In the spirit of summer & another season at LBI, I must discuss the easiest most delicious fish recipe ever. Talk about quintessential summer baby....this is IT! I do make this all year round, but the first time I ever threw it all together was a couple years ago when I was living by myself in LBI for the summer, and I do make it more frequently in the summer months because it's one of those oven options that you can also wrap in foil & throw on the grill.
In case you aren't familiar with Long Beach Island & my love affair with it. Here's a quick little explanation of how it all came to be: LBI is located about 25-30 miles north of Atlantic City off the coast of the great old state of New Jersey. The island is 18 miles and long and at most, if not all points, it's less than a 1/2 mile wide (ocean on one side & bay on the other). It's separated into a bunch of quaint little towns that all pretty much possess a local sandwich/bagel shop, a pizzeria, and of course ice cream in walking distance.
I would imagine my affinity for LBI started in the womb, since my grandfather tended to a church in Harvey Cedars (one of the small towns on the island) long before I was born. However, the pre-birth crush turned into a long standing love affair as my family returned here summer after summer. My family still rents the very same house on 42nd St., right next to the OH Fudge candy store, that they have been renting since I was born. However, once I graduated from college I began summering down here with my friends. I taught & coached swimming at a local yacht club & fell head over heels in love with every inch of the island as I spent much of my time here alone when my friends returned north for their jobs. I sipped coffee on the deck, threw fish on the grill, and strolled to the ice cream store more often alone than with friends or loved ones, so I found a friend in the quiet mornings & the crashing waves that would so often whisper me to sleep. There is a magic here that somehow always makes me whole again, and each time I make a simple summer fish dish it brings a little glimmer of that magic to wherever I am & whoever I'm with.
Enjoy...
Fish (Tilapia, Flounder, Cod, Halibut)
White Wine (I use Sauvignon Blanc b/c that's what I drink so there's always some in the fridge)
Two Lemons
Two Garlic Cloves (minced)
Parsley
Salt & Pepper
Butter
Capers (If you have them...sometimes I feel like them, sometimes I don't)
Season fish on both sides with Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
Place fish in baking clear baking dish
Pour 1/2 cup-1 cup of wine into dish (fish shouldn't float, but good amount of wine)
Squeeze the juice of an entire lemon into dish
Add garlic to liquid/fish
Cut 1 tbs. of butter for each piece of fish & put on top
Slice 1/2 of second lemon & put slice of lemon on top of each pat of butter
Put remainder of lemon around dish
Sprinkle w/ parsley
Bake in oven @ 350 for about 20 minutes. The broth is to die for so you can put over pasta, quinoa, or spinach. I like all of them.
