Please Give Me Something Fried

In these days of high-fiber, low-carbs, low-fat, low-taste diets, don’t you sometimes crave something FRIED?  Sorry, but I do.  So, if I fry something, I usually make it fish because I convince myself fish is a healthy choice.  Hey, it works for me.

Fried Fish

2 pounds of fish fillets

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups pancake mix

1 ½ cups club soda

½ tsp. onion powder

½ tsp. seasoned salt

1 egg

Coat fish fillets with flour.  Lay on a piece of waxed paper for about 5 minutes.  Mix pancake mix with the club soda to the consistency of buttermilk.  Beat in the onion powder and seasoned salt.

Dip floured fillets into batter and drop into 425 degrees F oil in a heavy saucepan.

Brown about 4 minutes on each side.  Arrange on a cookie sheet in 325 degrees F oven until all pieces have been fried.  Serve with Grits and Greens (recipe below) and a tossed salad.

Grits and Greens

3 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup quick-cooking grits

6 T. butter

1 lb. spinach or collard greens or mustards

1 ½ cups freshly grated parmesan cheese

Salt

Pepper

Combine milk and cream in a heavy pan and heat to just under a boil.  Stir in the grits and cook 5-10 minutes, stirring often to prevent scorching.  Remove from heat.

Stir in 2 T butter.  In the mean time, place the greens, still wet from washing in a large skillet (or use frozen-thaw first).  Cook fresh ones in the rest of the butter over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until thoroughly wilted.  Add the greens to the grits.

Stir in parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper.  Can be served as is, or pour into greased casserole dish and top with a little more cheese, then broil.

What’s for dessert? 

My favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 sticks butter

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

1 ½ cups brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1 ½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

5 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ (12 oz) package milk chocolate chips

3 cups chopped nuts  I use macadamia nuts

Cream butter, eggs, and vanilla together in bowl.  In a different bowl, sift together the sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour.  Combine the dry mixture with the egg and butter mixture.  I use an electric mixer.  Add nuts and chocolate chips.

Shape into 1 inch balls, place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Diva Dolores