A Drop in the Bucket

The weekend can't come soon enough. Have a taste for Fish n Chips? Me too!

This July has been cooler than most in Michigan. At night the temps have gone down in the 50s F. Adds for back to school showed up 2 weeks ago. Everything seems so pushed these days, does it not?

Since it’s Friday, Fish n Chips is on my menu and I’d like to share this simple recipe with you. See if you like it as much as I do.

English Pub Style Fish n Chips

What you’ll need:

For 2 people you will need at least 1 1/2 lbs. of Walleye fillets and for 4 people you will need around 3 lbs. For 3 or 4 lbs. of fillets you will need to double the recipe for the batter.

1 cup of flour (all purpose is fine)

1/4 cup of corn starch

3/4 to 1 tsp. salt

1/4 to 1/3 tsp. black pepper

1/8 tsp. onion powder

1/8 tsp. paprika

3/4 to 1 cup ice cold club soda

1 egg optional

*You can use Cod, Halibut, Lake Perch, or White Fish if you prefer. We like Walleye because Cod sometimes lacks flavor and slight sweetness Walleye gives.

I usually get fillets of Walleye which are 2 large pieces and take the skin off with a very sharp knife. Lay the fish flat with the skin down and its flesh up. Run the knife along the skinniest edge to the fattest end. Press your fingers down by the tail end and start with your knife to cut through the flesh and angle the knife to glide it through to the other end. Take a pair kitchen scissors and run your fingers down the fillet feeling for bones. There should be some at the belly’s edge and some along further up its width. Be extra careful. Take the scissors and cut along lengthwise to discard the bones at the belly end, then, cut along lengthwise where you felt the bones towards the side of the fish. Now cut away around a 1/4 inch of the bones away from the fish. Next, cut the fish into around 3 inch pieces. Rinse them lightly and pat them dry gently.

Take a pie plate and a bowl. In the pie plate place the 1/4 to 1/2 cup of corn starch. Into the bowl place the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, onion power, baking power stir with a whisk or fork to spread out the seasoning evenly. Now add 3/4 cup of the ice cold club soda add 1/4 cup more if needed. The batter should not be as thick as pancake batter. A little bit thinner.

Using a good stainless steel frying pan around 10 inches, pour around 2 cups safflower oil, or sunflower oil and heat on medium high for 8 to 10 minutes. The oil should be around 360 to 375 degrees. Depending on the battered fish thickness cook the fish for around 3 to 3 1/2 minutes per side. If the fish is 1/2 inch only cook it for 3 minutes per side. For 3/4 to 1 inch 3 1/2 minutes to 4 minutes per side. When you are placing the fish into the oil. Kind of trail it into the pan. Take a steel spatula and loosen it from the bottom right away. Press the spatula to the bottom of the fry pan it should loosen easily. After 3 minutes check if the fish is a nice golden brown. Turn it over if it is. In 3 minutes more it should be done. Test a piece to see if it flakes with a fork. If not, give it another 30 seconds or so.

Now for the Chips (Fries)

Take 2 or 3 big Idaho or Russet potatoes and peel them. Cut them length wise into planks and then slice each piece into a fry shape. Take all the fries and submerge them into a large bowl and cover with cold water. Place them into the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Get a stainless steel pan with high sides, or a Dutch oven and pour around 3 to 4 cups of oil. Drain the fries and pat them down well with paper toweling. Divide the fries into 3 piles. Heat the oil on medium high for 8 to 10 minutes submerge 1 pile of fries and watch them. After 6 minutes, take them out of the oil and place on a cookie rack. Fry another batch and do the same procedure. When the third batch is done, take the first batch fry to a golden brown it should only take a minute of two. Place the fries onto another cookie rack with paper toweling. Sprinkle with Lawry’s seasoned salt and pepper.

For the vegetable, corn on the cob goes nicely.

Take 4 shucked corns and place them into a pot and submerge with cold water. Add a tablespoon of salt. Table salt, not kosher. If kosher is all you have, add 2 tablespoons. Add a table spoon of sugar. Turn heat onto high and allow to boil 16 to 23 minutes depending how crunchy you like it and how old it is. Young corn does not take as long.

Cocktail sauce

Take a cup of Heinz Cocktail sauce and place in a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup of ketchup. Stir well. Serve cold with the fish.

*Now, I have a friend who uses pancake batter and batters her fish with that. While it’s good, it really tastes like pancakes with fish at the end. But, it’s easy to do if you’re in a pinch. Just make sure to salt and pepper the batter and not make it as thick as pancake batter.

PS. When buying fish look for the freshest bring it home and use it that day, if not, you can use it the next, but first follow these steps. Take an 8 by 8 or a 9 by 13 dish and place ice into the bottom. Enough ice to cover the bottom and have at least an inch deep of ice. Place plastic wrap on top of the ice. Then place a piece of paper toweling. Rinse the fish off and lightly pat it dry. Place the fish on top cover with plastic wrap and use the next day.

PSS. If you like this recipe or if you have any questions, please ask. Thank you.

PSS. You might want to have a nice glass of Long Island Ice tea to go along with your meal. I don’t know how to make those sorry. lol

You know what might be fun? How about if you make a greeting card for someone. Anyone you choose. Put some color into it, or not. Write something nice. Write your heart out. Send love, send wishes, send kisses, of wishes of something naughty I couldn’t even write here. But, you get the idea. Then write: RESPONSE NEEDED ESPECIALLY FAVORABLE RESPONSES and see what happens. It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s day to send your heart thoughts and it doesn’t have to be to a lover… Although, I’d really appreciate hearing of those and what happened.

Today, I miss Robin Williams a lot. He was such a dear and funny person. I, also miss, Marlon Brando. Both men had tragedy in their lives. Robin with his new found dementia and Brando his whole life filled with the agony of have 2 drunkard parents, 2 children dying of gunshot wounds. I hope they’re resting in peace and have God’s glory and love around them.

Which brings me to think about all the lives we have lost this year and last, and of years past. People just like us who had a full life ahead of them, yet, death took them. It brings great sadness to know they went before their time. Covid-19 and Delta have done such damage. Let’s not let the rampage of disease defeat us. WEAR YOUR MASKS, please. Carry a spare and give one if you see someone needs one and it doesn’t look like they’re mean people who’ll punch you in the mouth.

Closing thoughts and good wishes.

If there was ever a reason to throw a kiss, it is now.

If there was ever a reason to forgive someone do it now.

If there was ever a reason to forgive yourself, do it first.

If there was ever a reason to release your worries, carries, frights, do it somehow.

And, if there was ever a reason to thank someone, do it as soon as you can because you will make their day and bless yourself too.

Try it, you might like it.

Now look in a mirror and look your self in eye and say I am thankful and glad to be alive. And, I’m with you.

A little bird was dancing to the song that was playing on the radio.

It entertained me so.

Two more little birdies joined in and the dance began.

They started bobbing their heads and tweeting to the jam.

It brought a little bit of joy to observe.

Them all dancing at the side of a curb.