Fish&Chips on New Year’s Day

New Year’s Eve in the States is not what it is in Russia: it is much smaller than Christmas, and many people put down their Christmas lights and decorations on December 31st, but it doesn’t mean people don’t celebrate. 

We rang in 2012 at the Embarcadero in San Francisco surrounded by thousands of pot smokers (oh well), with a good bowl of clam chowder (you can never go wrong with it), champagne (thank you, our snack bag!) and amazing fireworks. Not our typical New Year’s Eve but it was an experience. 

Christmas lights @Fisherman's Wharf

Seafood @Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco on New Year's Eve

Us @Embarcadero - 2011/2012

What do people do on January 1st? Sleep in, eat and drink. Well, we did the same and went complete unhealthy with fish&chips washed down with some Guinness. Dave, having English ancestors, absolutely love fish&chips, and I’d been thinking about making it for a while. January 1, 2012, in accordance with my New Year’s resolutions I decided to expand my cooking repertoire and finally make it. 

I followed the video I found on About.com, and cooking fish was super easy. The chips, though, I used store-bought - all my previous attempts making anything like French fries epically failed, so I didn’t want to take any risk this time - will attempt it some day later. 

The overall result was good, and Dave really enjoyed it. We ate it while watching “Anna Karenina” (the Russian version by Alexander Zarkhi). Sounds crazy, I know but this is how people live in an international family - never ending fun. Love it:)

Here is the recipe I followed.

Fish&chips (from About.com)

Ingredients (makes 2 servings):

• 3 russet potatoes
• 1 1/2 pounds cod
• oil
• 1 1/2 cups beer
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Fish 

1. Make the batter for the fish by mixing together the beer, flour, cornstarch, and spices. 
2. Dip the fish pieces into the batter and let any excess drip off.
3. Fry the Fish. Then, gently drop the fish into the oil. Fry the fish for about seven to eight minutes until it turns golden brown. 
4. Remove the fish from the oil with a slotted spoon and let it drain on paper towels.

Chips

1. Prepare the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into evenly sized fries (do not peel). Slice off the long edges of the potatoes to form rectangles. Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch slices, then turn them and cut them again. Prepare the potatoes.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the potato slices and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil. Cover with waxed paper and microwave on high for about six minutes until the potatoes become pliable. 
3. Rinse the potatoes, then pat them dry with a paper towel and let them sit for at least 10 minutes.
4. Fry the potatoes. Pour about three inches of oil into the pot, and turn the burner up to about medium-high heat. We will let the oil get to 350 degrees. When the oil is hot enough, we will add the potatoes, about a handful at a time, and let them fry for two minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the potatoes from the oil and let them drain on paper towels. 
5. After the potatoes are done, turn up the heat and let the oil get up to 375 degrees.

Serve hot with some vinegar and enjoy! 

The next day, January 2, we finally made it to Santa Cruz. It was a nice warm day, and we spent some good 2 hours walking on the beach and embracing the beauty of the ocean. It looks especially mighty in winter time. Pure relax. 

Happy New Year!