Has there ever been an Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips place around here? I consider their fish the best ever. I read on Facebook that there is one located somewhere in Ohio. That won't help my yearning for their fish triangles. But I do have the recipe that I will share with you.

You know, copy-cat recipes are published for popular restaurant dishes from time to time. Usually, they only taste somewhat like the desired item. There are even cookbooks published that claim to have prized recipes. This is the only recipe I have ever found to be as good as the original.

This also reminds me of my kids' love of fish sticks. I remember when they first came on the market. My kids loved them. Not so, me. Most fish stick recipes remind me of fish chewed up, sliced up and covered up with some sort of mystery breading. (There is a poem in there somewhere, I think.) It would take a lot of tartar sauce and a blindfold for me to eat them. As I have said twice before, kids love 'em.

Fish and chips, served in England, are wrapped in newspaper. The ones I remember were, too. The chips were not like french fries, but thicker, like steak fries. Suit yourselves on the fries, but please try this fish recipe.

ARTHUR TREACHER'S FISH & CHIPS

2 to 3 lbs fish fillets. Cod preferred
1 fresh onion, peeled
3 cups pancake flour mix
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon garlic salt
3 cups carbonated club soda
1 ½ pints oil

Cut fish fillets to resemble triangles. Place in large bowl. Slice a fresh onion and place over top of fish. Cover tightly. Refrigerate to tenderize for 2 to 3 hours before preparing. Drain well. Dip each piece in plain flour. Coat lightly. This acts as an adhesive for the wet batter. Let dry on a tray for 5 minutes. Heat oil in 2 ½ quart saucepan to 375F. (about 3 inches deep). Next, combine basil, pepper, garlic salt and pancake mix. Stir in club soda until consistency of buttermilk. It should be rather thick but pourable. Working quickly, dip floured fish into batter and fry a few pieces at a time in hot oil until puffed and golden. Keep warm on baking sheet in single layer in 275F. oven until all are fried. How you prepare your french fries is up to you. Enjoy.