Hi, Paul-
When I pan fry chicken, I don’t dip the chicken in any liquids at all, such as buttermilk, eggs, etc. I mix seasonings, spices, herbs, etc, with flour, and dredge the chicken in this dry mixture only- no buttermilk, etc. Everyone- from my recently passed father, who could eat a small farm’s worth of fried chicken, to my wife, friends, and myself, all prefer, or preferred it over any fried or broasted chicken that we’ve ever had! Wow- thinking about the times we had my dad over for my fried chicken are really making me miss him! He sure could make someone feel good about the food they prepared for him! I know that he is so much better off, but I still miss him like crazy! I can remember like it was yesterday the times we would take him to a local restaurant that had all you can eat beer-battered fish on Friday evenings. I’m not lying- every time, he’d eat so much fish, I was afraid they may ask us to leave! Each night, he’d eat 12-14 fish fillets, along with some fries and coleslaw! As much as he enjoyed my chicken, I couldn’t hold a candle to his beloved fried fish!
BTW- I always use canola oil, and have never missed the lard, or "less healthy" frying alternatives.