Extra-Crunchy Fried Chicken

"Why this recipe works:Preparing a fried chicken recipe at home can be a messy, time-consuming affair. For a fried chicken recipe that could be made at home without the big mess, we brined the chicken in heavily salted buttermilk to keep it moist and well-seasoned. For the crunchy coating, we combined flour with a little baking powder, then added buttermilk to make a thick slurry, which clung tightly to the meat. Frying the chicken with the lid on the pot for half the cooking time contained the spatter-prone oil and kept it hot. We also found that shortening provided the cleanest flavor and least-greasy chicken, while peanut oil was a close second...."