Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 4-pound chicken, cut up
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons gin (optional)
• 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup parmesan, grated
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Instructions:

Remove and discard the skin from the chicken. Combine the chicken, buttermilk, garlic and gin in a large, resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Heat the oven to 400° and lightly coat a large baking sheet with vegetable cooking spray. On a sheet of wax paper, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan, salt, lemon zest and thyme. Roll the chicken pieces in the coating and place on the baking sheet, bone-side down. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, turning the chicken halfway through, or until crispy and the juices run clear when the chicken is pierced with a fork.