Baked Halibut with Pesto

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Put the butter in a casserole dish large enough to hold the fish in one layer, and place the dish in the oven to melt the butter. Remove the dish from the oven and coat both sides of the fish with butter by flipping it once in the dish. (If the fillet has skin, the skin side should be down after you flip the fish.)
• Brush the pesto on top of the halibut flesh. (At this point, the fish can be covered and refrigerated for up to 12 hours.) Bake it for 15 - 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until it is just cooked through and flakes easily. Serve it immediately.

Slow Cooker Directions

• Place each piece of fish on a separate piece of aluminum foil large enough to fold into a packet. Melt the butter, then brush each fillet with the butter and top it with the pesto. Fold the foil around the fish, making a packet. Place the packets in the slow cooker, stacking as necessary, and cook on low for 7 - 8 hours or on high for 3 1/2 - 4 hours. (Slow cooker cooking times may vary—Get to know your slow cooker and, if necessary, adjust cooking times accordingly.)

Homemade Pesto Sauce

• To make delicious fresh pesto, in a blender or food processor, combine 2 cups (tightly packed) fresh basil leaves, 2 chopped garlic cloves, 2 Tbsp. pine nuts, 1/2 cup olive oil, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Process or blend it until it is coarsely mixed.