Bear N Mom - Lent and I don't Like Fish - Alternative Recipes

I'm Catholic and I married an Italian BUT I DON'T LIKE FISH. That in itself is a controversy because when I was growing up you didn't eat meat on Friday, any Friday. Then the Catholic Church got modernistic and made it that you only had to refrain from eating fish on the Fridays in Lent.

I attend and help with a Fish Fry every year at our Elks Lodge for the Lenten Season. As a result I normally eat a fish sandwich at least once a year just because they make the best fish sandwich in the area around the northern area of Pittsburgh. It's a one pound fish sandwich and I normally buy an extra bun so that I can share two of the pieces with my son who loves fish. They serve two sides with every Fish Dinner and Stewed Tomato and applesauce can be bought along with the regular french fries and cole slaw.

Speaking of my son, he always loved the fish that they make at Labriola's but you can only get it during Lent on Fridays. They also make an excellent frozen pizza but they only make the cheese pizza during Lent. So there is another great substitute for Fish on Friday, Pizza with cheese or even one of those great vegetable pizzas that are so popular in the frozen section of your super market.

This hub will be devoted to recipes and links to recipes for other meatless meals that can be substituted for fish. So far I have published recipes for a few dinners such as Pasta Neggi, Orginal Homemade Macaroni and Cheese and Anchovie Pasta. While the Anchovie Pasta is made mostly on Christmas Eve it can be used at any time of the year. I must confess the Macaroni and Cheese was normally only made on Fridays in our house and normally as a treat. Pasta Neggi was a favorite of one of my stepchildren and we made that throughout the year and on a regular basis. Another family favorite was Tuna Noodle Casserole.

Eggs are a great substitute and the first thing that comes to mind is:

EGG SALAD: Very simple to make -- just boil a few eggs, chop up the eggs with some celery. Add Mayonnaise or in our house salad dressing and mix. Serve on toast or buns with tomato and lettuce.

PEPPER AND EGG SANDWICH: This was a favorite of my husbands and Nunny made if on Fridays for his lunch when he came home from school. Just saute some green pepper slices in the skillet. Add Eggs and scramble. Put on bread and enjoy. If you have some homemade bread it's even better.

Even though I don't like Fish, I do like some of the other seafood items that you can either buy or make.

TUNA FISH SALAD: My Dad's tunafish salad sandwich at his lunchonette was one of my favorite Friday sandwiches. All he did was drain the oil (water) out of the tin and mix with chopped celery and mayonnaise. Spread on bread or a bun with tomato and lettuce and yum!

FROZEN SHRIMP, SALMON AND CRAB CAKES: If you want breaded shrimp, salmon or crab cakes today, you don't need a recipe. Just go up and down the frozen food section of your supermarket and you can pick from delicacies that just need to be heated in your oven. You don't even have to get out the deep fryer any more because these scrumptious foods can be baked in the oven and save your heart from all of that extra cholesterol.

ZUCCHINI AND VEGETABLE RECIPES:  The modern day supermarkets have anything you want in the way of vegetables.  You don't have to wait for the growing season to make some of your favorite recipes.