Bella's Chicken for Company

Author Notes

I may have mentioned my Bella, my bubbe a few times she was an enthusiastic cook, she made quite possibly the worst chocolate chip cookies of all time,though her cole slaw, apple cake & applesauce with plums were legendary.

And then there was this recipe, the chicken that she'd make the first night Sandy was home from California, or for Rosh Hashanah, or Seder (Seder would be a rather loose interpretation of what happened it was more like here's some matzoh hurry up the soup's getting cold, though to be fair they were communists - they didn't have much patience for religion, but boy did they love a parade).

I have made one small change- that is brining the chicken in pickle juice before marinating it- and I'm almost 100% positive that had Bella known you could do this she would. Now that I think about she always bought kosher chicken, which would have been salt brined already.

This chicken is great cold, warm hot, even after sitting for a few hours in a kitchen that maybe is so hot one would think there was a portal to hell in one of the cabinets. The ideal accompaniment is Bella's Cole Slaw, and Waks' Kasha varnishkes-- that is if you want a glimpse into my childhood-.....

Make sure the room is about 110 degrees, there's ceiling fan on full blast and a small table fan also on high blast blowing right into your ear, the breeze from the fan will not abate the heat but it will be so strong that you'll have to tuck your napkin under your your thigh. The table should be covered in an flowered oil cloth and it should be a little too small so you are always bumping elbows with your brother, the dog should be under the table, she's big enough to trip anyone who gets up much to the dismay of your grandmother who has already accidentally tripped over the dog, who is larger than she is. The doorbell should ring at least 2x and the phone should ring thrice-at least one time it will be some fehkacta meshuga from the place (no one will know what place), one of the visitors will be Danny (Danny was in the camps, he escaped and was part of the Israeli resistance- we think)- Danny will bring a large block of government cheese or a carburetor or maybe a hairdryer he will have a private conversation, then do a shot of slivovitz with your grandfather he should pinch your cheek before disappearing back into the night. The meal should start with matzoh ball soup with lots of fresh dill and finish with apple cake, green grapes, blueberries and cantaloupe and the table should radiate love with a nearly audible ferocity.
—Aliwaks