Salmon on Saturday

Saturday afternoon and I'm at the grocery store. I can't decide what to cook.  In my arms I have ingredients for homemade pizza crust, I'm looking at a full chicken I want to roast, and the salmon steaks are on sale.  I believe I mentioned that we are on a budget, so I give up on two out of the three and go with the salmon.  What I don't realize is that the salmon that I'm contemplating not only has the skin on (I do,in fact, realize that) but it is still full of bones and not fully prepared.  We've covered my aversion to raw meat, and salmon is no exception. Nonetheless, I dutifully cut off the skin, and removed every bone I could find with my hands.  I did not enjoy it, but breaking the barriers of the ook-factor make me happy. Then I proceeded to create poached salmon with a TRUE Bearnaise sauce (which worked out better than the last, but not Le Cordon Bleu good).  Also, I didn't know that whisking could count as cardio, but going solely based on the sweat I broke, here's hoping I worked off even an ounce of the butter I ate this week.

I made the sauce out of white wine, vinegar, vermouth, tarragon, and green onion, simmered and reduced, then blended with egg yolk, and boiled butter, and whisked until frothy.  I simmered leeks and carrots in chicken stock and mushrooms and tomatoes in butter.  Added rice to the leek/carrot mixture.   The salmon was the best part, I wish I'd done potatoes again instead of the rice concoction. I do have a picture but its on my blackberry (camera is still out of batteries) and my blackberry is in the bedroom with my still sleeping husband.   

After five days of working and cooking, you may not hear from me for a couple days or so.  I am craving cinnamon buns, so I will post the triumphs and fails of my first real attempt, if there happens to be one, but otherwise its grilled cheese and tomato soup for a couple days.  Next week's challenge - gourmet on a budget, using ingredients out of the fridge and freezer, supplemented only with fresh produce and spices.  I think I spent about 3 weeks worth of grocery money this week.