Fish Fry Fridays during Lent

Fridays are busy times at Catholic churches during Lent.

Several churches in the state host fish fries. The seafood dinners are part of the Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat during the 40 days of Lent.

The Friday dinners – and, in at least one case, a Friday fish lunch – are usually organized by Knights of Columbus councils.

Where to find a community fish fry

I look forward to reading your "Dish" column every Friday in The News Journal.

Being new to Delaware and to Newark, I find it very helpful in learning about the foodie scene here.

As we are new to the area, I have no idea where to find a good fish fry for Lent. We're from New Jersey, and fish fries during Lent were fairly common.

It's a fun way to enjoy some good fish and support a local charity.

Do you have some idea as to where I can find some?

Thank you!

Geri Taylor

Geri, welcome to Delaware. Thanks for the kind words and asking about fish fries.

We usually run a list every year. Just an FYI, no dinners are served on Good Friday, April 3. Here are some churches throughout Delaware this month that have participated in past years. Enjoy your meatless meal.

**NOTE: We've updated the list on March 9:

Christ the Teacher School, 2451 Frazer Road, Glasgow; (302) 838-8850. 5-8 p.m March 20. Eat-in or take-out. Beer-battered haddock, fried shrimp, French fries, macaroni salad, cole slaw, garden salad and desserts, homemade by Boy Scout Troop 283. For more information and ticket sales, email 283fishfry@gmail.com

Holy Cross , 631 S. State St., Dover, (302) 674-5787. Fish dinners in the upstairs auditorium from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays. Menu includes broiled or fried cod or shrimp with cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, Tater Tots, rolls, drink and choice of dessert. Children's menu (ages 12 and younger) includes fish sticks. Adult meals are $10; children's dinners are $5.

Holy Family , 15 Gender Road, Newark; (302) 368-4665; From 4-7 p.m. Fridays, through March 27. Adults pay $14 at the door, $13 in advance; seniors pay $12 at the door, $11 in advance; children 4 to 12 pay $5. Takeout available.

Our Lady of Lourdes, 532 Stein Highway, Seaford; (302) 629-3591; From 4:30-7 p.m. Fridays through March 27. Costs and menu not available at press time.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 345 Bear Christiana Road, Bear; (302) 322-6430. From 5-7 p.m. Feb. 27, March 13 and March 27. Menu includes baked and fried cod, French fries, macaroni and cheese, and other accompaniments. Cost is $9 per person. Drinks are $1.

St. John the Beloved, 907 Milltown Road, Sherwood Park, Milltown; (302) 999-0211. From 5-7 p.m. through March 27. Takeout available. Menu includes baked or fried flounder fillet; baked potato, fries or macaroni and cheese; coleslaw, green beans or apple sauce; rolls. Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children. No reservations required. Takeout available.

St. Joseph (Middletown), From 5:30-7:15 p.m. Feb. 27, March 6 and March 27 at the parish hall, 371 E. Main St., Middletown; (302) 378-5800. March 13 at the St. Rose of Lima Mission, Lock and Cecil streets, Chesapeake City, Maryland. Menu includes fried or baked fish, homemade macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw and roasted potatoes. Cost is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; and free for children 10 and younger. Visit www.kofc6543.org

St. Joseph (Wilmington), 1012 French St., Wilmington; (302) 658-4535. Fish fry from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays through March 27. Menu has included fish sandwich and fish dinner with coleslaw and potato salad; canned soda and water.

St. Jude the Apostle, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, (302) 644-7300, offers fish dinners from 5-7 p.m. Fridays. Menu includes fried cod or baked tilapia, a chef's special "captain's platter," fried flounder and shrimp, French fries, cole slaw, roll and dessert. Cost is $13 per person; $25 per couple; and $6 for children younger than 12. Frozen homemade soups available for takeout.

St. Mary of the Assumption, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin; (302) 239-7100. From 5-7 p.m. Fridays in the church hall. Menu includes crab cakes, fried and baked fish, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, steak fries, stewed tomatoes, clam chowder, and rolls. Costs range from $8 to $14. Children's meals ($5) include fish sticks, apple sauce and macaroni and cheese. Beverages and desserts are extra. Takeout available.

St. Paul's Church, Fourth and Jackson streets., Wilmington. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fridays. Menu includes fried or baked fish, French fries, mixed vegetables, salads and coffee. Cost is $8 per person.

St. Peter's Church , Harmony Street, Old New Castle; (302) 367-0732. The fish fry is from 4-7 p.m. March 6 and March 20 at Crowley Hall across the street from the church. Tickets are sold in the vestibule of the Church after all the Masses and sell-out quickly. A $10 buffet includes fresh pollock, French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, green beans and desserts. Free for children 4 and younger than 4.

The hunt for European prune butter

A continuing topic for the past few weeks has been kiffles, a Hungarian cookie. Last week, a reader asked where to find lekvar, a prune butter that is often used in the cookie.

Responses have been overwhelming. Wow. I had no idea so many people used this fruit butter.

One reader called to say she just bought lekvar in the ShopRite in Stanton. It is on a shelf next to the peanut butter.

Harriet Ainbinder said she found the Simon Fischer brand of lekvar at ShopRite on U.S. 202 - marked "Lekvar, Prune Butter" - in the aisle with peanut butter and jellies.

Susan Ebner also has found it there. She said "lekvar is another name for prune filling. Jews use it and also poppyseed filling (sometimes called Mun) to fill cookies called Hamantashen for the holiday of Purim which occurs in March. Solo Brand also makes this poppyseed filling as well as several more, including apricot."

Another wrote, "Always amazes me that people forget the powerful tool of the Internet! Why drive to Trenton when you can simply Google lekvar?" Simon Fischer Lekvar Prune Butter can be found on Amazon.com.

Two people also sent kiffle recipes.

This has been a fascinating topic, and I appreciate all the calls and emails. We're going to retire the conversation now.

So, bring on more dining food questions and email them to me.

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Read her culinary blog Second Helpings at http://www.delawareonline.com/blog/secondhelpings/and follow her on Twitter @pattytalorico.