Need an easy and quick dinner idea? Try Crispy Cod with a Lemon Butter White Wine Sauce (beurre blanc). It sounds fancy but is so quick and easy, it is perfect for a weeknight.
I hope you will indulge me today. While I adore this recipe, Crispy Cod with Lemon, Butter and White Wine Sauce, I am not going to write about it. We lost a very dear friend yesterday, and talking about food just doesn’t seem very important. Instead I would love to tell you about him and share some memories. He deserves to be remembered for he had the biggest heart of anyone I know. We moved to Georgia 6 years ago and wanted to find a friendly neighborhood to live in. Yes the house was important but we really were looking for a neighborhood of friends. We quickly found that in our subdivision and so much more.
Rich was one of the first people we met. I have to admit the first time I met him, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. Rich was well over 6 feet tall, very direct, honest and I mistakenly thought gruff. He is the type of person that asserts themselves into your life without you asking. I just did not know how to take him. I very quickly learned Rich was a big teddy bear and what I mistook as “asserting himself” was actually him taking us under his wing. He wanted to take care of us, because he cared so much. I can still hear his voice answering one of my calls to borrow milk or eggs “Hi Honey”. That was always the way he greeted me. Even when I called two days before his son’s wedding in a panic to borrow some eggs for cupcakes I needed the next day for my daughter’s school. Like an idiot, I had forgotten they were out-of-town for the wedding (still banging my head against the wall for that one) and called. “Sure”, he said,”Just go into the house and get them.”
When new people moved into the neighborhood, Rich was always the first at their door with a plate of cookies he had baked. If my door bell rang before 9am, I knew it was Rich. It makes me laugh to think about that. No one else would come to the door before 9am except Rich. The elementary school bus stop just happened to be at his driveway. On rainy days, he would open his garage so the kids could stay dry. He would surprise them with cookies after school or just talk to them for a few minutes and have them giggling away. He was great with kids, especially his own grand children.
Rich was a little bit of a picky eater but was always a good sport about trying something at our house. One time he wanted to make my Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal. Instead of following the recipe, he brings all the ingredients over to my house and we made it together. I love that memory. I cannot help but smile. Another favorite memory of mine was a progressive dinner we had. We started at another very good friends house for cocktails. This was one of few times I saw Rich a little toasty, actually we all were. Good thing we could walk to each other’s house. We started with sangria, mojitos and appetizers. We may have all drank a little more than we ate. Next stop was Rich and Mary’s house for the most divine stuffed cabbage. This was the real deal stuffed cabbage, I believe it was his mother or grandmother’s recipe. When I asked for the recipe, he let me borrow his family cookbook.
He so happily gave of himself without asking anything in return. You were his friend and that meant he gave you his all. Above everything else, I feel we owe my husband’s health to him. Rich had heart attack a year or two before my husband did. My husband kept having problems after his heart attack and was not progressing like he should. Rich kept insisting my husband see his doctor. Finally he did, and I will be eternally grateful to Rich for staying on him to do this. Dr. Guest figured out the problem on the very first visit. Without Rich and Dr. Guest, I don’t know that he would be doing so well today.
I feel so honored to have known Rich and been considered a friend. As good a friend as he was, he was an even better husband, father and grandfather. He and Mary’s marriage was one we wanted to emulate. They were just about to celebrate 40 years together. Whatever twist of fate brought us to this neighborhood and brought him into our lives is something I am eternally grateful for. I will miss him dearly. There are very few men like Rich.
Thanks for indulging me today. Writing about him and sharing him with you has lightened my heart. There is not much I can do for his loved ones, but I can keep his memory strong and tell others of this wonderful man. Now back to your “regular programming” and the recipe.
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Follow me on Pinterest Christie@Food Done Light
Serves About 4 oz fish and 1 tbsp. sauce
5 minPrep Time
10 minCook Time
15 minTotal Time
Save Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 lbs. cod
- 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tsp. oil, divided
- 1 tbsp. + 2 tsp. unsalted butter, divided
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1 tbsp. capers
Instructions
- Place flour in a shallow plate and stir in salt and pepper.
- Dredge both sides of the fish in the flour mixture.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tsp. oil and 1 tsp. butter.
- When the oil is hot, add half of the fish. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Place on a plate and keep warm.
- Add another teaspoon of oil and butter.
- Cook remaining fish for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Place on the plate.
- Add lemon juice and wine to the skillet. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the capers and simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in remaining tablespoon of butter and serve.
Happy Healthy Eating,
Christie
But wait, there’s more. Check out these deliciously, low calorie seafood recipes:
Alaskan Cod with Clam Chowder Sauce
Asian Halibut in Parchment Paper
Blackened Fish Sandwich with Coleslaw
Thank you for sharing some of your memories of your wonderful friend. I am sorry for his passing. His family will be in my prayers.
Thank you so much Chris
I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Thank you for sharing your memories. My prayers are with his family and friends.
Thank you Patricia. It has just been one year. Still makes me sad.
What a wonderful tribute to a very special person. This cod looks absolutely scrumptious!
Thanks Ashley.
Rich sounds like he was a very special person. Thank you for sharing with us!
And thanks for a wonderful recipe! I love easy dinners that taste all swanky 😉
Thank you Stephanie.
He sounds like an incredible guy. Thanks for sharing about him.
Thanks Debra. Rich really was very special.
So very sorry for your loss. This was beautiful tribute and he sounds like an amazing person.
Thanks Des. It really helped to write about Rich.
So sorry for your loss. Cod is one of my favorites so I’m going to put this on our menu plan for next week.
Thank you Sara.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I love remembering the good times with loved ones too. It makes it a bit easier to smile while still having pain over the loss. PS, the cod looks so good I want to eat it through the screen!
Thank you so much Sabrina.
The cod looks perfectly cooked and the sauce sounds amazing! Totally a meal I’d love. I’m so sorry for your loss! Hugs!
Thank you Sheena
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, Christie. <3
I do have to say that this fish dish looks amazing! My husband doesn't eat much fish, but I think he would love this recipe. 🙂
Thank you Carrie. This dish is a good one for people that aren’t sure about fish. Plenty of other flavors and a mild fish.
Wow Chris, that was a beautiful tribute to Rich. We all wish we had the opportunity to have a wonderful neighbor like him. Prayers for his family.
Thank you Patti.
Christie,
Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories about your dear friend. Rich. Losing close friends is always difficult. But by putting your memories in writing is excellent therapy. I try to sit down and write a Dear God letter every night in a journal. Sometimes it easier to write your thoughts and prayers down rather saying them to yourself. Prayers for Rich’s family and yours.
I’m trying to get my family to eat healthier and this is going on the dinner table tomorrow night. Looking forward to your next reciepe.
Thank you
Thank you Lynn. I still think of Rich often. I hope your family enjoys this recipe.
my parents always made cod, and as a kid i loved it. not sure why I don;t make it more often – this looks delicious
Thanks Heather. We eat a lot of cod. It is so quick and easy to cook.
Christie, I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. It was a lovely tribute and I am sure he knew how much his friendship meant to you. Please know I am thinking of you and his family.
Your cod looks wonderful…I do love white wine sauce. And I know my family will enjoy this. Thank you.
Thanks so much Michelle.
Here’s to Rich. Never knew him but you have paid him a great tribute here. My wife and I devoured this dish tonight. A feast of flavour and a glorious way for you to honour him and his legacy. Kind people deserve to be celebrated. Thank you. You have made my evening.
Thank you so much Neil. You just made my evening too.