Working up a big, big appetite for Sole Meunière.

It’s early, very early on an ice-cold morning. Temperatures are just above freezing. My legs are aching, my throat is rasping and my lungs are burning from the effort as I grind out another few meters. I stand out of the saddle. Press left, press right. The wind cuts across the road and freezes my hands to the bars.

I am on a training cycle in the Wicklow Mountains. I pass a gateway. “Windleigh” the house name. Nonsense, I am buffeted from left to right. I grind on. Another house, “Hillcrest”. Balderdash! The crest is supposed to be at the top. I focus my energy on my thighs. Press, lift. Press, lift. Not far to go and I can breathe easier. I pass “Holltop House” also flattering to deceive the weary cyclist. The house names anger me and set the adrenalin rushing.

This gives me the energy to push out the remaining hard yards. Onwards and upwards. Up to what feels like the top of the world. Up where there is nothing but mountain bog, sky and the occasional Wicklow sheep, eyeing me sideways as they chew the luscious grass. Up top, things flatten out and I enjoy the ride, the scenery and prospect of one big, big tasty dinner.

One of the upsides of the big bike rides in the mountains is the calorie burn. A few hours and I can leave between 2,500 and 3,000 calories behind me. That means that I have free reign to cook and eat anything and everything I like. And today, I like Sole Meunière with Baby New Potatoes and Green Beans.

The first thing I have to do is to clarify some butter. I show the pictures just to prove that I did it. Stefan posted about how to do it over on his blog here.

The process requires a ‘low and slow’ approach.

One side benefit of clarifying the butter is the buttery aroma that fills the house. It does not help quell the raging appetite.

This was the best I could do for a pouring shot. Hot butter does not make things easy.

Thankfully, there is plenty of butter for other dishes as well.

Three quarters of a pint of clarified butter from a pound.

Now, back to the sole. I got two big lemon sole for this dish. One between the Wife and my Mum. One for me. This is a very simple dish to cook.

The ingredients

• 2 big lemon sole
• A big serving of green beans
• A lemon
• A big bunch of parsley
• Lots of potatoes
• Clarified butter
• Flour, salt and pepper

First thing to do is get the potatoes on to steam. Next, trim the beans. Then get them steaming. I have a steaming appetite to satisfy, so no hanging around. 

Wash and trim the tops and the tails of the beans.

Then chop the parsley.

At this stage of the proceedings, my Mum had arrived. She took this picture while I chopped.

Then dust the fish in seasoned flour and fry it in the clarified butter.

That is a big pan, filled by a big fish. At this stage, I’d eat the leg off the table!

Remove the fish and turn down the heat. Add the parsley and give it a stir in the remaining butter.

Squeeze in the juice of a lemon, being careful not to get splattered with hot buttery parsley.

Stir in the lemon juice, spoon this over the fish and serve.

Yes, I ate it all and the seven potatoes. I would have eaten it again, given the opportunity.

I am a small chap, weighing in at around 75 kilos (165 lbs) but the mountain cycling gives one an incredible appetite. If you want to eat without guilt, get on your bike.

I nearly forgot, we had a bottle of this stuff with it. Very tasty.

Now after all that, I might have to go up the mountains again to burn it off. Happy eating and happy cycling!

Note: I am doing this training in advance of May 4th 2013 when I am participating in Cycle4Life. I intend covering the 143k course for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it is one of my goals for the year. Secondly, we are raising funds for specific works at Dublin’s Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Thirdly, well, there is no thirdly apart from the fact that I have got to love cycling in the past two years. It’s great to be able to do something that one loves while doing a bit of good.

If you want to donate to the cause, do so on this page or visit the Cycle4Life website to see what we are at. If you are in Ireland, you could even jump on your bike….