Some of you may be familiar with ..
She goes on a quest to slay the dragon who has kidnapped her Prince Ronald.
She is successful, as one would imagine, being a very clever and talented young Princess with all sorts of dragon-slaying skills… but she loses her clothes in the process.
Out-witted, she conquers the dragon and Prince Ronald is rescued but rejects the Fayre Princess because her “paper-bag” clothes are not appropriate for the occasion.
Fast-forward, the Paper-Bag Princess calls Ronald a “Bum” (or a Toad if you live in England) and goes off into the sunset to live her own life.
There’s an awful lot of Prince Ronalds out there.
{just sayin’…}
This story brings to mind another Fairytale, one of my own,
my daughter went to a production of Shirley Valentine and.. what can I say..
I felt inspired…
â¥
The Fisherwoman and Her Husband
Once upon a time… long, long ago, in a Kingdom farther away than any Kingdom you’ve ever seen on the Internet… lived a lovely young bride and her husband. Being self-reliant, the beautiful woman prided herself on her intelligence and her ability to care for herself. She joyously entered marriage, certain that she had found true love at last.
She was a very clever woman, an “oh, so adept” Fisherwoman, creating a start-up company that managed to go “public” on the TSX Stock Exchange, at a very young age. Her life was perfect she thought.. with work, a husband and a home… but that was all about to change.
Late one afternoon, after a very long day, spent hard at work fishing… the young woman cast out her net one last time and pulled in a beautiful Golden Fish.. with sparkling scales that danced and glittered in the sunlight. Humbly the Fish begged of her, “Please let me go, for I am a sad and lonely Prince. An Evil Witch cast a spell over me and I am to be a fish for the rest of my days.” Taking pity on the fate of this poor fish, the young woman instantly thought only of him and kindly released him back into the sea.
Rushing home, she eagerly shared her strange and exciting adventure with her husband. “What were you thinking?” he growled at her, “That must have been a Magic Fish! Why, you could have asked it for anything and he would have granted your wish. Go back there at once and demand that this Fish give us a bigger home.”
Grudgingly, but wanting to please her husband, the young woman set out to find her gentle Fish. She urgently called from shore…
“Fish of the Sea
Come, I pray thee, here to me.
For my husband, my husband Jim,
Wishes not as I’d have him!”
To her surprise, at once the compliant fish rose to the sparking sea’s surface.. “What is it your husband wishes?” the Fish asked respectfully. “He would like a grander home, grander than any on our street,” she replied. “Then go home,” said the Fish,“The house is already there.”
Sure enough, a new mansion stood right where their simple little home once rested. But this was not enough… the good fortune had begun to stir greedier thoughts in the grumpy man’s mind. “Wife,” he demanded, “Go back to that fish and ask him for a car.. a beautiful Jaguar, with a leather interior… If he could give us this house, he could easily do this as well.”
Reluctantly, once again, the woman went down to the sea and, without heart, sang out..
“Fish of the Sea
Come to Me
For my husband, old man Jim
Wishes not as I’d have him!”
Always the stalwart fish, the Fish came immediately upon hearing the woman’s beseeching voice. “What does your husband wish for now, dear lady?” asked the Fish. “Well.. a Jaguar,” mumbled the woman and she blushed and added, under her breath, “Um.. with a leather interior.” “I understand, more than you realize,” said the Fish, “Go home and it will be parked in your driveway.”
Eager to be done with this dreaded task, the woman rushed home, only to find her husband even more displeased than before. What could it be now, thought the young woman, he has everything.. he has me? “Wife,” demanded her husband, “You foolish woman, don’t you know that all things magical happens in Threes? I want you to go back immediately to that Fish and demand the finest treasure. If you obey this one last command, then I will finally be truly happy.”
Dragging her feet, the young woman slowly made her way back to the river’s edge with a heavy heart. Surely the request was so much more than the generous Fish would allow?
To the young woman’s amazement, even without being beckoned, the Golden Fish splashed up to the surface. “Greetings, my lovely. What brings you to my sea once again and what brings those bitter tears to your beautiful eyes?” queried the compassionate Fish.
“I am so embarrassed to ask this of you, my dear friend,” the woman apologized,“You have been so kind and generous, it really is too much to ask.” The Golden Fish quickly replied, “Clearly you are distressed, I pray you unburden your thoughts so that I may be of help.”
Reluctantly, the woman told the fish of her husband’s third and final request. The Golden Fish paused for a moment, floating quietly in water and then finally said, “I must be certain that you are asking for the Greatest Treasure in All the World before I can grant this final wish.” Nodding, with down-cast eyes, the woman murmured, “Yes, that is what I wish for, I wish for the Greatest Treasure in All the World.”
