Parmesan Crusted Salmon and Scalloped Potatoes Gratin

OMG...this meal was the bomb! It was, as Nancy would have said, Bombdiggity! Claudia and Blueberry joined me in trying these two new recipes. I don't think any of us spoke for the first five minutes of dinner...well other than "yum", and "mmmm" and "OMG"...

The halibut recipe was so easy. And for as easy as it was, it was absolutely to die for. I made homemade pesto - I don't believe in store bought pesto...why? Because pesto is so easy to make and is way fresher tasting when done by hand.

Parmesan Crusted Halibut

Serves: 2

• 1/4 cup Panko crumbs
• 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan cheese
• Minced zest of 1/2 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• 4 teaspoons Purchased pesto, divided
• 2 Halibut fillet

1. Preheat oven to 450F; coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray.

2. Combine panko, Parmesan, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a bowl. Spread 2 T pesto on 1 side of each halibut fillet and arrange on prepared baking sheet.

3. Press panko mixture onto pesto side of fillets, spritz crumbs with nonstick spray, then refrigerate until ready to roast.

4. Cook fillets until panko crumbs are golden brown and flesh flakes easily (10-12 minutes)

Scalloped Potato Gratin

Recipe from Tyler Florence

Serves: 5

• 1 1/2 cups Heavy cream
• 1 sprig Thyme
• 2 cloves Garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 2 Russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/8th " thick slices - be as uniform as possible
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In a saucepan, heat up the cream with a sprig of thyme, chopped garlic and nutmeg.

3. While cream is heating up, butter a casserole dish. Place a layer of potato in an overlapping pattern and season with salt and pepper. Remove cream from heat, then pour a little over the potatoes. Top with some grated Parmesan. Make 2 more layers. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Sprinkle some more Parmesan and broil until cheese browns, about 5 minutes.