Arkansas’s Date of Statehood – June 15th, 1836
I will be the first to admit that I was a catfish skeptic. I’d only had catfish a handful of times before and I always found it taste a bit…well…muddy. But this recipe made me fall in love with this mild, flaky, white fish that is so tender and moist! Don’t be afraid of the amount of hot sauce in the fish marinade. It isn’t spicy at all after it’s cooked. I loved the green beans too, because it takes a simple CAN of beans and makes it something special. And I love, love, love cooked carrots, so this was right up my alley. YUM!
Tips and Tricks
- When breading nearly anything, I like to put my dry coating in a loaf pan. Since it is deep and long instead of wide, it is easier to get an even coating on whatever you are frying.
- Always drain fried foods on a wire rack placed above paper towels. Draining the food ON paper towels or newspaper lead to soggy breading.
- The key to frying anything is temperature control. Be sure that the temp of the oil stays at the same place. Adjust your stove top temperature up and down to keep the oil consistent.
- If you fish is frozen, the safest way to thaw fish is slowly, in the refrigerator. Home cooks can simply place the frozen fish on a plate or a tray in the fridge and allow it to thaw for about 24 hours. Yes, thawing on the countertop will be faster, but thawing in the fridge will better protect your product.
Fried Catfish
Serves 4
- 2 lbs. Catfish Fillets
- 1 (3 oz.) Bottle of Frank’s Red-Hot Sauce
- 3 Cups Milk
- 1 Cup Yellow Cornmeal
- 1/3 Cup Flour
- 1 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- Peanut Oil, for frying
Step 1: In a large bowl whisk together the milk and hot sauce. Place the catfish fillets in the milk mixture and allow to marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Step 2: Place a large, deep skillet over medium-low heat and add enough peanut oil to come halfway up the pan.
Step 3: While the oil is heating to 365 degrees, remove the fish from the milk. In a loaf pan, whisk together the yellow cornmeal, flour, salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Take the fish and coat each fillet in the dry ingredients. Shake off the excess.
Step 4: Once the oil is heated and the fish is breaded, add the fillets to the oil and fry for 6 minutes, flipping the fish over after 3 minutes, until each side is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.
Step 5: Remove the fish from the oil and allow to drain on a wire rack placed over paper towels.
Arkansas Green Beans
Serves 4-6
- 2 (15 oz.) Cans Cut Green Beans, drained
- 3 Slices of Bacon
- 3 Tbs Brown Sugar
- 2 Tbs Butter, melted
- 3 tsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2: Place the drained green beans in a 9×13 baking pan.
Step 3: Place the 3 strips of bacon on a microwave safe plate and cover completely with a paper towel. Microwave the bacon on high for 2 minutes. Then, lay the partially cooked bacon on top of the green beans.
Step 4: In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, melted butter, soy sauce, and garlic powder until it is thoroughly combined. Pour this mixture over the green beans and bacon.
Step 5: Make the green beans in the hot oven for 40 minutes.
Step 6: Serve warm.
Baked Carrots with Smoked Almonds and Dried Cranberries
Serves 4-6
- 1 lb. Baby Carrots
- 2 1/2 Tbs Olive Oil
- 2 Tbs Honey
- 3 Sprigs of Fresh Thyme, leaves only
- 1/3 Cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/3 Cup Smokes Almonds, chopped
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Step 2: In a large bowl, add the carrots, cranberries, olive oil, honey, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme leaves. Mix until the carrots are evenly coated and the seasonings are evenly distributed.
Step 3: Pour the carrot mixture onto a large baking sheet and place in the hot oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
Step 4: Once the carrots have reached your desired consistency, remove from the oven and sprinkle evenly with the chopped smoked almonds.
Step 5: Serve warm.
Fun Facts about Arkansas: 1. Crater of Diamonds State Park in Pike County, Arkansas, is the only diamond mine that remains active in the U.S., and one of only two ever to operate in the country (the other having been Colorado’s Kelsey Lake Diamond Mine, which shut down in 2002). Today, Crater of Diamonds functions primarily as a tourist attraction where visitors can dig for their own jewels. 2. The first woman elected to the U.S. Senate was Hattie Ophelia Caraway, née Wyatt, a Democrat from Arkansas. 3. Little Rock Central High School was where desegregation began. The army escorted nine black teenagers to their first day of school here in 1957, without incident. The event was noted as being an important moment in the Civil Rights Movement. 4. The World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest is held every Thanksgiving weekend in Stuttgart, Arkansas. 5. Pine Bluff is world’s center for archery bow production.
Edible U.S. 