Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

A Dinner First

The tradition here at our house is to have seafood for Christmas Eve dinner.  It's also typical to try new recipes so 2013 was no exception.  Sarah read and watched a video on NYTimes about baking a whole fish.  Emily had Meyer lemons ripe from her little tree so the stage was set to bake a fish and use the lemons for an accompanying side dish of lemon risotto.  

Christmas Eve morning the three of us ventured out to the Lotte Plaza, an Asian grocery store because we knew that it would have a large assortment of whole fish and we weren't disappointed.  A fellow shopper was there buying a whole fish that he planned to stuff with crabmeat.  His advice was to look at the fish eyes.  Clear=fresh.  Cloudy=not fresh.  The choice for us was between a sea trout and a striped bass/rockfish. The former had cloudy eyes so it was rejected in favor of a 4 lb. rockfish.  The fish was cleaned and gutted for us there at the store.

Sarah and Emily took charge of the preparation.  I was the photographer.

Herbs: rosemary & sage from the garden; Emily's Meyer lemons in background and sliced lemons foreground for fish; broccoli and cauliflower florets ready to be roasted.

Rinsing the fish.




Just fits on the pan.



Salt & pepper first.



Stuff with lemon slices and herbs.


Drizzle on olive oil.


In the oven roasting for 35 minutes.


It's ready.






And we are ready to eat it.  Fish servings plated and we'll pass the lemon risotto, mushrooms and roasted vegetables.




It was delicious.  A new first in this household for these cooks.

5 comments:

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi Marcia. Well that all looks great and Imam sure it tasted wonderful. I hope 2014 will bring many more firsts for you so very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

1st Man said...

That looks delicious. I'll be honest, never been a bit fish fan, but that really comes from just not trying it often. That looks delicious might have to give something like that a shot! Hope you had a great christmas!!!

Fun60 said...

I love fish and would have enjoyed sharing that meal with you all. Happy New Year.

Lea said...

Looks great!
I should try to be more adventuresome in the kitchen.
Happy New Year!
Lea

2 Tramps said...

Well done! And it looks so wonderful! A beautiful fish! Last time I cooked a whole fish was far up on Vancouver Island in British Columbia - it was a black sea bass that I caught just hours before. We grilled it whole and it was very tasty. But yours looks better - Meyer lemons and fresh herbs - yummm!