Haddock Mornay - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 -5 lbs haddock or 4 -5 lbs cod, cut in 8 serving-size portions
melted butter or margarine to baste fish
salt
pepper
Sauce
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons minced onions
5 tablespoons flour
1 quart hot milk or 1 quart half-and-half
1 teaspoon chicken base or 1 chicken bouillon cube
salt
white pepper
2 cups grated medium-aged cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
2 drops Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup sherry wine
additional parmesan cheese and grated cheddar cheese mixed with a few breadcrumbs (to garnish) (optional)

Preparation

Bake at 350.
Arrange fillets in a large shallow baking dish. Brush lightly with butter or margarine. Add salt and pepper.
Place a buttered piece of brown paper or parchment paper over fish. Bake 35-40 minute or until done. Ten minute before fish is done, drain off liquid and remove paper. Fish should be just barely done with plenty of moisture still in the flesh. While fish is baking, prepare sauce.
To make sauce: In heavy saucepan, heat butter, add onions and saute. Add flour, stirring constantly.
Saute over low heat, stirring for 3-4 mi. to make a roux. Continue to stir, add milk or half and half and chicken base or bouillon cube. Stir until sauce thickens.
Add salt and white pepper to taste. When sauce is of a medium to medium-thick consistency, remove from heat. Add cheeses and Worcestershire sauce and blend. Add sherry.
Pour hot sauce over fish to cover. Top with Parmesan cheese and grated cheddar cheese mixed with a few bread crumbs, if desired.
Bake in preheated 325 oven 20-30 minute or until sauce bubbles. Serve immediately. Makes 8-10 servings.
If dish is prepared ahead and baked later, be sure that the center of the sauce is bubbling when reheated. This will take about 1 hour.