Halibut with Bay Shrimp and Hollandaise

There's a learning curve involved for doing almost everything and I'm no exception even though I'm a tad past the half century mark. Ouch - the confession kinda' hurt.

Anyway, there's so many things here on the Oregon Coast that require practice to perfect; for example, I fully admit to not being much of a gardener mostly due to the fact that I hate bees, creepy crawlies and slithering snakes and have been known to run from the sight of any and all. I don't fish either because while I love looking at water, I'm terrified to be in it plus fishing requires luck and heaven knows I don't have much of that except for the day I met my Big Guy, fell in love and let him reel me in. I am stubborn though and very determined which are both traits that will come in handy as I'm learning to cook halibut. Bet you were wondering where I was going with all this, weren't ya'?

Our friend Mike was telling me about a fabulous halibut dish his wife makes that involves bay shrimp and hollandaise and while it would have been so darned easy to just ask for a recipe, I thought I'd wing it instead. He was right too, because it is delicious for sure - I mean, it's hard to go wrong with tender little shrimp and buttery rich hollandaise topping a meaty firm chunk of halibut garnished with chopped fresh thyme, dill and parsley; however, go wrong I did. I overcooked the darned fish by about 3 minutes, or maybe even 4 or 5.

Consequently, I'm passing along the recipe for my "cheater" hollandaise, but I'll have to try the halibut again before you get the full goods on that. Oh darn!

Incidentally in case you're wondering what Big Guy's doing now that he's not putting in 10 hour days at the office - well, he's chopped and stacked about a half cord of wood; mowed the grass; trimmed some bushes; taken two trips to the dump's recycling center with a huge stack of deconstructed moving boxes that have been sitting on our front porch for months because I couldn't fit them into the Miata and cleaned and rearranged the storage shed. He's made several trips to Newport, passed his Oregon license test, put new plates on the Jeep and even taken me out for lunch and he's had time to hang around the kitchen. That's all happened in the last 2 days...wonder what's on the list for today. 

Quick Blender Hollandaise (from JBug's Kitchen Antics adapted from Chatelaine Cookbook)

2 egg yolks

1 Tablespoon warm water

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)

 

1 stick butter (1/2 cup)

Combine egg yolks, water, lemon juice, salt, cayenne and mustard in a blender or food processor. Melt butter in microwave until it is no longer solid and forms a nice foam on top. With blender running slowly drizzle in butter. Whirl just to blend completely (about 10 seconds). Serve immediately or keep warm in a thermos.

Makes 1 cup

A year ago - Rose Cottage and Five Hour Stew 

Two year's ago - Baby Back Ribs on the Grill

Three year's ago - Chile Cheese Sausage Balls

Comments

[Lorraine]

Halibut is kind of like steak in that you need to take it off the heat before it is cooked through and let it rest for a few minutes. I had to learn that the hard way myself. Sounds like a yummy way to have it. On the list. BG is just like my TH, can't sit and let the moss grow on his back side that is for sure.

[June]

Thank you so much for the halibut cooking tip. I'm going to remember that! There's nothing worse than overcooked halibut...it's along the same lines as trying to whistle with a mouthful of crackers.

[Lea M. Callais]

Halibut is tricky to be sure! Can get dry on ya quicker than quick! That is a fabulous tip from Lorraine! I will try that for sure in the future! I wish my Sweet William would dust off that moss and tackle the weeds in my garden ;) hehehehehehe. It is just to hot and humid here - I say let them weeds grow!

[June]

I agree, it is a great halibut hint from Lorraine. We've tons of weeds here too that need plucking and I can't use the weather as an excuse as it has been incredible. I did however hurt myself rolling over in bed though so weeding won't be in my immediate future. Getting old sucks especially when you've degenerating discs. LOL Poor Big Guy because his of honey do's just keeps getting longer.