I Love Fish Frys

We are officially in the midst of the season of Lent.  Now, I should preface something right now, I don't exactly celebrate Lent itself, but I still look forward to it every year.  I know, I know, you're all thinking that you should stop reading right now after this proclamation....but, please read-on. 

As many of you know, I was raised in the Lutheran school system in Denver until the tenth grade.  Because of this I am very aware of the Christian calendar and that we should "keep Christ in Christmas" and all those things that we were taught from a very early age.  But there's another element to this upbringing that can shed some light on my indifference and the not celebrating Lent issue...we weren't really a religious family at home and we we're OK with that.  We initially attended Lutheran schools for the education and we stayed because we made great friends and there was such a close sense of community.  We payed our tuition money every year and attended all the required activities until we were "excommunicated" from the Lutheran church (yes, that's my reference to Martin Luther if you're familiar with the history of the Lutheran religion).  Talk about leaving a "nasty" taste in my mouth.


Ever since we were "thrown out" of the church I've had this "bittersweet" feeling about those memories.  Yes, these were some amazing times, with great friends and fellowship.  However, I still have this sick feeling in my stomach as I think back to how committed we were and how quickly and harshly it all changed.  Enough said.  


So, back to the Fish Frys...
When I moved to small town Nebraska I started hearing about these Lenten Fish Frys.  My husband and I first attended one in Valley, Nebraska and it was AWESOME! We didn't know a single soul, but that was fine because we came for the food and only the food.  From what I hear these things are hugh fundraisers for these churches, bringing in thousands over the Lenten season. 

Here's how it goes...you go to a Catholic church on  any Friday night during Lent.  You typically go in the doors, pay the lady with the cash box and then you enter a large cafeteria-style room.  You stand in a very long line and wait your turn.  When you finally make it to the serving window there are a few ladies dishing-up the food who will ask you what you want.  The typical choices are; catfish, shrimp or pollock.  You tell them the type of seafood you desire and they plate it for you with scalloped potatoes and cole slaw.  You'll notice that behind them are lots more volunteers who are actually frying the fish and keeping to large operation afloat. Next, you take your tray of food and go to a long table with various salads and side dishes.  These items are typically made by the other women in the church.  They make these dishes in their homes and bring them to share with everyone at the Fish Fry.  Then you choose your seat.  There are typically many large tables to choose from. 

The best part comes last as you can go to another table where the desserts are.  You pick a dessert from a HUGE variety of choices.  The deserts usually cost extra, but it's a nominal fee for what you get.  Now, here's the crazy part, at least to me it's crazy...they sell beer for you to drink while you wait in line and while you're eating.  In fact, the beer "station" is typically one of the first things you see when you enter that large, cafeteria-style room.  When I first saw this, I was shocked.  The Lutheran churches I grew up in do not promote drinking alcohol at all, let alone in the actual church itself?!  Yes, these are Catholic churches we're talking about here, but still so shocking for me! Doesn't seem right to me, this drinking in the church business, so I don't partake. 

Anyway, the food is really good and fresh and it's just plain fun.  We went to the Tekamah Fish Fry last week and had the shrimp, catfish, potatoes, dinner rolls with butter, side salads and BETTER THAN SEX CAKE! How funny is that? Yes, they were serving a dessert called Better Than Sex Cake. By the way, this  Better Than Sex Cake  is really good and simple to make.

BETTER THAN SEX CAKE

Thank goodness for the season of Lent, the Catholic Church and their need to fund raise. By the way, in case you're wondering, I do know that there's a "bigger" reason behind all this eating of fish on Friday nights in the Heartland. 

Green Chili Heartache

When I met my husband 12 years ago he had never eaten the type of Mexican food that I grew up with.  He grew up just one state away from me and had never heard of "Green Chili."  I figured that this was just him and that it was because he hadn't had much, shall we say.."dietary variety" when he was growing up in his small town in Nebraska.  Once I started visiting Nebraska and other Midwest states, I realized that this was true everywhere I went.  I would go to a Mexican restaurant and scour the menu for "Green Chili" and wound come up empty handed every time.  One time in Missouri my mom asked the waiter if they had "Green Chili."  He looked puzzled and she began to explain it as a sauce with green chilies, pork, onions and tomatoes.  He went to the kitchen and returned with a little bowl of chopped, green chilies and nothing else.  So sadly disappointing...

When I was growing up in Denver I was introduced to Mexican food at a very early age because it was everywhere and it was really good.  I mean really, really, really good.  We would also go to Santa Fe, New Mexico every year and it was the same scenario there...really, really good Mexican food and the Green Chili sauce was flowing like wine. 

So, this Green Chili is one of my comfort foods to this day.  Oh My God, when I eat it, it takes me back.  I can smell the flour tortillas, I think of Tomasita's restaurant in Santa Fe, I smell the burning Sage as we would talk through the Plaza in Santa Fe, buying turquoise jewelry from the Navajo Indians, and the smell of New Mexico Hatch chilies roasting over an open flame. I also think of my childhood in Denver.  I think of Mexican hamburgers (a flour tortilla instead of a hamburger bun) smothered in green chili.  I think of Torres Mexican Restaurant on Federal, also La Loma, Moose Hill Cantina, Hart's Corner Bar, even Taco House.  This Green Chili is available almost anywhere.  Good Lord, did I take that for granted??

Now, I don't have that instant access to my Green Chili or other comfort foods from my childhood.  When you don't have these things anymore, you realize how important these memories are.  You may be thinking, "Green Chili, gimme a break lady!"  But, I will tell you this stuff speaks to my soul, it's about so much more than the actual Green Chili itself.  It's about the memories,  the sounds, the smells and the comfort of my previous life.  I think the comfort is what I miss the most.  This is not to say that I don't feel comfort and contentment in my life now, but it's just in a different way. 

So, once a year when I make it back to Denver, we go to those amazing Mexican restaurants and buy this stuff in bulk.  My mom and I divvy it up and freeze it is various-sized containers.  We try to make it last as long as possible, rationing it and making sure to
not.
waste.
one.
drop.

I do make green chili at home once in a while now.  It's pretty labor-intensive if you fire-roast your own peppers, but worth it.  I have this tiny, little refrigerator magnet that my mom bought in Santa Fe, NM over 20 years ago.  It has a simple recipe on it for

New Mexico Green Chili:

1 Tbsp Shortening

1/2 Cup Chopped Onion

2 Tbsp Flour

1 Cup Chopped Green Chile

1 Cup Chicken Broth

1 tsp Garlic Powder

3/4 tsp Salt

Saute onion in shortening, add flour, cook one minute.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20 minutes.

I refer to this each time, even though I have the basic recipe memorized.  I add sauteed pork, and fire-roasted Anaheim peppers.  I made green chili a few days ago and ate it straight out of a bowl with a few flour tortillas...heaven.   

My Green Chili with Fire-Roasted Anaheim Peppers

My Little Magnet



Oh, and one last thing...my husband now loves this stuff....:)