ELECTION DAY - Whole Salmon Baked in Foil

Don't forget to vote.

Today is warm with a light overcast and no wind.

The ocean is a calm high tide around noon and the water temp. is a comfortable 78 degrees, like Hawaii in the Summer.

Whether or not you are popping corks tonight here is a simple tasty salmon dinner, that will not require a lot of kitchen time.

Whole Salmon Baked in Foil

Salmon, whole – 6 lb
4 carrots, julienned and cut in 1 ½” pieces
onion, large – sliced thin
celery, 3 stalks – chopped
Kosher salt – ½ tsp
Thyme, dry – ½ tsp
Black pepper,, fresh ground – 1 tsp
Garlic cloves , 3 – crushed
Bay leaves, 2 - broken
Dry Vermouth – 1 cup
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Tear two pieces of heavy foil to fold up the sides of one and make a basket for the fish and a crimped-on cover with the second piece.

Place the fish in the middle of the basket and spread the vegetables over and around.
Pour in the vermouth. And add the salt, pepper , thyme & bay leaves.

Seal the foil basket with the second piece of foil and bake on a sheet for about 45 minutes.

Serve with fresh crusty sour dough bread.

If you want to spend just a little more time in the kitchen, here is a excellent sauce that is almost already done.

Sauce for Baked Salmon

Liquid left from baking the salmon – 2 cups
Heavy Cream – 1 cup
Butter, soft - 2 TBL
Flour – 2 TBL
Lemon juice – ½ lemon
Kosher salt – a pinch
Tabasco Sauce – 4/6 drops

Mix the liquid and cooked vegetables in a small pot and bring the heat up until it bubbles and then simmer for about 15 minutes.

Strain and add the heavy cream

Mix the butter and flour together into a paste and slowly add it to the sauce while stirring constantly with a whisk. Add the lemon juice, salt and Tabasco to taste.

Serve over hot salmon with the crusty sour dough bread.