Sep 9, 2013

Perch Spaghetti

Summer fishing is lazy.

Perch Spaghetti from Ms. enPlace

 
On slow bayous carpeted with duckweed and water hyacinth (which, while pretty, is a horribly invasive plant).


Worms, bobbers, cane poles, and "perch jerkin'."


Maybe a little bit of action from a catfish or alligator gar.


The Boy caught this juvenile gar.


Even a small one has nasty teeth.


But for the most part, summer fishing is quiet, calm.  Perch (bream or sun perch) aren't big fighters.  Often, they hook themselves.

Perch Spaghetti from Ms. enPlace

These pictures show pretty, serene places.

But I could have just as easily snapped photos of litter.  A secluded boat launch turned into a dump site for old furniture, tires, worm containers, other assorted junk and trash.  Instead of moving to get a better view, I could have left the trash floating in the water in the shot.  Beer cans, water bottles, a Doritos bag.  I chose to leave these things out.  Maybe I shouldn't have.  Maybe I should have shown the dirty truth.

Nothing burns me up more than when people jack with our wetlands.  It's something that's been on my mind a lot lately.  Something that keeps me up at night.  Something I wake up at night thinking about.  There are so many things negatively impacting --destroying-- Louisiana's wetlands.  Litter and illegal dumping is only a very small part.  But it's a part that creates more of itself.  It's too easy for people to look at the contents of a dumpster (or what should be in a dumpster) thrown at the water's edge and think what's one candy wrapper more?  Compared to other harder-to-manage issues like damage from dredging, drilling, and draining, litter is much more fixable.  It's not that hard to keep your trash to yourself.

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September's Pantry Party theme is "Fish."  
My pantry ingredients were:
onion, garlic, chicken broth, and spaghetti.
pantry

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This is my dad's recipe.  
He makes a similar dish with oysters.


Print It

Perch Spaghetti
from my dad

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
Tony's Creole Seasoning
garlic powder
1 lb perch fillets
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 rib celery, finely chopped
2 banana peppers (or a small bell pepper), finely chopped
3/4 cup chicken broth
4 servings cooked spaghetti
handful cherry tomatoes, halved
2 Tbsp chopped green onion
salt & pepper, to taste

Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium.  Season the fish with Tony's and garlic powder.  When the oil/butter is hit, add the fish and cook through.  Remove fillets from the pan and keep warm.  Add the onion, garlic, celery, and pepper.  Saute until tender.  Add chicken broth to the pan and simmer for about 8 minutes.  Toss in the cooked spaghetti and the cherry tomatoes and coat with the sauce.  Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.  Divide the spaghetti onto 4 plates.  Divide the fish between the plates, placing on top of the spaghetti.  Garnish with chopped green onion.


Linking with:
Who Needs a Cape?  Linky Jam Hands
Memories by the Mile
Feeding Big
Love Bakes Good Cakes
nap-time creations
Miz Helen’s Country Cottage Photobucket BWS tips button Freedom Fridays
 photo SimpleSupperTuesday_zps93ff0e49.jpg

9 comments:

  1. Oh My Michelle~ This is my kinda recipe! Living on a Lake here in Northern WI, perch is often caught. This recipe will be making an appearance on my table:) Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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  2. Anonymous9/10/2013

    Love your blog! So authentic! And wise words and advice to those who take God's gifts for granted. Can't wait to try this recipe!
    Veronica (Chauvin, La)

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  3. Love Perch ! can be had close by here out of the Sauble River. We had a great feed last Fall.

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  4. Perch is one of my favourite types of fish to eat! My boy caught a fair sized one this past weekend, along with a small mouth bass. There was enough for everyone to have a taste. This looks like a perfect way to enjoy your catch! Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday. Have a great week, Michelle!

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  5. I can't eat fish, but this sounds fantastic using chicken too! I'll have to try this for sure!
    Thanks for stopping by my blog from Tasty Tuesdays! I also have a recipe link up party on Tuesdays, and I'd love for you to share there too (if you want). :) Have a great Tuesday!

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  6. There's no place like home! I like to hear your stories and your passion for Louisiana.

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  7. Looks delicious, Michelle. Really fresh fish makes all the difference in a dish! This spells out yumminess!
    Is that boy your son? He's cute!

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  8. I love your Perch Spaghetti and all that water. Our lake is down 7ft. and we have not fished in a while, looking for rain. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a fun weekend!
    Come Back Soon,
    Miz Helen

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  9. This recipe looks and sounds amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it with Delicious Dish Tuesday - I am featuring you this week on Coping with Frugality (http://copingwithfrugality.com/2013/09/delicious-dish-tuesday-recipe-link-new-look-new-features.html)!!

    I agree about the litter. We live in Colorado and my husband is from Wyoming. Most of the fishing we do is river/stream fishing and nothing makes me sadder than seeing all the trash along the banks. My daughter now brings a bag and gloves with her so we can clean up while we watch daddy fish (she is only 3 so soon she will be out in the river with him)!

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Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments.