Picnic Chicken in a Basket

• flour↗1 cup
• sesame seeds↗1 1⁄2 tablespoons
• dried thyme↗1 tablespoon
• garlic powder↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• onion powder↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• poppy seed↗1⁄2 tablespoon
• salt↗1 teaspoon
• pepper↗1 teaspoon
• chicken drummettes↗2 1⁄2 lbs
• eggs, lightly beaten in a small bowl↗2
• butter↗2 tablespoons
• olive oil↗1⁄4 cup
• round fresh sourdough bread↗1
• barbecue sauce, for basting↗1⁄2 cup
• Herb and Seeds Butter Sauce
• tablespoons butter↗4
• tablespoons sesame seeds↗3
• tablespoon dried thyme↗1
• teaspoon garlic powder↗1⁄2
• tablespoon poppy seed↗1

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400°. In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, sesame seeds, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, poppy seeds, salt and pepper. Dip the chicken drumettes in the flour mixture and shake off any excess. Next, dip the chicken in the beaten egg and then coat each piece thoroughly in the flour mixture again.

2. 2

   Meanwhile, melt the butter and the olive oil in a large skillet. Brown the chicken thoroughly, about 3 minutes per side, over medium heat. Put the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and bake 20 minutes.

3. 3

   In the meantime, to prepare the bread basket, cut a large top in the bread round. Scoop out the inside of the loaf, leaving about ¾ inch of bread all the way around the edge.

4. 4

   For the Herb and Seeds Butter Sauce, melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the remaining sauce ingredients. With a pastry brush, spread the sauce over the entire inside of the loaf and inside of the top. Place the loaf and top on a cookie sheet.

5. 5

   At this time the chicken should have cooked for the 20 minutes. Remove chicken from the oven and brush the drumettes with BBQ sauce and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until done. Also put the bread in the oven at the same time and bake uncovered for 15 minute. Remove both cookie sheets from the oven and put the chicken in the bread round and put the bread top on. Wrap the bread basket in several layers of heavy duty foil, surrounded by several layers of newspaper. It will remain very warm for several hours this way. Enjoy your tailgate or picnic party!