Down-Home, Southern Dishes, On A Budget

Catfish On The Menu As Chef, Author Martha Hall Foose Preps Meal For Four

(CBS) 

Paper Sack Catfish

4 teaspoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
4 (6-ounce) U.S. farm-raised catfish fillets, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 sprigs fresh dill
1 lemon, sliced into 4 rounds
4 lunch-size paper bags

With nonstick cooking spray, lightly spray all over the outside of the paper bags.

Cut six 8-inch lengths of butcher's wine. Set aside.

Adjust the racks in the oven, placing one in the lowest slot and one in the middle position.

Preheat the oven to 350º

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter with the garlic, salt, oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

Place the catfish in a single layer in a dish. Pour the sauce evenly over the fish, and then sprinkle with the pepper.

Place one dill sprig and one lemon slice on each fillet.

Gently slide one fillet into each paper sack.

Gather the mouth of the bag and give it a twist, then tie with twine.

Place three bags on a large rimmed baking sheet and the other three on another baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes, halfway through reversing the pans.

Serve immediately, placing an inflated sack on each dinner plate.

For maximum effect, slice open the bags at the table.


Delta Peas and Rice

2-1/2 cups frozen black-eyed peas
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium white onion, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups diced, peeled ripe tomatoes
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 cups cooked long-grain white rice
¼ cup minced parsley
Fresh ground black pepper

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the peas, 1 teaspoon salt, and enough water to cover.

Simmer the peas over medium-low heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain the peas and set aside.

Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat and add the oil and onion.

Cook and stir the onion for 5 minutes or until tender.

Add the garlic and continue to cook for 1 minute.

Add the tomatoes, thyme, vinegar, sugar, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

Add the black-eyed peas and simmer for 15 minutes.

Stir in the cooked rice and parsley.

Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.


Lemon Icebox Pie

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
4 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups heavy cream
6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

In a medium bowl, combine the crumbs, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter.

Pat into a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan and bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until slightly browned.

Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the milk, yolks, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

Pour the lemon filling into the cooled crust.

Baked for 10 minutes, until set.

Cool on a rack. Chill the pie for 30 minutes.

When the pie is completely cooled, whip the cream with the confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form. Mound the whipped cream on top of the pie and chill for 1 hour.


So, how did Foose do with out $40 budget?

1ST COURSE
tea bags $3.29
lemons $1.00
mint .69
watermelon $1.19
cantaloupe .99
green onions .66
jalapeno .16
ancho chile powder .99
cilantro .89
basil $1.49
lime .25
tortilla chips $2.89

2ND COURSE
garlic .39
lemon .50
catfish fillets $7.49
dill .89
black-eyed peas .75
white onion .56
tomatoes $2.09
thyme leaves $1.49
apple cider vinegar .89
white rice $1.19
parsley .69

3RD COURSE
graham crackers $2.19
condensed milk $3.18
lemon .50
heavy cream $1.19
confectioners' sugar .99

FINAL COST = $39.47

[mswolfestock]

The prices for some of the individual items are way, way low. Twenty-five cents for a lime is a great price. I have to pay seventy-nine cents for a lime at my grocery store.

The point is I would probably pay at least $10 more for this meal if I was dumb enough to waste my time trying to do it.

And forget about the paper sack thing. Tootall 10142 has the right idea - cooking smaller-sized whole fish or fish portions in foil is the way to go.

And the sweet tea thing . . . . . sheesh! I''m not even a "real" southerner and I know that nobody does tea that way. Boiling water goes over the tea bags (any brand except Lipton, thanks) in a pitcher. Stir in the sugar. Add cold water to the pitcher; don''t put it in the fridge until it''s at room temp so you don''t get the fridge all warmed up. Am I right, y''all?

[bobsfox66]

I have to feed 3 adults on $40-50 a WEEK! If we spend $40 on one meal, it''s the RARE occasion we get to eat out at a nice restaurant. sheesh!

[deweyhowe]

"You best get use to everything on a budget after eight years of pilfering and plundering of the U.S. treasury by republicans to make Haliburton and Bechtel richer. No child left behind? Try no multi-billion dollar corporation left behind. Republicans don''''t give a hoot about educating our children."

WOW, some people are so crazy that they need to let it out everywhere, to everyone, without even the slightest pretense at discrimination. They are wrestless, friendless, paranoid, see political intrigue everywhere, even in a bunch of steamed catfish. Sheesh.

[cyberus-2009]

The pie has 10 ingredients and the "cost" list has 5 ... doing government math again to come under budget again CBS?

[skeezix06]

Chef on a shoestring?

How many of us do you think spend $40 to make a three course meal for 4?

Hint: Try few, very very few.

[erasmus81]

"Watermelon Salsa"

What''s up with having fruit and green onion together?

I went to a party once and someone had made something like this with the two of them together. I thought I was going to throw up.

[gawoman]

Waht a strange and complicated way to make sweet tea! None of my family or friends would use such a complicated process - not even the young ones who like to brew tea in the microwave. Tea is usually steeped for 5 to 10 minutes in water that has been brought to a boil. Then the hot tea is poured into a pitcher and sweetened. Cool water is added and the mixture served over ice. I''ve never seen mint added to iced tea, but that may be common in other parts of the south. Some of the other recipes do sound good.

[tootall10142]

Catch and clean one large catfish,go outside pick wild onion from pasture or yard,wash and chop fine.crush one half clove of wild garlic.one medium slice of lemon.light salt and pepper.place all ingredients inside catfish,wrap in foiland place above hot coals or place in oven.athree pound fish will cook in about 20 minutes on grill or 20 to thirty in 350 degree oven.

[yongamerica]

This is a home run. Thanks