This week we returned to an old favorite – chicken parm. The new twist was that we broke out the record player to enjoy “Recorded Live at an Italian Party: Chao Chao,” while cooking up a storm. In all fairness, not everyone was equally thrilled with the music selection. For some reason, “Uptown Funk” was not on side one or side two. Who knew? O Solo Mio!
A few years ago, Phil and I opened gifts from each other on Christmas morning, only to find that we had each gotten each other exactly the same thing – record players. I guess we missed the vinyl of our youth more than we realized! We ended up giving one turntable to my parents and keeping the other for ourselves. Since then, we crack it out whenever we’re feeling festive. It made an appearance at Ben’s graduation party, for instance. It served us well this week while cooking, and I’m sure glad that I invested that $1.29 in old-school Italian music at an antique store a couple years ago.
We kept the one I gave Phil.(Dredging) stations of the cross (contamination). Kind of a wild scene. Raw chicken. Raw egg. Lots of ways to go wrong, but frying and baking atones for a multitude of sins. I also wash my hands about a dozen times during the production of this dish. Ben displays burgeoning ambidextrous skills. (This still shot doesn’t quite capture the Muppet Show “Animal” approach of the live version.)Caprese salad. Ben omits some sounds and calls it “Crazy Salad”.This is the look of chicken parm satisfaction.Ben, “The Influencer,” attempts to capture his creation on camera.We know that our chicken parm is a little different, being prepared with chicken thighs by Mennonite Episcopalians in a central Pennsylvania kitchen, instead of “Live at an Italian Party,” but it was good. (It better be, because there are leftovers for miles!)These days, Ben is quite the man about town! His time involves volunteering……hanging with friends……exercising……and recreation.Ben in a boat with a dog. It, literally, doesn’t get any better than this!
E magnifico!
Continue to make us Millionaire proud! We love you. Mrs. Bragalone class
Ben misses you all!