Chilean Sea Bass with Bearnaise Sauce

Chilean Sea Bass with Bearnaise Sauce

One of the benefits of a trip to Florida is we brought back a freezer full of fresh fish from Shelly's Seafood in Homosassa. I decided to  make a Bearnaise sauce to go with the Chilean Sea Bass. Once again I adapted the recipe to fit what I had on hand. I sauteed 1/8 white onion chopped fine (usually shallots are used). I added 1/4 cup of wine vinegar and 1/4 cup of white balsamic vinegar (usually white wine is used) and let that reduce to about half. Meanwhile I melted a stick of butter. (Yes a whole stick but I only make this type of sauce every couple of months and eating at home is much less expensive than eating out). To the melted butter I added 1/2 teaspoon of dried tarragon (if I  had fresh I'd use that).

After the butter melted and cooled down I added the reduced vinegar and onion mixture. Next I separated three egg yolks and whisked them thoroughly. Then stirring constantly over a double boiler I slowly drizzled three egg yolks into butter and vinegar mixture. Keep stirring till the sauce gets thick. If the sauce starts to separate immediately remove from heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of hot water. You know anything with that much butter has to be decadently delicious.

Yesterday I had training at the Helen Arts and Heritage Center so I can volunteer to work there. Today I'll go back to glaze work and sand some bisque pieces to fire. This time of year here in Blairsville the temperatures during the day are the middle 70s to 80s but at night the temperature cools down to the  middle 50s so we open our windows at night and close them during the day and save by not using air conditioning. I could get used to this time of year. Thanks for reading and for all your comments. 

First Snow In Our New Home

 We woke up to the first snow in our new home here in Blairsville Georgia.

 And it's still coming down. Supposed to snow for several days.

Looks like I won't be going to my clay class today at the Helen Arts and Heritage Center. Guess I'll finally get around to working on some pieces here.

Hope y'all are staying warm. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

It's Been Way Too Long

Of course I was the first one at the Helen Arts and Heritage Center clay studio yesterday. In the foreground you see my camera, rolling pin, and my small flat bowl of tools I brought along with me. There are three other women in the class and the teacher. It's possible to sign up for a year's worth of studio time at the center for a reasonable fee. I think I'll sign up to take advantage of the work space and kiln firings till I get my studio set up. Signed up I can come and go as I please and have my work fired.

There are two more rooms a glazing area and kiln room. I took a few photos and then got to work. I made a leaf platter and two pinch bowls yesterday to warm up to the new clay. I'm using little loafers clay, a white stoneware. There's also a choice of some speckled stoneware which I'm sure I'll get around to using as well. If I join the studio and work four hours a month I can sell my work in the gallery and keep 80 percent, more than fair.

It's been way too long since I worked in clay. Looking at these photos almost makes me cry at the sacrifice I made without clay over the past few months. Actually I stopped working in clay before we moved so it's been almost a year; me not even fully or consciously realizing it till now. Looking back I feel I was languishing away without clay.

And the cats were languishing away in such cooped up quarters. I've been giving them lots of cuddles to make up for the trauma they experienced being so cooped up in the motor home. I knew there was an end in sight but the cats had no idea. I'm sure they felt as if they were in a prison with no possibility of parole. I think it was a bit of the same for me. I can imagine how someone in prison must feel. When they're released they can finally let the trapped feelings go and cry with relief. They want to go out and experience all they've missed while in prison.

When I got home from the clay studio I wanted to get right to work with clay and never stop. I brought some clay home with me but I made dinner instead, thinking about clay. I fell asleep dreaming of work I want to make and woke up very very early thinking of clay again.

So far we got a refrigerator, washer, dryer, bed, couch and are looking for a dining room table. We set up one of my plastic clay tables and two outdoor chairs in the dining area, before that we piled up boxes for a table. We've lots of unpacking to do but need to make some repairs beforehand. But all I want to do is work in clay. Meanwhile half the boxes are piled in the basement and the other half are still in the storage unit. I better make myself a daily schedule and force myself to stick to it so I don't neglect my household duties. Now I wonder where the coffee pot is? Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Helen Arts & Heritage Center Pottery Class

Gary pointed out a newspaper article about a nearby pottery class. I called them and guess what? I'm signed up to take a six week pottery class at the Helen Arts and Heritage Center in Helen, Georgia beginning next Tuesday. The class was split in two since so many signed up. The class is taught by Hilton Hill and is open to all levels of skill and includes either hand building or throwing or a combination of both. Now I have to decide if I should re-learn how to throw again or continue on with my hand building.

I decided to take a local pottery class to meet local potters and learn of locations to purchase clay and supplies. I've already learned of a local warehouse where I'll be able to purchase Highwater Clays. The class works with mid range clays and I'll be able to get my work fired there till I have a chance to sit up my new studio and get another kiln.

We're experiencing another arctic vortex with lows in the teens and wind chill even lower. Yesterday I drove to Blairsville to get the telephone and internet arranged. On the way back I drove over the Richard Russell Scenic Byway in a near blizzard which blew in all of a sudden. When I got to the top of the almost 4000 foot mountains my car was sliding in the snow on the highway; my car isn't four wheel drive. I kept moving and thankfully made it over. Gary was down in Florida wiring funds for the closing so I was glad I had no mishaps. I borrowed the photo above which is at the top of the pass. The ice is on the north side of the mountains and doesn't melt in winter. We routinely see folks ice climbing on the icicle covered rocks. Yesterday no one was up there but me. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.