I’m Already Missing Family Dinners with My College Bound Son

My hands operate by memory, pulling salt, thyme, garlic, breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese out of cupboards and drawers and pouring them in a bowl. My mind and body relax as I follow the familiar steps of dredging pieces of chicken in olive oil and then plunging them into the breadcrumbs. Soon the smell of crispy chicken fills the kitchen as I line up toasted buns, pepperjack cheese, lettuce and sriracha mayo with the precision of an artist setting up a still life.

I’ve made this dish almost ev...