Almond-Crusted Halibut with Lemon Garlic Butter...."Fire...Fire"

Yesterday was my xx birthday.  I recently saw this article from Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

This is my new mantra for life...I love this quote!

My husband and I were going to go out for some light appetizers to celebrate my birthday, since we already had dinner with our daughters the night before.  It was 9 degrees when I got home and I just wanted to be in my warm home and not go anywhere.  I figured I would just make a simple salad for us and call it good.

I walked into our house.  All the kitchen lights were on and my husband was feverishly cooking, chopping and measuring away.  He surprised me by making the most amazing 5-star dinner for my birthday with candles and a wonderful buttery Chardonnay to celebrate.

Just as he was getting ready to plate our dinners, apparently the parchment paper the halibut was broiling on, got a little too hot.  Smoke filled the kitchen and before I could get all the doors open, our smoke alarm went off! 

I have never heard an alarm like this.  A women's voice says "Fire", then there were 2 loud beeps.  It kept going so long, that it sounded like a rap dance song.  "Fire"...Woop Woop", "Fire"...Woop Woop".  We laughed so hard and started dancing to the tune, until the freezing air took over, cleared out the smoke and the alarm stopped.  This will definitely be a birthday to remember!  Dinner was out of this world (I ate every last morsel) and a great memory to go with it!!

Almond-Crusted Halibut with Lemon Garlic Butter

Courtesy of Ahead of Thyme

Lemon Garlic Butter

1/2 Tbl garlic, minced

1/2 Tbl fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 ground black pepper

1/4 cup butter, unsalted (at room temperature)

Halibut
2 fresh halibut fillets

2 Tbl lemon garlic butter (as per recipe above)

salt and pepper, to taste

3 Tbl ground almonds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place the halibut fillets on a lined baking tray and set aside.

For the Lemon Garlic Butter:  In a blender or food processor, blend together the garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper until pureed.  Add the butter and continue to blend until fully combined.

Spread 1/2 tablespoon of the lemon garlic butter on top surface of each halibut fillet, covering the surface completely.  Sprinkle a pinch of salt and pepper on to.

Sprinkle 1-1/2 tablespoons of the ground almonds on each fillet and carefully spread over the butter to full cover it.

Bake the halibut for 5 minutes

While the halibut is still in the oven, change the oven to broil on high.  Continue to cook for 5 more minutes.

Remove from oven and serve hot with a teaspoon of the remaining lemon garlic butter on top.  Enjoy!

The other great thing about birthdays, is that all those annoying-soliciting-marketing emails that you forgot you signed up for, finally pay off.  I must have received twenty birthday coupons yesterday (and we all know that I live for my coupons)!

I received a free birthday bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes.  Dear Heaven, if you have not experienced one of their cakes, go now!!!  If you don't have one of their stores near you, order from them now!!!  I decided to have their White Chocolate Raspberry bundt cake! WOW!  I may have to go back and keep celebrating my birthday the rest of this month.

One Year Ago: Creamy Penne Pesto Chicken
Two Years Ago: One Year Older
Three Years Ago: The Birthday Flirtini
Four Years Ago: Purple Potion #49
Five Years Ago: Chocolate Layered Pudding