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FRIED FISH AND HUSHPUPPIES

from Mark Nesler, singer/songwriter
Fried fish:
Ingredients:
Thin white fish fillets (Mark used crappie, also known as white perch)
2 or 3 eggs, depending upon the amount of fish you are frying
1 quart whole milk
Crackers, crushed fine (Mark likes to use Ritz)
Bass Pro Shop Fish Breading or Zatarain Fish Breading
Large zip lock bag (gallon or two-gallon size)
1/2 gallon peanut oil
 
Directions:
1.  Place milk in a large or medium bowl. Cut fish fillets into approximately 2 x 2 inch pieces and place them in the milk to soak.

2.  Break two eggs into a medium bowl and mix thoroughly, then set aside. Place crushed cracker crumbs and fish breading in the zip lock bag, at a ratio of 2/3 cracker crumbs to 1/3 fish breading.

3.  Place oil in a deep pot over medium-high heat. (Mark likes to use a cast iron pot that was a gift from his mom. We hear over and over again that for most kinds of frying, cast iron skillets and pots are best.)

4.  Take fish pieces out of milk and dip into beaten egg, then drop them into the plastic bag of crumbs and shake, coating the fish with cracker crumb/fish breading mixture.

5.  When oil is very hot, fry the fish pieces until golden brown. Do this in batches, because the fish doesn't cook as evenly in a crowded pot. Remove fish and drain on paper towels or brown paper bags.

Serve with hushpuppies. 
Hushpuppies:
Ingredients:
1 can cream style corn
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups self-rising corn meal
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 egg
1 tsp garlic salt
finely chopped jalapeno, to taste
Directions:
You can use the same pot and oil used for the fish, but cook the hushpuppies first or they will taste like fish!
 
1.  In a medium bowl, mix cream corn and self-rising corn meal. Add egg, onion, garlic salt, and jalapeno and mix thoroughly with a spoon. If mixture is too thin, add more corn meal.

2.  Drop spoonfuls of batter into the pot of hot oil and fry until golden brown. You may need to flip the hushpuppies as they float in the oil to make sure they are golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels or brown paper bags.