For a delightful evening, pair the Sheet Pan Halibut with Orange and Fennel with Colleen Hoover's gripping novel "It Ends with Us" and a refreshing Orange Fennel Cocktail. The book's exploration of love and resilience complements the dish's vibrant flavors, while the cocktail ties in with its citrusy and aromatic notes. This harmonious combination creates an enriching culinary and literary experience.
Ingredients
- 4 halibut fillets (about 6 ounces each)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 large fennel bulbs, thinly sliced (reserve fronds for garnish)
- 1 large orange, thinly sliced (plus extra for zest and juice)
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the vegetables: In a large bowl, combine the sliced fennel, orange, and red onion. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat the vegetables evenly. Spread the vegetable mixture in an even layer on the prepared sheet pan.
- Season the halibut: Pat the halibut fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Add the garlic and fennel seeds: Sprinkle the minced garlic, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes (if using) over the vegetables on the sheet pan.
- Roast: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized, and the halibut is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Add citrus zest and juice: Remove the sheet pan from the oven. Grate some fresh orange zest over the halibut fillets and squeeze a bit of fresh orange juice over everything for a burst of citrus flavor.
- Serve: Transfer the roasted halibut and vegetables to serving plates. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and reserved fennel fronds.
It Ends with Us
A poignant tale of a woman’s struggle to end the cycle of abuse and create a brighter future for her family, exploring love, sacrifice, and the complexities of relationships.
In this “brave and heartbreaking novel that digs its claws into you and doesn’t let go, long after you’ve finished it” (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author) from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Your Perfects, a workaholic with a too-good-to-be-true romance can’t stop thinking about her first love. Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened. An honest, evocative, and tender novel, It Ends with Us is “a glorious and touching read, a forever keeper. The kind of book that gets handed down” (USA TODAY).
Discussion Questions
- How does the author build empathy for the protagonist, Lily, throughout the story?
- Discuss the role of Atlas in Lily's life. How does his arrival affect her decisions?
- Analyze how Hoover portrays the cycle of abuse. What elements are most impactful in illustrating this cycle?
- How does the relationship between Lily and her mother evolve?
- Discuss the significance of the title in relation to the story.
- In what ways does the book challenge the reader’s perception of right and wrong?
- How does the author use flashbacks to enhance the narrative?
- Discuss the character development of Ryle throughout the book.
- What message do you think the author is communicating about love and forgiveness?
- How does the setting influence the mood and themes of the novel?
Authors:
Colleen Hoover
ISBN: 1501110365
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published Date: 2020-07-28
Orange Fennel Cocktail
A refreshing mixed drink that highlights the citrusy and aromatic notes of orange and fennel, complementing the flavors of the halibut dish perfectly.
Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz fresh orange juice
- 1/2 oz fennel syrup (simple syrup infused with fennel seeds)
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- Splash of soda water
- Orange peel and fennel fronds for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice and add the gin, fresh orange juice, fennel syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake well until the mixture is chilled.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with a splash of soda water.
- Garnish with a twist of orange peel and a sprig of fennel fronds.