Fried Fish and Hush Puppies

Back home in Tennessee my grandparents would have a big fish fry every summer and all of our family and friends would come. My grandfather and all his friends would fish all year and save it all for the fish fry. I have so many fond memories of fishing with my grandfather, cooking with him and eating. I lost him several years ago to cancer but my sweet grandmother is still alive and she gave me the recipe they always used for all those years. We always used catfish back home but unfortunately they do not have it here so I opted for red snapper. I was so happy tonight at dinner eating some memories as I like to say. I hope you enjoy these very special recipes of mine.

Hush Puppies:
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 garlic clove, smashed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup green peppers, finely diced
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk

1. In a large mixing bowl add cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, garlic, green peppers and egg, mix well. Gradually add buttermilk until a stiff dough has formed.

2. In a 1-quart saucepan add oil on medium heat. Form dough into golf ball size balls and carefully drop into oil. Cook until golden and drain on paper towels.

Fish:
4 red snapper fillets
1 cup cornmeal
1 egg
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

oil for frying

2. In a small bowl add egg, in another bowl add cornmeal, paprika, salt and thyme, mix well. In a saute pan on medium heat add oil for frying. Coat each fillet in egg and then cover with cornmeal mixture. Carefully place into hot oil and cook until golden. Approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towel. Serve with lemon wedges.

Yields: 4 servings