Allow 3/4 lb. per serving.
Baking a whole fish with the head on helps to seal in juices at higher elevations.
Serve baked fish as soon as it is taken from the oven so it will not become soggy.
Preheat oven to 37 5.
Use fish no smaller than 3 lbs, have pocket made for stuffing.
Rub inside with salt and pepper.
Stuff two-thirds full with Herb Stuffing for Fish (recipe follows).
Fasten opening closed with skewers or picks.
Place fish on greased rack in open roasting pan.
Brush with melted butter or margarine, sprinkle with salt and seasoned pepper.
Bake, basting with pan juices, until fish is tender and flakes easily, about 12 - 20 minutes a pound for fish over 5 pounds, and about 1 to 2 minutes per ounce for smaller fish.
Serve baked with Bearnaise Sauce or Chablis Sauce (recipes follow).
Herb Stuffing for Fish About 4 cups Combine all ingredients.
Toss with fork until well blended.
Put stuffing lightly into fish cavity or wrap fish fillets around stuffing and secure with skewer or toothpick.
Bearnaise Sauce About 3/4 cup In top of double boiler over boiling water, melt butter with hot water.
Stir in egg yolks.
Beat with wire wisk or rotary beater until frothy.
Stir in vinegar, shallots or onion, parsley, salt and paprika to taste.
Cook, stirring constantly, just until thickened and smooth, about 8 minutes.
Remove double-boiler top from heat at once.
Serve warm.
Sauce Chablis In small heavy saucepan, combine Chablis wine, lemon juice, bay leaf, salt and peppercorns.
Cook 5 minutes over low heat, stirring to blend.
Strain sauce, adding enough water to make 1 cup.
In separate saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour.
Add strained liquids.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
Beat a little hot sauce into beaten egg yolks, then add yolk mixture to saucepan.
Cook over low heat, stirring vigorously, just until thickened - one minute or so.
Serve hot.