Monday, February 28, 2011

Fish Chowdah On Ice

The trick with cooking any meal in the wilds is preparation. The more food tasks you can complete at home, the fewer you will have to carry out in less than optimal conditions and the higher your chances of success. This is especially important ice fishing, when low temperatures, high winds and a variety of other factors can make fixing even a simple meal impossible. Below is a fun recipe that is easy and delicious on a freezing cold day.

Fish Chowdah
The night before your big trip to the frozen wastelands, at home combine in a large soup pot:
  • One Large Vidalia (Sweet) Onion
  • Six Large Peeled Russet Potatoes
  • An Ample Sprinkling of Old Bay
  • Three Teaspoons of Salt
  • One Teaspoon of Cracked Black Pepper
  • Splash of Olive Oil
  • Fry and Add 5-6 Strips of Finely Chopped Bacon
Add enough water to these ingredients, to just cover everything. Bring the entire mix to a boil and continue to simmer until the potatoes are soft. Set aside and wait for everything to cool. After cooling add cover and duct tape it in place around the entire outside of the lid. This will keep everything from accidentally spilling and running your meal.

A half-hour before you plan to eat, start up the stove and add:
  • Water if necessary
  • One Small Can of Minced Clams
  • One Small Can of Small Shrimp
  • Two Cans of Evaporated Milk
  • 4-5 Fillets of Perch, Pike, Bass or other Fish You Catch
Let this entire mix come up to a boil STIRRING CONSTANTLY and that is it! This amount should feed 6 hungry ice fishermen with room to spare. Just make sure you bring bowls, spoons, a ladle and a small Ziploc bag containing extra salt (for people to individually season to taste)!

Mint Chocolate Acetylene Appetizers
While everyone is standing around enjoying the mouth watering smells of the simmering fish chowdah, I usually pull out this concoction, which is ALWAYS a crowd pleasing favorite. Using enough “acquired” Dunkin Doughnut coffee cups and lids for everyone, fill each with two heaping spoonfuls of powdered hot coco mix. To this, add enough hot water from a thermos to fill the cups half to three quarters full. Fill the remainder of the cups with Dr. McGillicuddy’s Peppermint Schnapps. Be careful, if this is not drunk fast enough, it will eventually eat through the bottom of the cup!

Take care all and enjoy the final weeks of ice fishing!

More Ice Fishing:
Ice Fish Like a Kid Again
Ice Fish In a Canoe
Great Catch - VIDEO
Ice Fishing For Perch
I am A Fire Starter
Simple Circumstances Resurrect Outdoor Memories

11 comments:

  1. Looks excellent RO!
    Thanks for the chowdah recipe.
    Can't go wrong with cocoa and schnapps. :)

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  2. Thanks guys! Glad you enjoyed!

    Just remember to let the Dok-tah (that is funny btw) settle in the tum about an hour before adding the layer of chowdah on top. :)

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  3. All of that looks awesome. Good for keeping a person warm out there.

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  4. I must try that Chowdah recipe...and the "appetizer", both sounds yummy.

    We must shop at the same place....I have the same glassware for our "concoctions" haha

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  5. Mint Chocolate Acetylene...
    Love it!

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  6. Hey! Your Chow-Dah looks like the picture of a white boat I took in the snow! :) Love the duct tape reference - it is the handyman's secret weapon.

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  7. Great chowder, but the drink has me warm just thinking about it. Great blog. I think I'll follow. If you like fishing, then check out my blog on Vermont fishing. www.bassnvt.blogspot.com

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  8. Jess, JB and Raz, Glad you all enjoyed! Next . . . iced volcano bowls! :)

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  9. Renee, Why did I not see that my "white boat" comment would come back to haunt me. :)

    The only thing more "manly" then duct tape is . . . errr . . . ok give me a minute . . . errrr . . .

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  10. BassnVT, great blog will be sure to follow.

    ReplyDelete

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