Oysters Rockefeller with Lemon - serves 3
1 ea Boston lettuce, washed, drie
1 cup scallion, minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced
3 ea garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp anise flavored liqeur
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
36 ea lg oysters in shells
1 lemon wedges
1/2 lb fresh spinach, washed, dried
2 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs, fine
1/4 cup celery, minced
1 cup unsalted butter
1 tbsp anchovy paste
12 ea sliced bacon, lean
1 coarse salt for platters
Shuck oysters, reserving liquor and bottom shells. Scrub and dry shells.
In a bowl, combine lettuce, spinach, scallion, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, parsley, celery, and garlic.
In a skillet, met butter over moderate heat and cook the spinach mixture, stirring for 1 2 minutes, or until greens are wilted. Stir in the Pernod, anchovy paste, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste.
Chill the mixture, covered, for 1 hour.
In another skillet, cook bacon over moderate heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain, and then crumble it.
Arrange one oyster in each of the reserved shells and moisten each with some of the reserved liquor. Spread half the spinach mixture by heaping tbsp onto the oysters.
Sprinkle bacon over each oyster. Top the bacon with remaining spinach mixture and sprinkle each with 1 tbsp of remaining bread crumbs.
Arrange oysters on an oven proof platters filled with coarse salt. Bake in the middle of a preheated 450f oven for 18 minutes or until bread crumbs are well browned.
Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon wedges and serve.