Cod with Hollandaise Sauce and Artichokes

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Looking for an easy, at home, gourmet dinner?  Get a little closer to home!

This meal serves four people!

What You'll Need:

• 2 lbs. cod (or any white fish)
• 2 artichokes (I cooked 2 but you can could more if you want)
• 3 egg yokes
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (ALSO! Have the juice of two lemons at hand [this will be explained in the procedure])
• 1/2 cup butter (divided into thirds, have extra butter at hand for dipping artichokes, mayonnaise is a good alternative though)
• 1/4 tablespoon salt
• 1 clove of garlic (peel and "smushed")
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 of a medium onion (NOT chopped, just separated from itself)
• extra virgin olive oil
• desired seasoning (for the fish)

Procedure:

Artichokes:

1. With a steamer, combine bay leaves, the juice of two lemons, the garlic clove, and the onion.
2. Add water to the level that the steamer requires.
3. Cut the "spikes" off of the artichokes with cooking scissors (a recipe told me they would soften as they cooked but I found that to be false).
4. Bring to a boil, and then simmer. Put artichokes in, cover, and cook for 25-45 minutes or until the leaves are easy to remove.
5. If you are serving four and have two artichokes, cut the artichokes in half to serve.
6. Take desired amount of butter and melt to desired consistency, or use alternative dip of your choice.

Hollandaise Sauce:

1. Before you turn the heat on, in a double boiler combine the egg yolks and two tablespoons of lemon juice.  Stir with whisk until well blended.
2. Turn on low heat so the water is hot but is NOT boiling.
3. Add your first third of butter and stir constantly until melted.  Follow same step for second and third.
4. After the third and final butter third is melted into the sauce, turn off heat and and salt.  Continue to stir for about 1 minute, then cover and set aside.
5. DON'T FORGET TO WHISK BEFORE SERVING!!!
6. Make this very close to when you'll need to use it.  The longer the sauce sits, the thicker it becomes.

Cod:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit). 
2. In 6 oz. portions, place the cod on a cooking tray that is coated in extra virgin olive oil.
3. Smother the cod pieces with olive oil and desired spices, but use the spices lightly because the hollandaise sauce will make up for the light flavor.
4. Place the tray into the oven and cook for 13-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Why Eat This?

It also contains omega-3 fatty acids which help improve the functioning of the human heart muscle.  Cod is good for people with heart conditions and diabetes.  Cod also has anti-inflammatory effects on the body.

Artichokes reduce cholesterol, and benefits the liver by protecting it from toxins and infection.  They are also high in antioxidants.