Wednesday 30 January 2013

Rosalind’s Delicious Quick and Easy Trout Fish Pie

 
Rosalind’s Delicious Quick and Easy Trout Fish Pie
 
By popular request here it is:-
 
It takes approximately 40 minutes to prepare and serves four.
 Ingredients
2lb (approx) gutted and cleaned trout with head and tail removed. Defrost if necessary.
Packet of Knorr Crofters Thick Vegetable Soup (or similar)
Potatoes (enough for four people)
Small tin of sweet corn
Slices of cheddar cheese (or similar)
Chives, parsley or cherry tomatoes for garnish
Method
  1. Peel and boil potatoes.
  2. Microwave trout until skin is easily removed and flesh falls off bones.
  3. Make up soup in saucepan according to instructions on packet but only use one pint of water instead of one and a half pints.
  4. When soup is simmering add fish pieces to mixture taking care to avoid adding any bones.
  5. Drain sweet corn and add to mixture.
  6. Stir until fish is cooked (this only takes a few minutes).
  7. When potatoes are cooked, drain and mash with butter or margarine.
  8. Pour contents of saucepan into a pre warmed casserole dish.
  9. Cover mixture with mashed potato, spreading it evenly.
  10. Cover mashed potato with thin slices of cheese (and if garnishing with cherry tomatoes those as well).
  11. Put under grill till cheese melts and goes slightly brown.
  12. Remove from grill garnish with chives or parsley and cherry tomatoes.
  13. Serve and eat watching out for the odd bone.
 
Enjoy!


Avoid a spoilt fly fishing trip by using my amazing Tackle and Kit List

I expect you have all been there: but sadly your polaroid sunglasses haven’t!  Or you forgot your box of lures, also called streamers (now my blog is international I have to make sure everyone knows what I mean). Or the only time you have ever left your license at home the authorities decided to pay you a visit.  I got so tired of spoiling trips because, in the excitement of quickly loading the car and sneaking away, I then found on the river bank I had left something crucial behind! It is a real pain (and possibly very cold) when it is your waders and they are 100 miles away.


I remembered my friend Michael Evans (yes, the famous tackle designer, casting instructor and wizard salmon fisher, see picture) had a TIP in his catalogue about tackle lists.  So I made my own list and over the years I have added to it.
 
I hope you find the 3 lists below help you to have better and less frustrating trips.  If you feel I have missed something out please let me know you might save me from jumping in the river?
 
Have I got it with me? Fly Fishing Check List
General Items (for all types of fly fishing)
TRIP DATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fishing License
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eye protection (Polaroid?)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rods (main and spare)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reels (main & spare)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other lines/spools
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sink tips
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leader spools
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dry flies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wets & Nymphs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lures/Salt water flies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scissors/forceps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tool necklace
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fly line treatment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fly floatant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leader sinkant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strike indicators
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Various glues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Waistcoat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Landing net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Torch/headlight
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Camera
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Map & directions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money/Cards
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fishing diary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bass bag
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stripping basket
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wading stick
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First aid kit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Permission to fish
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sat Nav.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contact phone numbers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Life jacket (PFD)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clothing
Hat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Warm layers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Waterproof jacket
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fishing trousers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chest waders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thigh waders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wading boots
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wellington boots
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fingerless mitts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spare clothes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thick socks
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scarf
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mosquito head net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wader repair kit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Suggested Sundries
Plastic bags
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scales/tape
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thermos/Drink
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Picnic Lunch
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Towel
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boat seat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boat Drogue & G clamps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mobile phone
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filleting knife & glove
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compass
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sun protection
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Insect repellent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cold box (for fish)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pen and paper
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stringers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I use to just tick the boxes or put crosses in them if I didn’t need something. Now I use a few code letters. For example for items I am going to wear I put a W in the box. If I am going to keep something in the car (like the first aid kit) I put a C in the box etc etc.