Celebrate your child's love of learning

© Wondertime

Fish sticks are a traditional way to introduce young children to seafood. This recipe tastes much better than the frozen kind — and since the fish is baked instead of deep-fried, it's healthier too.

Recipe:

Serves 4

1/4 cup corn or canola oil
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flour
2 large eggs, beaten
1 pound white fish fillets such as cod or tilapia, cut into "fish-stick-size" strips (about 3 inches by 1 inch)
Lemon wedges or tartar sauce (optional)

Heat oven to 450. Spread oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss crumbs, grated cheese, and seasonings together in a shallow dish until blended. Put flour into another shallow dish and beaten eggs into a third shallow bowl. Coat each piece of fish evenly with flour. Then dip each floured piece into beaten eggs. Last of all, turn each piece around in crumb mixture until evenly coated. Place each coated piece of fish onto the oiled sheet, then turn pieces over so both sides are oiled. Bake until golden brown, about 10 to 14 minutes. Serve immediately with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, ranch dressing, or (gasp!) ketchup, as your family prefers.

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