Fancy schmancy

A few months ago we got my Dad some oysters from here.   The recipient gets a pretty little certificate letting them know that they have received an oyster bed lease and a card to send in when you'd like to receive them.  My Dad figured that Christmas would be an excellent time to have a bunch of oysters to enjoy so my brother, Dad and I enjoyed some raw oysters (my Mom and Hubby declined) and then we decided to get a little fancy and make some Oysters Rockefeller.  My Dad unknowingly picked out a lighter recipe for them but in the end we were all pleased to enjoy slightly lighter version without the heavy cream sauce they sometimes feature.  Here is the recipe via epicurious

• 1 garlic clove
• 2 cups loosely packed fresh spinach
• 1 bunch watercress, stems trimmed
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons Pernod or other anise-flavored liqueur
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ground
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

• 1 pound (about) rock salt
• 24 fresh oysters, shucked, shells reserved
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 450°F. Finely chop garlic in processor. Add spinach, watercress and green onions to garlic. Process, using on/off turns, until mixture is finely chopped. Transfer mixture to medium bowl.

Combine butter, breadcrumbs, Pernod, fennel and hot sauce in processor. Process until well blended. Return spinach mixture to processor. Process, using on/off turns, just until mixtures are blended. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)

Sprinkle rock salt over large baking sheet to depth of 1/2 inch. Arrange oysters in half shells atop rock salt. Top each oyster with 1 tablespoon spinach mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until spinach mixture browns on top, about 8 minutes.

Here they are going in the oven.

Here is my father and I staring at the oven trying to figure out what they are supposed to look like when they are done.

Here they are out of the oven.

Yummy and perfect with a glass of bubbly!  Ok, so it isn't a recipe that I'll be making weekly, or even monthly but it was a super fun special treat for the holidays. 

Try it, you'll like it : )