With spring fishing season at hand, we need some recipe ideas

[Phil Lilley]

We had our first fish fry yesterday at church and although it was good, I'm tired of the same old recipe.

With the crappie season almost upon us, share some good recipes with us.

And spoonbill... how do you prepare and cook spoonbill?! I haven't had much luck with it.

I'm trying to eat alittle more healthy... note I said "alittle more". But good healthy recipies would be nice.

I can go to the bookstore and buy a book but I'd like to hear from experienced anglers if you don't mind!

[jcmojo]

Phil,

You may have already tryed this one, but in case you haven't here it is. The wife and I like to broil our's in the oven. It's pretty easy, tastes good and doesn't leave much of a mess. We use a cookie sheet and put foil in the bottom wrapping it around the edges. If you're carefull and don't tear the aluminum sheet, you don't even have to wash the cookie sheet. We melt a little light margarine in the micro-wave and baste each fillet. Then sprinkle on a favorite seasoning, ie: lemon pepper, garlic powder, ect. plus a little salt and pepper to taste. You don't even have to turn crappie. Walleye, might need a turning. We usually pull the fish out after 4-5 minutes and check to see if they flake apart with a fork. If not, return em. Serve with a veggie or salad and you have a very low-calorie good tasting meal.

I've done this same sort of thing in the microwave (just on glass), but I don't think it has quite the same flavor.

JDKehr

[Stuartwp]

If you have one of those electric george forman grills; give both side of the grill a good spray with some non stick stuff like PAM. Put fillets on and sprinkle them with lemon pepper. Its not fancy, but its fast and clean up is easy because there are never any left overs.

[flydude]

My wife and I are kinda doin the healthy kick too. Since I use to work in a restaurant kitchen, I do most of the cooking(experimenting).The best and easiest way I've found to cook a healthy filet of fish is this: Heat a skillet on medium heat till fairly hot and add a little olive oil.Heating the skillet first before adding the oil should keep the filet from sticking.Add some lemon, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and the secret ingredient, Old Bay seasoning to one side of the filet.Put the filet in the pan seasoned side down and season the other side.It only takes a few minutes per side depending on the type of fish.You never want to over-cook fish. Cook it till it just flakes.I've found that Tilapia and Bass are about the best cooked this way. Enjoy!

[Flyfisher78]

The best source I have found for recipes is Food Down Under. They have over 200,000 recipes in their database for any kind of food you can name. At the top of the webpage just type in the name of the food for which you want a recipe and a whole list of different recipes will show.

http://www.fooddownunder.com/

I agree on Old Bay seafood seasoning. I use it on fish, seafoods, in soups and on salads.

James & Black Dawg, Gidget

[jcmojo]

I'm going to have to give the Old Bay seafood seasoning a try. Sounds good, but haven't cooked with it yet. I'm also going to check out the "Food Down Under" web site. We tryed something different the other day on some crappie fillets. I had picked up some Hidden Valley Ranch dressing in the powdered form at Sam's. I sprinkled some of that on the fillets, and it was very good. It is only 5 calories per 1/3 tablespoon in it's powdered form. Very good change of pace. It does tend to want to brown very quickly where the powder is added so keep a close eye on the fillets if you try it.

[gonefishin]

I know it is kind of late but..............

I used to live near Virgil Ward. He used to use crappie fillets to make what he called Crapster. Hmmmmm that looks bad spelled out...it isnt pronounced like it is spelled. Heh heh

Anyway he seasoned Crappie fillets with Old Bay Seasoning then rolled them up and skewered then on a shishkabob stick ..not sure that is spelled right.. He would add other things like small tomatoes, bell peppers, shrimp, bacon and things like that. Then cook them on his grill for a few minutes. He would dip the crappie in melted butter before eating it. It tasted a lot like lobster hence the name. Talk about good....man that stuff would make a puppy dog pull a freight train.