With a great splash the fish leapt from the waters and transformed back into the handsome young Prince that he once was. Bending on one knee, he took the woman’s hand and kissed it gently. “The Greatest of Treasure in All the World is Love… and your love for me has broken the Evil Witch’s spell. I shall be yours for eternity.” Blushing, the woman took the young man’s hand and replied.. “And I shall also be yours, for your love is surely my greatest gift as well.”
The young Prince handily gave the old man enough gold to last him a lifetime, granted the woman a speedy divorce and quickly took her away to his cabin in the forest. Where they lived happily ever after, fishing only for their evening’s meal.
Barbara Bamber, March 2012
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Hahaha, I hope you enjoyed my little tale.. I do know you will love this recipe, it’s possibly the best way I’ve ever prepared a fish.. only I didn’t have to catch this one;)
Paper-Bag Rainbow Trout
- 2 small rainbow trout, scaled, cleaned and rinsed
- (or two 6”x6” trout fillets)
- Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 small dill pickled, diced
- 2 tsp pickle juice
- 3 large green olives, pitted and diced
- 2 lemons sliced thinly
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
- 4 basil leaf stems
- 2-4 sprigs dill
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup white wine
- parchment paper, two pieces approx 40 cm long
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- In a small measuring cup, mix all of the dressing ingredients together through to the pickle juice.
- Lay out the parchment paper pieces. Arrange half of the lemon slices and half the garlic cloves on the center of each piece of parchment paper. Place two long pieces of string across the lemons on each bed.
- Place one piece of rainbow trout (skin side down if using fillets) on top of the bed of lemons and garlic. Spoon desired amount of dressing inside the fish (If using fillets, spoon a layer of dressing over top.) Sprinkle the chopped olives inside or on top of the fish.
- Then sprinkle salt and black pepper over the fish. Lay the basil and dill springs on top. Tie securely with string, using a slip knot (half a “bow”) for ease of untying.
- Drizzle olive oil and then sprinkle 1/4 of a cup of the white wine over each fish.
- Fold the short sides of the parchment paper in, then bring long side together and fold together and roll down to seal the fish inside the packet. Tie string around the entire package again, to secure using a “slip-knot”. Repeat for the second packet.
- Move packets to the fridge if making in advance or onto an ovenproof baking sheet/pan. I made mine about two hours ahead of time.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes until fish is cooked through.
- Serves four.
Ingredients
2 small rainbow trout, scaled, cleaned and rinsed
(or two 6âx6â trout fillets)
Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
1 small dill pickled, diced
2 tsp pickle juice
3 large green olives, pitted and diced
2 lemons sliced thinly
6 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
4 basil leaf stems
2-4 sprigs dill
1/2 cup white wine
parchment paper, two pieces approx 40 cm long
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
In a small measuring cup, mix all of the dressing ingredients together through to the pickle juice.
Lay out the parchment paper pieces. Arrange half of the lemon slices and half the garlic cloves on the center of each piece of parchment paper. Place two long pieces of string across the lemons on each bed.
Place one piece of rainbow trout (skin side down if using fillets) on top of the bed of lemons and garlic. Spoon desired amount of dressing inside the fish (If using fillets, spoon a layer of dressing over top.) Sprinkle the chopped olives inside or on top of the fish.
Then sprinkle salt and black pepper over the fish. Lay the basil and dill springs on top. Tie securely with string, using a slip knot (half a âbowâ) for ease of untying.
Drizzle olive oil and then sprinkle 1/4 of a cup of the white wine over each fish.
Fold the short sides of the parchment paper in, then bring long side together and fold together and roll down to seal the fish inside the packet. Tie string around the entire package again, to secure using a âslip-knotâ. Repeat for the second packet.
Move packets to the fridge if making in advance or onto an ovenproof baking sheet/pan. I made mine about two hours ahead of time.
Bake for approximately 30 minutes until fish is cooked through.
Serves four.
I did enjoy it! The combination of herbs in your recipe look so good. Fresh dill is one of my favorites and I don’t use it as much as I’d like. I love this way of cooking fish (in parchment) and especially love your photos!
Thanks for the story (and recipe) today! 🙂
You’re so welcome:) The fish steamed and kept in it’s juices so sort-of poached as well. It was incredibly moist. I think I’d make all of my fish in these little packets now. Xo Smidge
WOW! I fall in love with all of them… Beautiful tale, beautiful writing… and your photographs… Especiall this red chili… fascinated me. I want to eat all of them… Thank you dear Barbara, have a nice weekend, with my love, nia
Thank you nia.. It was fun to write.. Fun to make and fun to eat;) xo Smidge
Love the fairy tale!
