Well, unfortunately my camera seems to have fritzed out. One of my guests took pix, so maybe there'll be pix later.
Tonight, we celebrated our dear friend's 50th birthday. Unfortunately, she has been having some health problems, and has been placed on a strict diet. Our intended menu was VERY unhealthy indeed.
It is possible, I discovered, to make a heart/liver-healthy meal that was ALSO scrumptious. It has a seafood tilt. Let me regale you.
Appetizer: hot-smoked salmon, which I then sliced up and doused with lemon-macerated shallots, capers, and olive oil (EVOO).
1st course: steamed mussels. Ho-made white wine (pinot gris/viognier), shallots, and garlic, then I steamed the mussels in this decoction. Later, add EVOO and parsley. Served with crusty sourdough bread.
Main course:
Roasted broccoli, with garlic and EVOO. After roasting, douse in juice of Meyer lemons.
Seafood mushroom barley "risotto," made with shallots, thyme, portabellas and garlic. Here, you substitute pearled barley for arborio rice, but otherwise follow a risotto recipe. I used ho-made lobster stock for the liquid. Due to my friend's condition, I forewent the parmesan, and substituted EVOO for the butter.
Romanesco broccoli. (Yes, TWO broccoli dishes, but I was working to a request), I found a recipe that called for toasted almonds and capers. I quartered the Romanesco broccoli, then roasted it in high heat. When it became obvious this was not going to work out (because the almonds and capers were burning), I pulled the broccoli out to a new pan, and saved the remaining additions to low heat. After the broccoli was done, I remarried them, and it was wonderful. This was one of those dishes that was on the edge between wonderful and awful. I am sure I was minutes away from disaster.
Finally, main course: Swordfish steaks. I dried these as best could in 30 minutes, but they were still giving off liquid like crazy. I broiled these with a little EVOO. I did manage to cook them to 135 F internal temp, so I am happy!
Edited to add: I used a Marcella Hazen recipe for salmariglio, which is a sauce to put on the swordfish. It has salt, lemon juice, marjoram, a little garlic, and olive oil.
The guests were happy, so I was happy!