Saturday Fish and Chip Supper

What could be more traditionally British than a Fish and Chip Supper?  Fish and Chips as a double-act has existed in Britain for about 150 years - and this week I had a go at a home made version.  I used sole instead of the usual cod or haddock and breadcrumbs instead of batter.  But, even if I say so myself, the results were delicious.  The delightfully crisp and crunchy breadcrumb casing gave way to the moist and tender fish inside.  Teamed with baked wedges sprinkled liberally with paprika and chilli, the meal was an absolute hit.  Lauren pronounced them the best she'd had - even better than from the local chippy!



Here is the recipe I used:


2 large fillets of sole (skinned)
100g cornflour seasoned with salt and black pepper
1 large egg (beaten)
100g breadcrumbs
2 large baking potatoes 
Corn/vegetable oil for frying
Paprika and chilli powder 

Heat oven to  200°C/400°F/gas 6.

Cut the potatoes into large wedges, place in a roasting tin and brush with a little oil.  Sprinke with paprika and chilli powder. Bake for about 30 minutes until the insides are soft and the outsides brown.


Meanwhile, cut the sole fillets into goujon size pieces.
Put the seasoned cornflour, the breadcrumbs and the beaten egg into 3 separate shallow bowls.
Dip each piece of fish into first the cornflour, then the beaten egg and finally coat in the breadcrumbs.
Heat the oil in a small frying pan, and fry the fish in batches of 3 or 4 pieces at a time, for 2-3 minutes until crisp and golden brown.
Place fish on kitchen paper to remove any excess oil.


Serve up with the wedges, peas or mushy peas and a big dollop of tartare sauce (next time I'll try home made sauce).


Yum !

So you think you know your child?

Of course, I think I know my daughter better than anyone.  But this week I discovered that she has a whole side to her that I have not seen.  It has been half-term, and on Wednesday she spent the day with my mum.  She and mum had a wonderful time together, and mum happened to mention what a great singer and mimic we had in the family.  Lauren had spent the morning writing a little play, and then acted it out as a one man show.  It included singing and dancing, and three of the characters were Alvin, Simon and Theodore (of Alvin and the Chipmunks).  Apparently, Lauren had the voices down to a T!  The dances were ones she had been doing at Upstage (the drama group she goes to) and she took great pleasure in showing them off.  This is a whole different person to the one we see at home.  Normally, if I ask her to show me what she has been doing at Upstage, she just gets all silly and goats around.  So, now I'm looking out for little clues and tells of this "other" Lauren.  I do hope to see her.

It's the weekend

To me, there's nothing quite as relaxing as a leisurely weekend breakfast.  After the frenzy that is Monday to Friday finally comes to a close Friday evening, the weekends are all about relaxing, having fun and the enjoyment of living.  This morning, we sat at the dining table watching the spring rain slicking the garden and splattering the snowdrops and crocuses that have begun to blossom since the winter freeze abated.  Still snuggled in our PJs, we devoured warm, flaky croissants, smothered in the wonderful french preserve I've just discovered.  With orange juice and mugs of steaming tea to wash them down.  Bliss.