CHEESY FISH BAKE

This Cheesy Fish bake was absolutely delicious.I am always looking for new ways to prepare fish for my family as the health benefits for everyone eating fish are so well documented that I try and have at least 2 fish meals a week. This is the first time I have ever made this dish but I don't think  it will be the last. 

                            


1 Red Onion, chopped
200g Swiss Brown Mushrooms, sliced
375g can Evaporated Milk
250g softened Cream Cheese, diced
2 teasp. Wholegrain Mustard
500g boneless Fish, chopped
1 cup grated Tasty Cheese
2 cups Baby Spinach leaves
1 cup fresh white Breadcrumbs
300g dried elbow Macaroni Pasta, cooked and drained.

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius. Lightly grease an 8 cup ovenproof 
    dish.

2. Heat 2 teasp. olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Cook onion
    and mushrooms 4-5 minutes. Pour in milk, and add cream cheese and
    mustard. Stir until combined and heat until simmering.

3. Add fish, half the cheese and  spinach. Stir over low heat for 2 minutes.
    Add pasta, toss and transfer to casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese
    and breadcrumbs. Bake for 20 mins. Serve with steamed vegetables.

Need another idea for including fish in your diet...SPICY FISH PIE is a great way to do that!!

Making this Spicy Fish Pie was a combined effort with my 12 year old twin girls who had a lot of fun helping me make this, especially the piping of the potato on top of the dish. Don't let the 'spicy' in the recipe's name put you off either, because the spice comes from the taco mix so it's not too hot for the kids. My children loved this and as you can see from the photo you can be creative as you like with how you decorate it with the potato....this is how we did it, but feel free to come up with your own Mashed Potato Icing creation!!

                                                             SPICY FISH PIE


1 Kg firm White Fish Fillets
1/4 cup Water
50g Margarine
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves Garlic, crushed
1 large Red Capsicum, finely chopped
1/3 cup Plain Flour
2 cups reduced-fat Milk
2 T Lemon Juice
2 x 35g pkts Taco Seasoning Mix
2 T chopped fresh Parsley
1 cup grated low-fat Tasty Cheese
extra chopped fresh Parsley and Parsley Sprig to garnish


TOPPING:-


6 medium Potatoes (1.2kg)
1/3 cup Sour Cream


1. Place fish in a shallow, ovenproof dish(10-cup capacity), add water, 
   cover with foil.


2. Cook in a moderate oven, 180 degrees celsius for about 30 minutes, or
   until just tender, drain. Flake with a fork.


3. Heat margarine in a pan, add onion, garlic and capsicum; cook until
   onion is soft. Sprinkle in flour, stir over heat for 1 minute. Add milk,
   stir until mixture boils and thickens. Add juice, seasoning mix, parsley
   and cheese and fish. Pour into dish.


4. TOPPING:- Boil, steam or microwave potatoes until tender; drain. Mash
    well with sour cream.


5. Spoon Topping into a piping bag fitted with large fluted tube. Pipe over
    fish mixture in dish.


6. Cook in moderate oven, 180 degrees celsius, for about 30 minutes, or
    until lightly browned and hot.


7. Serve garnished with extra parsley.


COOKING HINTS FROM VON:-


* Make sure you check that your packets of taco mix are the 35g each 
   required...mine were actually 50g each so I didn't need to use it all.

Budget Fish Meal....Fish Bake with Potato Topping

This recipe was a real hit with the kids, they demolished the lot so that's usually a sign that they like it, especially when they come back for seconds. I love how easy it was to make and most importantly affordable.

                               

                                                   FISH BAKE with POTATO TOPPING

1 T Vegetable Oil

20g Butter

1 medium brown onion, finely chopped

2T Plain Flour

1 large Vegetable Stock Cube, crumbled

1 1/4 cups hot Milk

400g frozen uncrumbed Fish Fillets, thawed, cut into 3cm pieces

2 cups mixed frozen Vegetables, thawed

500g frozen Potato Gems

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius.  Heat oil and butter in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Add onion; cook and stir for 3 mins. or until soft. 

2. Add flour and crumbled stock cube; cook and stir for 1 minute or until 
  mixture thickens. 

3.  Gradually stir in hot milk. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered 
   for 3-4 mins. or until sauce thickens. Stir in fish and vegies.

4.  Spoon mixture into a 2L (8 cup) ovenproof dish. Top with frozen potato 
    gems. Bake for 20 mins. or until golden brown. 


VON'S HINTS:-


* Another great way to cook and serve this meal is by baking in individual
   ovenproof dishes ( it will only take 15 mins this way).


* This dish serves well with a salad and even though it already contains
   vegies you could also accompany it with other varieties of steamed vegies.

Potato-Crusted Fish with Red Onion Dressing

This recipe is really easy to make and the ingredients are so simple. Whilst the combination of ingredients on paper look odd, one mouthful of the dressing with the fish will have you drooling...and wanting more!


          POTATO-CRUSTED FISH with RED ONION DRESSING....Serves 6.


6 Potatoes
6x 150g Pink Ling fillets  (I just use the 1kg fillets from Aldi for $9.99)
2T olive oil


Dressing:-


2/3 cup White Sugar
1/2 cup White Vinegar
1/2 cup Water
1 small Red Onion, finely chopped.


1. Steam or boil potatoes until par-cooked. When cool enough to handle, peel
    and grate. Lay fish on a tray and top each fillet with grated potato, pressing 
    down to mould over fish. Refrigerate for 10 mins.


2. Meanwhile, make Red Onion Dressing. Combine sugar, vinegar and water in
   a small saucepan. Heat on low until sugar dissolves. Add onion, increase 
   heat and boil for 10 mins, or until syrupy. Strain and discard onion.


3. Heat a frying pan on Medium and add oil when hot. Cook fish, potato-side
   down, for 3-5 mins, until crispy and golden. Turn fish and cook with lid on 
   frying pan for 5 mins, or until cooked through.


4. Drizzle dressing over fish and serve.




VON'S HINTS...


* This recipe goes perfectly with salad but vegetables would be lovely too.


*  The fish can also be cooked on a BBQ.