We interrupt this story…with another story.
I was diligently working on writing the detailed version of the rogue bean-counter story when I was reminded of something that happened earlier this year. This is another cooking story. Last fall another of our friends, #RanchMan, connected with a crappie fishing guide on Lake O’ The Pines named Les Milligan.
Les is a tournament crappie fisherman that also guides. He introduced us to the Garmin Live Scope or what I call video game fishing. You basically watch the screen until you see a fish, then you watch your bait fall until it is right in front of the fish and then you watch the fish eat your bait and haul it in. Les is so good at this that he tells you when to drop your line, then moves the bait with his trolling motor until the fish has no option but to eat.
Well, to say the least, we, were successful. #RanchMan, #RawButt’r, and #TheOldManInTheWoods brought home bags of filleted crappie all ready to eat. We made three trips, and after each trip, one of us had a fish fry.
We Interrupt this story again!
So… before we get to the cooking story, let me tell you another. On the last trip I made with Les, neither #RawButt’r nor #RanchMan could go. Work or something got in the way. I’m so over that – thanks be to God! Anyway, we had a trip booked with this amazing guide and I was the only one that could go. Time to work the phones. #OldAg came through. This guy and I are brothers that just didn’t meet until we were old – he is always up for a fishing trip. So we were set to meet Les.
We showed up at Lake O’ The Pines at sunrise and Les already had his boat in the water. He got out of his truck and the first thing I noticed was that he had a bandage around two fingers of his left hand. He said, “I may be a little slow today – I almost died yesterday.” Huh!!?!
So… Les had been fishing the day before with two clients. He uses this thing called a dub-l-seat that allows two clients to fish beside him while he controls the boat. One of the guys got his line all tangled up and moved to the back of the boat to clean it up. Les decided he would go help him and put the spot lock on his trolling motor.
Well, he got back there and started untangling the line. He threw the bait over the side and was working on the line when it tightened up around those two fingers. Turns out, the other client had decided to try to move the boat and had dis-engaged the spot lock. The wind was blowing pretty strong and had blown the boat. The hook that Les had thrown out of the way had gotten caught on a stump and was quickly cutting into his fingers.
He moved to the back of the boat to get some relief and try to untangle his fingers, but by the time he got there the boat had moved further and he was still being pulled toward the water. At this point, it was jump or be pulled in.
In the water, Les was able to cut the line, but the boat was moving farther away every second. I probably didn’t mention it, but this was in January and the water temperature was in the 50’s – this is dangerous. The clients on the boat tried to use the trolling motor to get closer but were unfamiliar with it. Finally, they gave up and started the main motor. By this time they were separated by more than 100 yards. Fortunately, they were able to get close enough that he could get back on board and head to shore.
So thankfully, we were able to fish with Les only slightly the worse for wear. After another good day of fishing, #OldAg and I headed home. Lessons learned:
- Always – ALWAYS have a throwable life preserver with enough line to get someone back to your boat and make sure everyone knows where it is.
- If you’re on an unfamiliar boat as a guest – don’t operate the equipment unless you’re told to do so.
Back to the cooking
When our turn to host the fish fry came around, #ShoppingBeauty and I decided we would have it at Lake Cherokee. We had an electric fryer I inherited from my father-in-law and a large cast iron dutch oven I planned to use. Just need to get my ingredients together and we’re ready.
When I’m planning to cook something anywhere outside our house, I usually put the main ingredients together ahead of time. I use ziplock bags to organize dry ingredients and then mix them with wet when it’s time to cook. For fish, I planned to dip them in a flour/spice mixture, then buttermilk, then cornmeal mixed with flour to finish. So, I put together a bag of flour mixed with Tony Chacere’s Cajun seasoning and a separate bag of cornmeal mixed with flour for the third step.
Next, I put together a bag of cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and salt as the dry ingredients for the hush puppies. These I would mix with eggs and buttermilk when it’s time to cook. At some point during this process, I noted that the cornmeal was really coarse – stone-ground is different than regular. No big deal.
So, the day arrived and #ShoppingBeauty and I headed to the lake. We got everything set up and ready to cook. We heated the oil and did a test – I use a thermometer because I like to do things right. The electric fryer heats a little quicker than the cast iron on my grill. OK – we know what to do and what to cook first. So, we mix the wet ingredients and get ready to cook.
Everything is going well at this point. French fries first – potatoes are pretty easy after all. Then it’s time to start with hush puppies and fish. Hush puppies first – and they turn out well but are a little chewer/crunchier than I expected and the taste was a little off – not bad mind you, but different.
So, the potatoes and hush puppies were safely cooked and warming in the oven. Time to cook the fish. I started the first batch while #RawButt’r and #RanchMan were battering subsequent batches for me. Everything was going well until we ran out of the flour/cornmeal mixture for the last step.
I had brought extra in the storage containers we use just in case – #TheOldManInTheWoods is prepared! So, I started mixing it up. A little flour and a little more Tony’s. When I opened the cornmeal container I noticed the cooking instructions were in there. I usually cut this off the box or bag just in case. The only problem was these instructions were for cooking GRITS!!?!
Well, that explains the crunchy texture and slightly different taste I mentioned earlier. At this point, we’re committed to grits. We’re at the lake with no cornmeal after all – scoop out some grits and get to mixing. Of course, by this time #RawButt’r and #RanchMan know what I’ve done and are laughing which means all the ladies know too. I’ll never live this one down.
At the end of the day, everyone survived the fish fried in grits and had a good time. So another lesson learned – always look at what’s in the container even when you know it’s cornmeal.