The Art of Living in Australia Part 28

* 1 Sole--9d.

* 1 teaspoonful of Parsley *

* 4 teaspoonful Bread Crumbs--1/2d.

* 1/2 Small Onion *

* 1 oz. b.u.t.ter *

* 1 gill Good Gravy *

* 1/2 oz. Fat Bacon--1 1/2d.

* Total Cost--11d.

* Time--20 minutes.

Mince the onion, parsley, and bacon very finely, and put them into a basin with the seasoning and crumbs, and mix thoroughly. b.u.t.ter a dish in which the fish can be both cooked and served. Spread half the seasoning on it, wash and dry the fish and lay it on this bed of seasoning; spread the rest of the seasoning on the top, pour over gently the gravy. Cover with a few raspings and put the b.u.t.ter on in tiny pieces. Put it into a quick oven and bake from 15 to 20 minutes, according to the thickness of the fish. Pin a paper collar round the dish, and serve at once.

FISH HASH

* 1/2 lb. Cold Boiled Fish--4d.

* 1/2 lb. Cold Boiled Potatoes *

* 1/4 of an Onion--1d.

* 2 oz. Fat Bacon--1d.

* 1 teaspoonful Parsley *

* 1 oz. b.u.t.ter *

* 1 gill Milk or Gravy *

* Pepper and Salt--1d.

* Total Cost--7d *

* Time--10 Minutes *

Flake up the fish free from skin and bone, mash the potatoes and mix them together; season with half the parsley, pepper and salt. Mince the bacon and onion very finely; put them into a frying pan with the b.u.t.ter and fry for a few minutes. Stir in the fish and potatoes and turn about until thoroughly hot through. Pour over the gravy or milk and again make thoroughly hot. Heap on to a dish, and garnish with the rest of the parsley. Serve very hot.

FISH b.a.l.l.s

* 1/2 lb. Cold Fish--4d.

* 1 gill Thick Sauce--1 1/2d.

* 1 teaspoonful Anchovy--1/2d.

* 1/2 pint Melted b.u.t.ter--1 1/2d.

* 2 oz. Fat Bacon *

* 1 teaspoonful Parsley--1d.

* 1 Egg and Pepper and Salt--1 1/2d.

* Total Cost--10d.

* Time--10 Minutes *

Chop the fish, bacon, and parsley finely, and mix them together with the seasoning. Make a thick sauce with 1 gill water, 1 oz flour, and 1 oz b.u.t.ter; flavour with anchovy and stir the fish in. Simmer for a few minutes, stir in the yolk of the egg, and turn on to a plate to cool.

Make up into small b.a.l.l.s, fill a frying pan with boiling water, put in the b.a.l.l.s. Cover over and simmer gently for ten minutes. Dish the b.a.l.l.s in a circle and pour over the melted b.u.t.ter, which has been nicely flavoured with anchovy; garnish with parsley, and serve.

FISH A LA CREME

* 4 Whiting or Schnapper--1s.

* 1 gill Milk--1d.

* 1 oz. b.u.t.ter *

* 1/2 oz. Flour, and Lemon Juice *

* Pepper and Salt--1d.

* Total Cost--1s. 2d.

* Time--One Hour *

Fillet the fish, wash the bones, and put them into half a pint of white stock, and boil them for half an hour. Strain out and mix with 1 gill of milk. Wash the fillets and roll them up, stand them in a stewpan and cook them in this liquor, covering them with a piece of b.u.t.tered paper; they will take about 20 minutes.

Dish them carefully, strain the liquor, and make a sauce of it with the b.u.t.ter and flour by directions given. Season and flavour this and pour it over the fillets; garnish with chopped parsley and red bread crumbs, and serve hot.

FILLETS OF FISH AND CHEESE SAUCE.

* 3 Mullet or Bream--1s.

* 1/2 pint Cheese Sauce--4d.

* 1 oz. Dry Cheese *

* 1 oz. b.u.t.ter *

* Lemon Juice *

* Salt and Pepper--1 1/2d.

* Total Cost--1s. 51/2 d.

* Time--25 Minutes.

Fillet the fish, wash and dry them; put them on to a baking sheet, sprinkle with lemon juice. Put a few little pieces of b.u.t.ter over them; cover with b.u.t.tered paper and bake from 20 minutes to half an hour, according to the thickness of the fillets. Place them carefully on the dish in which they are to be served, pour over them the cheese sauce nicely flavoured with pepper, salt, and parsley. Sprinkle over them some dry cheese, brown in front of the fire, or under the grill if using a gas stove, and serve hot.