CORNMEALCRUSTEDCATFISHDESERTSOLITAIREServes4TheoriginsofthisrecipearesaidtohavebeenattributedtoEdwardAbbey,theparkrangernaturewriter,whowasliketheThoreauoftheWildernessMovement.Ononeofhismorechallengingtrips,whilefloatingUtah’sGreenRiver,afterfivedaysandoutoffoodrations,hecreatedthisdishfromtheirreserveofbaconfat,abagofcornmealandcatfishcaughtfromtheriver.HewroteaboutthisinhisclassicbookDesertSolitaire.Thespicy,crunchycoleslawisanicefoiltothesmoky,baconrichtasteofthecatfish—whichshouldalwaysbeservedwithagreatTartarsauce.

410-ouncecatfishfilletscutintwolengthwisealongtheboneline2eggs½cupmilk1½cupcornmeal½cupall-purposeflour1Tchilipowder1TgarlicpowderOptionalherbs,weusedsomefreshoreganofromthegarden½tspsalt2cupsbaconfat

Forthebatter:Inalargemixingbowllightlyscrambleeggsandwhiskinmilk.Inaseparatebowlmix/sifttogetherflour,cornmealanddryspices.Aquartercupatatime,stirorwhiskindryingredientscarefullytoavoidlumps.Whendone,itshouldhavetheconsistencyofpancakebatter,thickenoughtosticktothefishwithoutrunning.Whenreadytocook,spoonthebaconfatintoa12”castironskilletandplaceonthehotpartofthegrillovertheflamesfor5minutes.Thepanisreadywhenthefatisveryhotorapinchofthecornmealcoatingsizzleswhendroppedinthepan.Movethepantothesideofthegrillwheretheheatislower.Dipeachfilletinthebattertocoatonallsides,lettingexcessdropintothebatterbowl.Carefullydropeachfilletintothehotfat.Cookfor2minutesononesideinthepan.Carefullyflipeachfilletandreturnthepantothehotpartofthefireandcookforapproximately1-2moreminutes.Removefromfireandletsettleinpanoncountertoportable.Youcantellwhenthefishiscookediftheendbreaksoffeasilywithaforkorknife.Removefilletsfrompananddrainonakitchentowel.ServeonFireworksSlawandtopwithSpicyTartarSauce.

FIREWORKSCOLESLAW½lbgreencabbagethinlysliced,about4cups½lbredcabbagethinlysliced2carrots,thinjulienneorgrated⅔cupmayonnaise¼cupapplecidervinegar1smalljalapeno,seededandjulienned½cupredonion,thinlysliced1Tsugar½tspsaltInalargemixingbowl,whisktogetherthevinegar,saltandsugar.Stirinthemayonnaiseandblendwell.Addhalfthecabbagemixingwelltocoat.Continuewithremainingcabbage,addcarrots,jalapenoandonion,tossthoroughly.Refrigeratetoletflavorsblend.

SPICYTARTARSAUCE½cupmayonnaiseZestof1lemonJuiceofthelemon½jalapeno,finelydiced2Tmincedredonion4Tkosherpickle,roughlychoppedPlaceallingredientsinasmallbowlandstirtomixwell.Keeprefrigerated.