Fish pie

[desperance]

There is any number of recipes out there for fish pie, and I've never felt much inclined to join in, largely because my fish pie is not at all sophisticated. I'm not (you should have gathered by now) scared of elaboration in the kitchen, but to me this is comfort food, and I don't want it elaborate. Fond as I am of shellfish, I don't want prawns or clams or - for crying out loud! - lobster in it. I certainly don't want salmon. I don't particularly want varieties of flavour or texture, that's not what it's about. I want a crispy top, smooth mash underneath, and creamy fishiness at the bottom, and that's all. Sometimes I put mushrooms in with the fish, but even that feels unnecessary, indulgent, inappropriate.

So why am I writing about it now? Only because I made fish pie last night and did the mash half-and-half with potato and celeriac, and it's really nice.



Not fussing with quantities, but peel potato and celeriac, cut into chunks and boil till tender. Mash together, any method you prefer (me, I use a ricer, because I don't want lumps), then mix in butter, salt & pepper.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a pan and add flour - plus mustard flour if liked - to make a roux [NB - you can do this with mean quantities of butter and supermarket flour, but your sauce will be coarse; lots of butter and a fine-grade flour - I use Italian OO - will give a better result], add milk a little at a time until simmering & thickened. Cook out the flour for ten minutes; add mushrooms if wanted. Meanwhile, skin & cube a fillet of cod or other white fish, and a fillet of naturally smoked cod or haddock. Add the smoked fish to the pan, stir it in and bring back to the boil; then add the fresh fish, stir it in and remove instantly from the stove.

Assemble in a grillproof dish - fish on the bottom, mash above, smooth it off and run a fork over to make little ridges, and dot with extra butter if you were mean in the mash - and then grill until dark & crispy.



So why am I feeling the need for comfort eating? Because it's my book launch tomorrow, and I'd be nervous enough anyway, but I just discovered last night that an unknown number of people and organisations didn't get the e-mail invitation I sent out, and obviously it's too late now. So half my friends don't know it's happening, it hasn't been broadcast through mailing lists or on relevant literary sites, it's not even on the Lit & Phil's own site. Nobody will come. So I'm getting my depression in, in advance, so as not to be too grumpy on the night. Gloom, gloom...

Comments

[hamadryad11.livejournal.com]

I've never had a fish pie. I don't think I've even seen a fish pie. Maybe I should try it sometime.

I hope your book launch is more successful than you're expecting. Maybe some of the people who didn't know about it can still make it. I'm sure that the people who show up will have a great time.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

I've never had a fish pie. I don't think I've even seen a fish pie. Maybe I should try it sometime.

Oh, you should. You definitely should. Like anything with mashed potato at its heart, it exists in that warm, friendly cave-place where nothing bad can get you.

I hope your book launch is more successful than you're expecting. Maybe some of the people who didn't know about it can still make it. I'm sure that the people who show up will have a great time.

Thank you for the support. This is my day for worrying; it's just unfortunate that I do have real material to worry over, rather than just the airy weavings I usually come up with.

No matter. As you say, maybe people will turn up regardless. If not, it's not their fault; I won't have to repudiate all my friends, I'll just assume they never got the invite.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

an unknown number of people and organisations didn't get the e-mail invitation I sent out,

Who? And why? What's their excuse?

And it makes no odds it not being on the Lit & Phil's website, you know, because they never advertise gigs, so people don't check there...

*sigh*

[desperance.livejournal.com]

an unknown number of people and organisations didn't get the e-mail invitation I sent out,

Who? And why? What's their excuse?

Um, their excuse is that they didn't get the e-mail. Why is a mystery to me (tho' there were so many people on the list, I'm wondering if maybe it fell victim to spam-blocking software or some such?). Who - well, people like Bryan, f'rexample. Good people who would otherwise have come, but now can't. I don't know how many; there is no way to learn. I'll just count heads tomorrow, and assume that all those missing are missing through ignorance rather than malice. I'm generous that way.

[mantichore.livejournal.com]

Ah, don't be nervous (yes, I know, easier said than done), they'll know somehow, and they'll show up, and everything will be fine. A new book, that's something to be happy about, not fuss and fret.

Wish I could pop up there, but I'm nailed down in Bordeaux by a couple of translations due any time now (Bester's DEMOLISHED MAN is one), and besides, there is no plane flight that could bring me straight to that launch.

Have fun, behave a bit.

[paul-skevington.livejournal.com]

Is it the book launch for Bridge of Dreams? I only ask because I loved the reading you gave from it at Eastercon. I'll have to see about picking up a copy of it soon!

[desperance.livejournal.com]

That's the book - and thank you (at last, proof positive that there is a point in giving readings at cons - you can so end up feeling as though you're only reading to your friends. But I thought it was smart to mix us up this year, three readers working together, people are pretty much bound to hear something new...).

Uh, sordid self-promotion, but if you did want to buy the book, you can do it from here (http://www.sellingwater.com/), and there's even an opportunity to get it signed...

[paul-skevington.livejournal.com]

If I lived a bit further north then I would definitely go but as I'm a soft southerner I'm going to have to pick it up the traditional way. I agree with what you said about readings at cons. Additional publicity might be the answer to the problem, there is often a general lack of awareness that these things are going on. It's a shame because discovering great new writing should be one of the most important things we do at these events, not to mention having the privilege of listening to the authors read from their own works.

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Dunno who's actually the privileged one - I like reading to people, and am constantly astonished that anyone will sit still for twenty minutes to let me do it - but you don't actually have to come to the book launch to get a signed book; stroll - sorry, scroll - down to the bottom of that page - www.sellingwater.com, wittily reduced from 'Selling Water by the River', which is the series title for the new books - and there are various click-here ways to buy the book, including from Aust Gate whom we love, or alternatively from me. With signature. Bargain...