Thank you:)
What a wonderful story and so true. I love this fish in a package. I just have a few questions. It sounds like you place the strings on top of the lemons that are setting on parchment rather than under the sheets and tie, which seems odd to me so I must be reading it wrong. Then it sounds like you pour the wine inside the packet and tie. Wouldn’t the wine leak out? Then tiring again?
Am I reading this all wrong? I envision doing the process differently but would like to know if I’ve totally read this incorrectly or not? Looking forward to your reply and to trying this magical fish
The string is mostly to hold the “insides of the fish” and the herbs on.. but definitely you could slip it under the lemon.. it would be tough to keep all the slices from coming off when you serve but sure worth a try. I was worried about the wine as well, especially because I’d made it so much earlier in the day and stuck it in the fridge.. but the parchment didn’t leak and it didn’t go soggy:) I figured I’d rewrap if it did.. I take photos early in the day due to light (need to get an artificial photography light soon!!). The whole fish was sooo pretty.. but we also loved the taste of the fillet as well.. the string is also meant as part of the “rustic presentation” too.. once it all bakes, it does hold together quite well… I hope that helps:) xo Smidge
I loved that story! Happy ending divorce and all! Hahaha!
The fish looks mahvelous too~
Lol.. Yup, had to figure out a way to get rid of him;)
I love the way you photograph Smidge.
🙂 Mandy
Brilliant story – I expect the old man lived alone in his big house and young girls laughed at him showing off in his jag! Meanwhile the lovely people got to enjoy delicious trout like this and loved each other for ever after 🙂
Hahaha, or the old man had the young girls as girlfriends.. That happens sometimes when they drive a jag;)
beautiful beautiful blog.
Oh Smidge! What a delightful update to the old tale!! Adorable! Ahh, what love and kindness do bring! and your fish, oh my! I do want to try! All of this, pure magic!
(and then there’s the staging, the plating, the lighting, the photos! Wow honey! Fabulous!) xo
Thanks spree.. I’d have a wee glass of wine before I wrote it.. I’m thinking that’s a plan for next time as well;)
Is it bad that I hoped the husband would get a consequence of some sorts? I guess I’ll just have to go with him living a sad lonely life after she left. 🙂 This trout looks so lovely – we haven’t had trout in years, not since our then three year old caught one, not realizing we would need to, um, kill it and clean it because we were going to eat it. He actually thought it was coming home to live in a tank and be his friend. Trout trauma ensued. It was not a good afternoon, to say the least. The lessons us parents learn about full disclosure before an activity. 😉 He’s been fairly anit-fish (or at least fish that still look like fish) since.
I know.. Just couldn’t punish him, I don’t think she would have since she was so kind-hearted, lol! You made me laugh today!! Your poor son.. Yes, that would be trauma, definitely! I think you should post that story!!
Love the story Smidge…. and the trout en papillote. Wow! Great photos too 🙂
Ooooh, love your title more…”trout en papillote” sounds ravishing!!
🙂
I always love a “they lived happy ever after” story. The fish sounds great steamed in the parchment and would make a lovely presentation when serving guests.
Yes.. I remind myself (and kids) that only happens in fairytales;) I thought the same thing.. What else could I make in parchment??
Thoroughly entertaining post, Barb, and a treat to read! I’ll be heading out to the store in a few minutes. If they’ve fresh trout, guess what I’ll be having for dinner? If, and when, I do make this dish, I’ll come back here to tell you. Thanks for a great recipe!
So.. Great minds think alike.. I can’t wait to try your short-rib recipe.. You should smell my kitchen.. Heavenly!!
Lovely tale and trout Smidge 🙂
What a lovely tale and recipe. I’m not a huge fan of whole fish (it’s something I picked up after I read Margaret Atwood’s The Edible Woman, I couldn’t eat eggs for months after that book!). But I would love the fixin’s with a fish steak. Very nice summery dish.
You know, I was VERY squeamish about this fish… Kind of freaked me out to be honest. But I thought it was time to step “out there” and cook a little more “organic” and wild!! Lol, it turned out after all:)
I love love love your fairy tale!!! It is so sweet 😀 😀
And bring out my inner 6 yr old 😉
So appropriate for this beautiful and delicious looking post 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Ahhh… You’re so cute.. 6 wasn’t as long ago for you as it is for me:)
Amazing dish. Your photos look simply stunning.
Thank you:)
Great fish tail, I mean tale! 😉
Hahaha.. Too cute!
Oh, Smidge. That looks truly great. I just cooked some trout myself – it was yummy. I turned it into a fish chowder with potatoes, carrots and a home made fish stock. It was delicious. I love trout, especially since it’s so cheap.
Now if only I’d have some left overs.. I’m going to have to try that chowder of yours. We’ve got snow again and I’m craving warm comfort food just like that!!
Your Friday fairy tale made me smile – I love it. And I am still smiling – it’s a happy-making story.
