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1
Put thighs in a large roasting pan or other flat pan that will hold them all in a single layer.
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2
Add buttermilk to cover, cover pan tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 24, turning once or twice.
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3
Heat oven to 250 degrees.
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4
Combine sage, Old Bay, salt and pepper; mix well.
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5
Remove thighs from buttermilk, drain, then sprinkle on both sides with spice mix, rubbing lightly to make sure it adheres.
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6
Put flour and baking powder in a big paper bag and shake to mix.
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7
Working in batches, add about a third of the thighs and shake to coat with flour mixture; remove thighs from bag and repeat with next 2 batches.
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8
Put vegetable oil and bacon in a 20-inch skillet.
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9
Set skillet over high flame; keep an eye on the thermometer because you want to be ready to fry when oil hits about 370 degrees.
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10
When oil is up to heat, remove bacon and drain it to eat later.
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11
Shake excess flour off 1 thigh and add thigh to oil; there should be intense bubbling.
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12
Shake excess flour off half the remaining thighs and add them to pan, skin side down; oil should come about halfway up sides of thighs.
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13
Cook until golden brown on the side facing down, about 7 to 9 minutes.
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14
Flip over and cook until golden brown on the second side, another 5 to 7 minutes.
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15
Remove and drain on a paper towel.
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16
Allow oil to come back up to 370 degrees and repeat with remaining thighs.
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17
They may take 1 to 2 minutes less per side to brown.
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18
Put browned thighs in a roasting pan or a large sheet pan and cook in oven until cooked through with no trace of pink, about 30 minutes.
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19
Remove from oven and serve warm, or wait up to 2 hours and serve at room temperature.
