Stuffed Flounder 2

4 Flounder steaks (3/4-1 lb)
1 medium Onion, chopped (~3/4 cup)
1 Celery rib, chopped (~1-3 c)
1/3 cup of Chopped bell pepper,
1/4 pound of Unsalted butter, melted
1 pound of Crabmeat
2 cups of White bread torn into small
2 large Eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon of Chopped parsley
1 1/4 pound of center slice boned ham
1 tablespoon of Amontillado sherry
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to
Juice of one lemon

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Lay the fish bottom side (the white side) up on a cutting board and make an incision in each fish down to the backbone along the center of the fish, stopping just shy of the head and tail. Working at an oblique angle, slip the knife in between the flesh and backbone and run the knife down the ribs on both sides of the backbone. Sauté the onion, celery and bell pepper in a heavy sauté pan in about half of the butter over medium-high heat until the onions begin to become transparent, about 5 minutes. Toss with the crabmeat, bread, eggs, parsley, ham, and sherry, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Remember that the country ham is salty and will impart its flavor to the crabmeat. Stuff the fish with the mixture, brush a glass baking pan with some of the remaining butter, and add the fish to the pan. Mix the rest of the butter with the lemon juice, pour over the fish, and bake for 30-45 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. From Tucson area newspapers, 1994, 3rd quarter, courtesy Mike Orchekowski. File ftp://ftp.idiscover.co.uk/pub/food/mealmaster/recipes/tn-94q3.zip