Photo courtesy of Mike Fleming -Flickr cc

Kentucky State Fish

According to the Kentucky Secretary of State:

The state fish is the Kentucky Spotted Bass, Micropterus punctulatus. The bass was adopted by the state on February 27, 1956. The Kentucky Bass is acclaimed for its gameness and fighting qualities. It also a prized dish to eat.

Recipe for Black Bass with Basil Mustard bUtter Sauce

This simple method of preparation is excellent for all types of fish fillets,especially perch, cod, salmon and all varieties of flat fish.

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• 1-½ lbs.Black Bass or other fish fillets
• ½ cup Seasoned Flour, for dredging
• 2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
• 1 Tbsp. Shallots, minced
• ¼ cup White Wine
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1/3 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 4 oz.Unsalted Butter, cut in pieces
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh Basil, chopped
• Salt and White Pepper to taste

1. Preheat a large skillet.
2. Dredge the fish fillets in the seasoned flour.
3. Add the oil to the pan and heat. Lay in the fillets and cook over medium heat approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. Fish should yield to the touch when fully cooked.
4. Remove the fish from the pan and keep warm.
5. Add the shallots and sauté briefly.
6. Add the wine and lemon. Reduce to ½ of its original volume.
7. Add the cream and continue reducing until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
8. Slowly whisk in the butter 1 piece at a time.
9. Add the mustard, basil and season to taste. Ladle over the fish and serve immediately.

Serves 4
by Chef Kirk Williams, CEC, CCE

Tasty Bass Treats for You

In the hot summer months cool off with the icy blackberry sorbet. It”s a great way to cool down and take advantage of blackberries while they”re in season.

About This Recipe

Related State Legislature.

Senate Bill 163 designated the Blackberry, Rubus, R. occidentalis, as the official fruit of the State of Alabama.”

“The blackberry is named and designated as the official fruit of Kentucky. Effective: July 13, 2004. Created 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 114, sec. 1, effective July 13, 2004.

Blackberry Sorbet

(Sorbete de Zarzamora)
State Fruit of Alabama and Kentucky

Cooking and Preparation Time: 10 hours

Servings: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1-1/2 pounds frozen unsweetened blackberries, thawed, juices reserved
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 small watermelon
• 16 fresh blackberries

Directions

1. Stir sugar and 1 cup water in small saucepan.
2. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil 1 minute.
3. Transfer syrup to large bowl. Chill until syrup is cold, about 3 hours.
4. Working in batches, pureé blackberries with juices and cold syrup in blender until smooth.
5. Strain into another large bowl; discard seeds.
6. Stir in lemon juice.
7. Process berry mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer”s instructions. Transfer sorbet to container; cover and freeze until firm, about 6 hours. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.)
8. Using large spoon, scoop out flesh from a watermelon, leaving the rind intact and forming bowl (reserve melon for another use or serve alongside the sorbet, if desired).
9. Drain excess juice from watermelon bowl.
10. Cover and chill watermelon bowl until cold.
11. Scoop sorbet into watermelon bowl, and garnish with fresh blackberries.

Delicious Blackberries for You

Photo courtesy of Mike Dierken

Blackberries and Blackberry Folklore

Blackberries are a hearty vine.  Their thorns protect them from wildlife that would otherwise eat their fruit. However, one of the recent hybrids, the Triple Crown, is thornless. With or without modern variations though, the blackberry has been a popular plant for centuries.

The Greeks and Romans both used them for medicinal purposes, and popular English folklore prohibits the eating of blackberries after the 29th of September. It is said that on that day, St. Michaelmas, the devil comes by and tramples on the blackberries making them inedible. The legend probably developed, because blackberries are in season from May to August, and by late September the berries have gone moldy or rotted on the vines.

Related Legislature.

Senate Bill 163 designated the Blackberry, Rubus, R. occidentalis, as the official fruit of the State of Alabama.”

“The blackberry is named and designated as the official fruit of Kentucky. Effective: July 13, 2004
History: Created 2004 Ky. Acts ch. 114, sec. 1, effective July 13, 2004.”

Blackberry Pie

Alabama and Kentucky State Fruit

Ingredients for the Blackberry Pie

• 3 cups blackberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbls flour
• 1 tbls grated lemon rind
• 4 tbls butter

Directions on making the Blackberry Pie

1. Combine flour, sugar and lemon rind.
2. Add mixture to the blackberries.
3. Using your favorite pie crust, line the pie tin with crust.
4. Dot with 2 tablespoons of butter and pour in the blackberries.
5. Cover with a top lattice crust.
6. Bake in a hot oven (400F) for 15 minutes.
7. Reduce to 325F and bake 20 to 30 minutes more.

-Recipe from Larriland Farm, a pick-your-own family-run farm founded in Maryland in 1973

Delicious Blackberry Dessert Ingredients