Fried Chicken

In a medium bowl, mix together the buttermilk and hot sauce. Add the chicken and soak for 20 minutes.

Prep the ingredients per the instructions above.

Make the pork & beans: Dice the bacon into small pieces. In a small saucepan, cook the bacon on medium heat just until tender to render off the fat, not crispy. Turn off heat. Remove the bacon pieces, drain the fat and add the bacon back in. Add the remaining ingredients to the saucepan, mix, and turn the heat back on to medium.

Cook pasta: Fill a saucepan with water. Bring to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions.

Make cheese sauce: In a saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter. Add in the flour and whisk together. Once combined, gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Whisk regularly and when it starts to simmer it will thicken up. Once thickened, remove from heat and add the cheese. Whisk to combine and season with salt to taste.

Heat the oil in a pot or heavy-bottomed cast iron skillet over medium heat, until a pinch of flour starts to sizzle when dropped in the hot oil (but not so hot that the oil is smoking). While the oil is heating, coat the chicken.

In a bowl, mix flour, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Dip the chicken in the flour mixture to coat thoroughly, then back into the buttermilk mixture, and then again into the flour mixture using your hands to pack on flour, coating very well.

Fry the chicken: When the oil is hot, working in batches if needed, add the chicken and fry on one side for 8-10 minutes, then use tongs to turn the pieces over and fry for another 6-8 minutes, until golden brown or until an internal temperature of 160°F (71℃) is reached (to check the internal temperature, carefully remove the chicken from the oil onto a paper towel and probe the fattest part with a thermometer). Once cooked, set on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.

Finish mac and cheese: Incorporate the noodles with the sauce. Keep on low heat until serving.

Add the ingredients for the watermelon refresher (except the mint) to a blender. Blend until smooth. Add the mint for garnish.

Serve the fried chicken with mac and cheese, pork and beans, and watermelon refresher.