Delicious Holiday Salmon

I'm always looking for something different for the holidays. I get bored with the same old traditions year after year. I have decided to serve fish this year and thought I would share the recipe for my Christmas dinner.

Broiled Salmon with Garlic Butter

1/4 cup butter
2 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon or
1 teaspoon dried, crumbled
Freshly ground pepper to taste
2 (1-inch-thick) salmon fillets
Salt to taste

1. Preheat broiler. Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat and saute garlic for a few seconds. Remove from heat and add lemon juice, tarragon and pepper.
2. Arrange salmon skin side down on broilerproof pan. Brush with half of butter mixture. Season with salt. Broil until nearly cooked; turn over and a cook until done to personal preference.
3. Plate the fish. Reheat remaining lemon/butter sauce; spoon over salmon and serve.

Asparagus Risotto

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
3 cups water
2 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, divided
1 pound fresh asparagus spears, diagonally sliced into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup uncooked Arborio Rice
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat water and broth in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and keep warm. Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium heat; add asparagus and cook until tender crisp. Remove asparagus; set aside. In same saucepan, cook onion in remaining 1 tablespoon butter until soft. Add rice and stir 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine; stir until absorbed. Increase heat to medium-high; stir in 1 cup water-broth mixture.
Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until liquid is absorbed. Continue stirring and adding remaining water-broth mixture 1 cup at a time, allowing each cup to be absorbed before adding another. Cook until rice is tender and mixture has a creamy consistency, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in asparagus, cream, cheese, salt and pepper. Stir until mixture is creamy