MAIN COURSE DISHES/ BUD AND BILL'S CATCH OF THE DAY...PERCH

                  BY BUDDY AND BILLY RICKETTS

What could be the best Father's Day gift... one might say, fresh Perch!

Caught, cleaned and cooked the same day...that's how Buddy and Billy do it!

A cooler full of fresh perch.

Back from a 5:00 a.m. catch.

Happy Father's Day Dad!

 Filleting is a learned technique.

Practice makes perfect and
Bud is a master at it!

Billy gives cleaning and filleting

a try!

Once fish are cleaned and washed, let's head in to the kitchen and fry them up.

Place 1/3 cup of cooking oil in cast iron fry pan.  (use whatever you like, Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil, butter)

Heat up oil in pan to medium/high heat.

Get three bowls, one with some milk, one with a beaten egg  and one with fish coating.  Now when we say fish coating this means either, breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, cornmeal, flour, whichever you prefer.  There are several fish fry batter mixes you can purchase at your local store.  This time, Billy used Ritz Crackers crushed up real fine.  Billy can fry up some excellent fish!

Next dip your fish in the milk, then the egg and roll the piece of fish in cracker crumbs.  Fry in med/high hot pan til golden brown, then flip over and fry the other side.  3 minutes on each side should do it! 

Get ready to sit down and enjoy one great meal, especially if someone made up some coleslaw and tartar sauce!

Special note:  This recipe was not in the original printed version of the cookbook, but a recipe and story this good, well we just had to add it in!   Hope you enjoy a fish fry as much as these brothers!
Father's Day weekend - 2012