My Mom's " Sole "

"My mother’s cooking always spelled “comfort” when I was growing up. We weren’t wealthy in terms of money, but we were abundantly rich in other ways. One expression of my mother’s love was the preparation of delicious meals for her family, many quite involved. Mom never took shortcuts, instead preferring to take the utmost care with every step. (She was also a 1-strand-of-tinsel-at-a-time person at Christmas!) Until her death almost 4 years ago, she took great delight in sending everyone’s taste buds into a euphoric orbit. While unpacking boxes of her belongings, I ran across a favorite red and white terry cloth apron Mom wore back in the 60’s. Memories flooded back of days spent watching her traipse happily around the kitchen with a passion for cooking I didn’t come to identify with until I was well into my own adulthood. The little apron instantly brings me back to my childhood surrounded by the heady aromas of a luscious beef stew, a rich bowl of tomato soup or crispy fried chicken that far surpassed the colonel’s. I’m now just as passionate about food and its preparation as Mom was. And when I tie the strings of her old apron around my waist and pull out this recipe of hers which I’ve renamed Mom's “Sole”, I’m treated to a nudge of maternal encouragement from the person I loved most in the world and Mom's “Sole” turns out perfectly every time! Here’s to my mother and all mothers, not just on Mother’s Day, but EVERY day! This is a fabulous dish which is rolled and poached, then covered with a silky sauce of fish stock, white wine and cream. On that goes a golden hollandaise sauce fluffed with whipped cream which is broiled briefly before serving. Definitely a decadent treat! Times are estimated."