Like most people, especially those from the South, I like fried chicken.  I remember the first time that I made fried chicken.  My ex-husband loved it and trying to impress him and make one of his favorite dishes, off I went to do my magic.  I cooked it on the stovetop and it was some pretty looking chicken!  I was quite proud of myself until we sat down to eat and it was raw near the bone.  When I say raw, I'm talking bloody.  I locked myself in the bathroom and cried.  That was sixteen years ago and I vowed to never make fried chicken again.

Of course, I've made it again and I now make some pretty good fried chicken that's cooked through.  However, I try hard to stay away from it because we all know that all that oil/grease goes straight to your hips and other unflattering areas. 

If I can, I prefer my chicken baked.  I've got several recipes that are baked that are equally as good but much healthier due to the cooking process. 

I decided to try this recipe I found online at Allrecipes for Crispy Baked Chicken.  It had a great! It had a flavorful crispy outside but was nice and juicy on the inside.  Oh so good~  And I didn't feel bad about it (now the cookies I baked and taste-tested, that's a different story).

Crispy Baked Chicken
adapted from Allrecipes

1/2 cup corn meal
1/2 cup flour
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
5 chicken legs

1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup melted butter

Mix the first 7 ingredients together.  Take the chicken legs and dip into milk and roll in the corn meal mixture.  Lay on a baking sheet sprayed with non stick spray.  Drizzle melted butter over chicken.  Bake on 375 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes or until juices run clear.