Fresh Wild Salmon for Dinner...

from the River out back...

Our very good friends went fishing this Labor Day weekend on the Sacramento River, just around the bend from our house!

They (Wendy & Eric) shared some of their catch with us, a 25 pound Wild Salmon. 

Oh My Gosh..., so fresh, so good, so yummy-lious!

 She was a beauty! So glad Wendy & Eric decided to come by the house for a cup of coffee after fishing!

 Eric was happy to show "her" off in a picture.

 Didn't take him long to get her cleaned and ready for dinner...

 With fresh salmon it is best to get it cleaned, washed and stored in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before cooking.

Then...she's ready to cook! Yum, recipe below:

Prepare the salmon as follows. Rinse well with cold water after removing from the refrigerator. Pat dry with a paper towel. Place the salmon steak (*our steak was about 1 1/2 pounds in size), skin side down on a prepared cookie sheet. Dot with butter, @ 1/4 cube of soften butter.

Squeeze some lemon juice on the steak. Sprinkle to taste; dill weed, garlic salt and black pepper. Gently sprinkle on red pepper, careful not TOO much. Less is more. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and bake for 13 minutes. Turn off oven and let rest while you finish dinner preparations. Add capers while steak is resting.

Before serving I drizzled Red Pepper Hollandaise Sauce over the top of the Salmon and added a few french fried onions.  The hollandaise sauce was a prepared package made with butter, milk and a pinch of red pepper.

With the Wild Salmon Steak, I served saute'ed snap peas tossed in garlic & butter. Also, a simple chopped salad with green onions, tomatoes and blue cheese dressing. Season with salt & pepper.

Serve it with Style...

Thanks again Eric & Wendy...you may come for coffee anytime! ;)