placing into the skillet.

Use lard or shortening if you really want that original Kentucky Fried Chicken taste.

If you’re making this chicken recipe, chances are you weren’t looking for low-fat, healthy recipes.

Brown the chicken in the skillet on high heat.

Then turn down the heat and cover the pan.

Cook until the fried chicken is done, about 30 minutes.

During the last 5 or 10 minutes, uncover the pan and turn up the heat.

This will crisp up the fried chicken. Be careful not to burn the chicken during this last step.

Remove the fried chicken and drain on paper towels. Serve while still hot.

Next week, Sept. 15-22, is Constitution Week, marking the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the guardian of liberties that established the United States of America as a self-governing nation dedicated to the rule of law.

As the cornerstone of our freedoms, the Constitution was written to protect every American from the abuse of power by the government.

To highlight the occasion, Russ Symes, president of the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council, has proclaimed next week as Constitution Week in Green Valley.

The proclamation was signed at the request of the Madera Canyon Chapter of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.

Witness for the signing was Bettie Thayer, vice regent, Madera Canyon Chapter, NSDAR.

Public Law 195 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the president of the United States designating Sept. 15-22 as Constitution Week.

According to the proclamation, the purpose of Constitution Week is to “ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals the framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.”

Thayer said that in honor of Constitution Week, a copy of the proclamation will be on display in the Conrad-Joyner Green Valley Library and a copy of the Constitution is available for library visitors to read.

The Daughters of the American Revolution started the tradition of celebrating the Constitution many years ago.

In 1955, the Daughters petitioned Congress to set aside a week in September annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week.

The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Thayer said NSDAR chapters pursue three major goals—historic preservation, promotion of education and patriotic endeavors.

For more information about DAR and its programs, visit www.dar.org or call (202) 628=1776.

For more info on the Madera Canyon Chapter, call Vice Regent Bettie Thayer at 648-7952.

And now, KFC’s copycat cole slaw recipe:

8 cups finely diced cabbage (about 1 head)

1/4 cup diced carrots

2 tablespoons minced onions

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

Cabbage and carrots must be finely diced.

Pour cabbage and carrot mixture into large bowl and stir in minced onions.

Blend remaining ingredients until smooth.

Pour over vegetable mixture and mix thoroughly.

Cover bowl and refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving.

Eat it all up!

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740