I was looking at an article about the whole ex corde ecclesiae thing in the Chronic, and it struck me that one overlooked consequence of the recent changes in Foxboro and Rome is that the guy on the right is now the boss of the guy on the left. Will Benedict16 gently urge the Fighting Irish to return to the single-wing offense? The New Deal and Vatican II are under the gun, so, why not Frank Leahy's T-Formation, too? I keep waiting for Bush to announce a bold new rural delectrification act at a press conference he wraps up by pissing on FDR's grave. But perhaps the Cod is high on beef, and needs to cut back. As it is Friday, fish beef seems only fitting. Love fish beef. The proliferation of these cards is an interesting response. The "go fish/no fish" version has a more euphonious title, but Fish list is good, too, b/c it reminds the Cod of a favorite L7 song. Best is the version courtesy from the California Academy of Sciences, if only for its inclusion of a third kind of fish. "Iffy fish" sounds like what Bertie Wooster might call an unfavored relative. In any case, while the thought of a pinochle-size fan of these cards being de rigeur for a trip to the market is discouraging, there are some good fish among the good fish. So why not smoke some mussels this weekend? Put some alder chips in your Cameron Smoker, throw in as many mussels as will fit, and smoke them until the shells are open and the mussels are firm. Save the juice from the drip pan, combine with melted butter, some wine and shallots. Serve on the half shell, with toothpicks and the juice. It is good with the juice. I bet you could also toss the mussels with some thin pasta and the juice, and that would also be good.
Lady readers of the Cod (those readers of childbearing age and inclination) will also want to pay attention to mercury levels in fish. The good people at Salon explain it all for you:
http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2005/04/18/mercury
Posted by: Skeen | Friday, 29 April 2005 at 03:11 PM
There are a couple more fish lists, but the spam blocker won't let me post the links.
The FDA lists mercury levels for your basic commercial fish types. (No more bluefish for Skeen! Quel horreur!)
And those who eat locally-caught fish will want to look up their state here:
http://epa.gov/waterscience/fish/states.htm
(No more walleye, Wisconsin girls!)
Posted by: Skeen | Friday, 29 April 2005 at 03:15 PM
Questions of food safety or environmental propriety aside, the Cameron smoker does a nice job with swordfish as well. Alder for that as well, naturally.
Posted by: JL | Sunday, 01 May 2005 at 01:56 PM