How to Cut Up a Chicken- Just like Mawmaw

Growing up, I can remember many days standing in my Mawmaw Walls'
kitchen on the stool Pawpaw made out of tin cans.  Thinking back now
of that time in my life, just brings all of those amazing smells of her cooking
back to me.  I loved spending time with her in the kitchen.  I would
sometimes be torn though, as whether to stay with her and cook or be outside
with Pawpaw.  Decisions, decisions, as a child it was so hard to decide and
you know it has not changed for me now that I'm older.

But one of the memories I have is of watching her cut up a chicken.  She
made it look so simple and easy.  It was snip snip, cut cut, and done. 
Now, I know this may seem crazy but I don't have a vivid memory of my mom
doing this at all. (I think I may have to ask her about that.)  But even
though I watched Mawmaw do this many many times, I never did it.

I had not really thought about it and to be honest, because after I married I
always bought a cut up chicken if I didn't want a whole one.  Until the day
I went to Jennifer's, my roommate from college, and there in her kitchen she was
cutting up a chicken.  Now, some of you may think why was that my ah-Haa
moment........well, when we first started out Jenn (that's what I called her)
was not a wheeze in the kitchen.

Example- the first time she had Gary and I over for dinner after she married
Paul.   Here is how the story goes:  When Gary and I arrive, he goes
off with Paul to watch a game in the den. I find Jenn in the kitchen starting
dinner.  She had browned the hamburger and was adding the sauce.  In
another pot she was starting to boil the water for the noodles.  She put in
the noodles and we continued to talk. I didn't realize the water was not boiling
yet. A few minutes later, she was like that's not right.  She poured that
one out and started over, as we where talking, she did it again- put the water
in the pot on the stove and threw in the noodles. Not again. Luckily, she had
more noodles.  This time, we stopped talking and concentrated on getting it
right the 3rd time.  We did and had a wonderful dinner and a great evening
together.

So, now you know that when I walked in Jenn's kitchen that day and to see her
cutting up a chicken- I was like I want to do that to.  I got some
instructions and with practice, I got it down just like Mawmaw.

Now, if you don't know how to cut up a chicken yourself and want to learn, it
is real easy.  Follow these simple instructions and after a few practices
you'll be just like Mawmaw Walls snip snip, cut cut and done.

Now let's get started:
So grab a  heritage chicken, a cutting board, and a sharp knife, and you
are ready. (if you have kitchen shears they work great- that is what I usually use)


Step 1: Place your chicken on its back on the cutting board.
Step 2: Using a sharp knife, slice the skin in between the drumstick and body.
           Pulling the leg away from the body of the bird.
           Find the joint and pop it out of it socket with your hands.
           Finish the cut to remove the leg and thigh  from the body.
           Cut through the joint between the thigh and the leg.
           You can also use your hands to pop this joint out of its socket first.
           Repeat on other side.
           You should have 2 legs and 2 thighs.
 Step 3: With the chicken on its side, pull the wing away from the body.
             Cut through joint and remove wing.
             Repeat on the other side.
             You should have 2 wings.
 Step 4: Starting at the rear of the bird,
            Slice down each side of the ribs.
            Continue to cut to remove entire  spine.
            (SAVE THE SPINE- this is a great piece to use for making chicken stock!)
             You should have 1 spine to save for stock. 
Step 5: Place knife on the breastbone and apply pressure to cut the breast into two halves. 
           You should have 2 breast.
 
Yay!!! You are done.
 
Now, that was not to bad now was it?!..........you should have 8 pieces of
chicken to fry, roast or grill. Some people will stew them but for me if I'm
going to stew it I just put the whole bird in and don't bother to cut it up. 
You should also have a spine to use for stock.  I'll post my stock
recipe for you to use.
 
Now, I have not had my coffee because of working on cutting up this
chicken. 
NOTE: Please be careful when handling raw meat.  Gather everything you
will need before you begin.  Don't answer the phone or have something to
drink or touch your computer to look at the directions after you start unless
you WASH YOUR HANDS!  If you wipe your hand on the dish towel  in
between cutting the chicken with out washing throw it in the dirty towels and
don't leave it out. Yuk!  I want you to be safe, I don't want you to end up
sick or getting someone else sick. 
Hope this is helpful.  Because if you buy a whole chicken you can save
money and I'm all about saving where I can.  I think we will have fried
chicken  tonight now that I have a whole cut up chicken in my kitchen. 
But what will I serve with it.........Well, it is time to go grab a cup of
coffee and go work on my grocery list.