Incorporate your favorite brew into these meals with beer. The rich taste of beer intensifies during cooking and can be used as a braising liquid, marinade, glaze, batter, or to enhance the flavor of soups and stews. Cooking with beer is the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, National Drink Beer Day, National Beer Lovers Day, National Beer Day, or any meal as a gift day you have beer in the house.

INGREDIENTS
1 - pound fresh or frozen skinless fish fillets, about 1/2 inch thick
1 1/4 - pounds medium potatoes (about 4)
Shortening or cooking oil for deep-fat frying
1 - cup all-purpose flour
1 - cup beer
2 - eggs
1/2 - teaspoon baking powder
1/2 - teaspoon salt
1/2 - teaspoon black pepper
Coarse salt (optional)
Tartar Sauce(optional)
Malt vinegar or cider vinegar (optional)

DIRECTIONS
Thaw fish, if frozen; cut into 3x2-inch pieces. Rinse fish; pat dry with paper towels. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
For chips, cut the potatoes lengthwise into about 3/8-inch-wide wedges. Pat dry with paper towels. In a 3-quart saucepan or deep-fat fryer heat 2 inches of shortening or cooking oil to 375 degrees F. Fry potatoes, one-fourth at a time, for 4 to 6 minutes or until light brown. Remove potatoes and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Transfer potatoes to a wire rack on a baking sheet, arranging them in a single layer. Keep warm in a 300 degree F oven.

Meanwhile, for batter, in a medium mixing bowl combine flour, beer, eggs, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper. Beat with a rotary beater or wire whisk until smooth. Dip fish into batter. Fry fish in the hot (375 degrees F) fat, one or two pieces at a time, until coating is golden brown and fish begins to flake when tested with a fork, turning once (about 3 to 4 minutes). Remove fish and drain on paper towels. Transfer fish to another baking sheet; keep warm in the 300 degree F oven while frying remaining fish. To serve, if desired, sprinkle coarse salt over fish and chips and serve with Tartar Sauce or vinegar.

Makes 4 servings
NUTRITION FACTS (Fish and Chips)
Per serving: 721 kcal , 40 g fat (10 g sat. fat , 10 g polyunsaturated fat , 13 g monounsaturated fat ), 208 mg chol. , 454 mg sodium , 52 g carb. , 3 g fiber , 1 g sugar , 31 g pro.