Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce

Tonight's dinner was supposed to come from Donna Hay's Flavours, however due to a dubious bunch of Basil from my local grocery store and the lack of other pertinent ingredients, it morphed into something else.

I had initially planned to make salmon with crusted chilli salad, but alas, it was not to be. I am actually quite miffed that the bunch of hydroponic basil I bought at the grocers this week had already decided to turn into a rotted mess. I am so glad the farmer's market season is finally here, because I am very sick of the rubbish that some of these supermarkets try to palm off as good produce. Anyway, I digress. As I slowly realized that I did not have all the ingredients for my intended dish...that I had been looking forward to all day, mind you....I became horrified that I had no idea what to do with my piece of salmon, that was sitting there just waiting to be turned into a culinary masterpiece.

I admit, I am not that inventive or inspired when it comes to cooking fish. I like it well enough, although its not my favourite thing in the world, but I know its good for me, so I try to have a crack at it at least once every week or two. Hubby, however, hates it with a passion, so it is not something I cook often. Especially salmon, which to him it is like being made to eat monkey brains or some other gross thing from a Survivor episode. So I started scouring my cook books for something to do with the Salmon, that I actually had the ingredients for. Unfortunately the fridge was looking a bit bare, not a lot of options. Salmon Nicoise salad...umm, no. How about Salmon Caesar salad...again, no. Salmon with maple glaze, salmon with asian marinade...no, no , no. I didn't have the ingredients for any of these things.

Finally, I broke out my new grilling book, which doesn't have an author, but I think is written by one of these companies that actually makes grills. Its called Modern Grilling by Vermont Castings, but its actually very good. Lots of pictures, just as I like it (Sorry Bobby Flay, I wanted to buy your books but alas, no pictures!).

Anyway, I found a recipe for lemon butter Salmon that I had the ingredients for and it was nice and simple. You take a large piece of foil, layer lemon slices over enough area to cover the bottom of the fish. Lay the fish on top of the lemon, season with salt and pepper, add a sprig of rosemary and two knobs of butter. Wrap it up and place on a medium grill for 15-20 minutes.

I have to say I am quite proud of myself with this dish. I lamented on my poor grilling abilities the other day, but today...I actually turned the grill on all by myself!! Now to some, this is not much of an accomplishment at all. But to me...one who has never even turned on the grill before...it was definitely a step in the right direction to becoming a grill master!! I am home alone this weekend (hubby has gone racing), so I managed to tame the grill all by myself.

**Yes, I can hear the roar of my adoring fans now :)**

My only problem then was what to serve with the salmon. Again, there was slim pickings, but I managed to throw together a salad of baby spinach, grape tomatoes, onion and some goat cheese. Oh, and a killer glass of wine :) !!!

To be honest, I didn't hold high hopes for this being the tastiest of meals, but it was pretty damn good, if I do say so myself. The salmon was very tender and quite tasty. It may not have been Donna Hay, but it worked out alight. Catastrophe (or at least a run to the Chinese take out store) successfully averted!!!