Crappie Croquette Recipe

This delicious recipe is a great way to use leftover crappie, as well as bream, bass, salmon or catfish and is one our family has enjoyed for many years. Even people who don’t like croquettes enjoy these when served with various sauces, including cocktail sauce, honey-mustard and others. We’ve served these as tiny croquettes for appetizers or larger croquettes for a main dish.

Ingredients:

2 cups flaked, cooked crappie
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon parsley
Dash of pepper and paprika
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 tablespoons shortening
1/2-teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
2 eggs
4 tablespoons milk
Cracker crumbs

Preparation:

To make croquettes, mix first 5 ingredients until well-blended. In a skillet, make a white sauce by melting shortening. Add salt and flour to make a paste. Then add 1 cup milk, cooking on simmer until the mixture is thickened. Cool. Next combine white sauce and fish mixture. Then chill mixture. Beat 2 eggs with 4 tablespoons of milk. Make croquettes or balls with hands, and dip the meat mixture into the egg/milk mixture. Roll the croquettes in cracker crumbs, dip them back in the egg/milk mixture, and roll them once more in the cracker crumbs. Drop the croquettes into hot oil in a Dutch oven, or use an electric fryer, cook until brown, and dry on paper toweling.

Because fish is low in calories and cholesterol, it makes an ideal main course for people conscious about their hearts, their calorie intake and their health. A complete-protein food, 1/4-pound lean fish supplies a person with 1/2 of their daily protein needs. Fish has all nine essential amino acids required by man, is easily-digestible and contains needed vitamins and minerals. For more than 100 fish recipes as well as more than 100 dishes to accompany fish, click here for the cookbook “Fish & Fixings” (http://nighthawkpublications.com/fishing/fishfixings.htm). John and Denise Phillips will share with you years of experience in bringing their favorite fish to the dinner table in fun and delicious ways. From appetizers to desserts and everything in-between, this book will show you how to make the most of your fresh or saltwater catch of the day.

John E. Phillips

John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.

Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.

The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.

Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.

While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.

Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.

EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.

EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.

WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."