Life around the Bay #1 (with Tartar Sauce Recipe)

This weekend was a busy one!  The Newfoundland Food Fishery began on Saturday morning. My father in law arrived Friday afternoon (with beautiful celery from his garden) and we spent the day getting our boat in the water, making sure our fishing rods were ready to go and setting up our fish filleting table just in case! 🙂

Off to bed around midnight and then up at 6:30am.  Quick cup of tea and some toast with cheez whiz, one of my favorites, but I try and  save it for quick out the door mornings. Not the healthiest choice but yummy (to me) all the same.  Those who like it, love it!! 🙂 The morning was grey and overcast but calm so that was a blessing.

We only have a very short ride to the fishing grounds.  Outside the bay, the weather was choppy and misty.  It was supposed to be a nice sunny day but we know, from experience, that it’s usually the opposite here in Newfoundland!! It was probably an hour or so before my father in law caught the first keeper of the day!! He was super excited and pretty happy!  Guess we are having fish for supper 🙂  There is nothing bettter than fish fresh from the ocean!

We moved around quite a bit, trying to find the sweet spot, and we finally did.  Ended the day with 9 out of 15 fish for our quota.  Not too bad.  Bagged and ready for the freezer.

And of course, after we finished fishing, wouldn’t you know it….the sun came out bright and sunny.  Only in Newfoundland!! 🙂

My sister in law, her family and a couple of friends from BC were coming from St. John’s so I needed to finish preparing a late lunch.  I will share the recipes later this week.  Since the weather had turned nice, it was a beautiful day for company! We were sitting at the table having lunch when a huge eagle swooped down and flew in front of the house.  I didn’t have my zoom lens on but I did manage to capture a shot all the same. One of the things I love living around the bay is the abundance of wildlife and their appearance at the least unexpected moment!

Sunday was again cloudy and misty but nice and warm.  Up early and out on the grounds by 7:30am. We fished for about 5 hours and only managed to catch two cod!  Another bag of fish for the freezer for the winter. Lots of boat traffic around the bay today…wonder if they caught any fish?

Now the best part of fishing….eating the cod!!!!!  I usually pan fry my fish with a light flour crumb coating (flour, panko crumbs, salt, pepper and whatever dried herbs you have on hand) and serve it with my favorite tartar sauce.  Here is the recipe for the sauce.

The Best Tartar Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise, not miracle whip

2 TBSP relish or chopped up sweet pickles…I always use relish as we are not pickle eaters.

1 TBSP white wine vinegar

1 tsp grainy mustard

pinch of salt and pepper

Put all ingredients in a bowl.  Using a whisk, blend until all ingredients are combined.  Serve with pan fried cod.  Enjoy!! 🙂 Recipe adapted from The Barefoot Contessa

Here is the one and only fish I caught all weekend!!! Pretty pathetic but really, if we get fish it’s a bonus.  Just being on the water, enjoying our family time, creating memories is what it’s all about! ❤

Loving this life “around the bay”! 🙂

DD