Oh.. If only life were that simple;)
Great story Smidge!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
It was lovely to wake up this morning and find your post. What a treat. I love your fairytale and like a true fairytale there is a good motto to the story. This fish in a bag dinner must be wonderful and so full of flavour. Have a lovely weekend Smidge xx
It was fun to rewrite.. Bit more of a draft or a story a teacher would tell her students.. Guess the “teacher” is still in me:) It would have become a puppet play for my class!
Love fish, especially trout – looks delicious! Have a Great Weekend:)
You too!! Hope it’s a fun one!
Can’t beat a handsome fish! Beautifully told and I could certainly eat that trout.
Hmmm… Well, he was handsome in the end:)
Oh Smidge, The Fisherwoman And Her Husband….oh my! That’s terrific! You are loaded with talent my dear. I loved your tale so much and I’m so glad you were inspired to write it and share it 🙂
Your trout looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Hahaha, yup, things are a bit different today than back in Grimm’s day:) I’m glad you stopped by 🙂
Just dropping by to let you know, Smidge, that I made this trout for dinner tonight and really enjoyed it! Cooking fish en papillote is a favorite of mine and this is a very good recipe for doing so. I really liked the dressing and will be using it with other fish preparations, as well. Thanks, Smidge, I’ll definitely be making this again!
Yay!! I’m glad it turned out.. I think the paper adds steam and poaching liquids to make it so tender. If you think of anything else to make in a packet let me know… Maybe a dessert??
This recipe is so gorgeous! Your pictures are really professional and the simple ingredients are so earthy.
Thanks so much, I always say I love the photography, no, I love the cooking, no the baking, no the writing.. I guess that’s why we blog, right:)
Yep! You are so lucky you have a lovely kitchen and so many nice accessories! I am slowly building my collection, very slowly:/
I so love your blog
Thanks!
This is truly a beautifully presented dish! The detail is impressive. I love that you even chop the olives with style, and the colors are simply gorgeous. I’m not sure I’ve ever said that about trout! 🙂 Debra
You’re so kind.. thank you!
I love fish in parchment, and your flavors….lively and mouth watering. A great story and a great recipe!
Oh Barbara.. my mouth is watering and boy am I getting hungry right about now lol. This trout looks excellent. Wonderful recipe that you know I’m going to try 🙂
I hope you do.. I loved it!
Hooray for cabins in the forest I say. Fish yes I do like, but fairytales?… love them.
Another one please?
No.. It’s past your bedtime, now go to sleep! Hahaha! Xo Smidge
Fabulous story Smidge! I really enjoyed reading it. 🙂 And I do enjoy the Paperbag Princess as well. Miss A has the book. 🙂 This looks like a beautiful way to cook fish. I was just talking to someone last night about trout and how I’ve never made it at home. When I do, I know where to come for a recipe now!
Lol, I should have been a little more “Robert Munsch” expressive;) Glad you liked it!
I loved your tale Smidge. I hope the old man has to pay tons on taxes for all of his free fortunes from the fish. LOL Very unique flavors of dill pickles, olives and mayo on the fish. I am going to try it in my steamer and let you know how it goes. Also we do not have trout in HK but many other mild white fish so will have to see what they have in the wet market. Have a great weekend. BAM
Haha, there’s been a bit of backlash against the old man, taxes are a great idea! I think ‘she’ is just happy to be free and.. Well, happy;) I think a steamer is an excellent idea! Let me know how it goes, I suspect any mild white fish would work. Xo Smidge
You’re on the right track, young woman! Keep producing these innovative, clever posts that are unlike anything on WordPress and who knows what will happen!
You’re one of my biggest fans:) Thanks!!
Such a foodie, inspired by art. This is a fantastic recipe and fish cooked this way is always wonderful. What a great post.
Thanks so much.. It did end up being my new fav way to cook fish..
Who knew fish could turn into a work of art? I love the shadows in the pictures. It makes it feel like we’re inside a dimly lit cabin of a fishing boat or at the bottom of the sea. Of course, love the story, too! Much better than the traditional version where the woman is the greedy meanie (boooooo!).
Hahaha.. Yes, time for the “housewife” stereotype to be a little updated I think!
nice new version of the story. Some days ago I was thinking of that story with the fisherwoman and the golden fish but I had forgotten the name so I couldnt check.
Perfect flavoure combination, =P thats my type of food. love trout and cooking it in a paper bag is how my mum prepares it. Its so delicious! Your dressing sounds interessting too, thanks for sharing!
I love that you wrote up this story with your recipe! Perfect. I really love fish…though cooking it scares me, a little. I might be brave enough to try this, though!
Count me in!! I’m loving the flavours – olives, garlic, lemon….
A lovely tale that had me smiling, thank you.. 🙂