Simple Meals ~ Salmon Patties

This is one of those meals from my childhood. 

A favorite.

A very simple meal, really nice for the last day of a Holiday HoHo Vacation.

{and even more so, if you have left overs

to make sandwiches on the road tripp home the next day}

Salmon Patties quickly became one of
The Chook Man and The Womb Fruits favorites too.

I prefer mine the next day, cold, 

made into a sandwich on fresh white bread and mayo.

Yum.

Cans of Salmon

1 Egg

Mayo

Mustard

Salt & PePPer

I used three cans and it made just enough for 5 adults

and 2 kiddos.

No left overs.

Open the Salmon and dump into a bowl.

Clean it up a bit,

by taking out the skin and round backbone bits.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just the bigger pieces.

With Salmon, I once again keep the Spices & Flavorings, simple.

It's similar to making Tuna, when you add your Seasoning.

I say be careful with your Mustard and Salt,

 because too much seems to throw off the taste of the Salmon,

and it's a bit salty in the first place.

Add your Egg, to help hold it together.

Mix well and form into patties.

I use  a non~stick pan, with no oil.
Just cook until holds together, and nice dark golden on both sides.
Add sides to make a meal,
or let cool and make sandwiches.


Score another one for the Happy Campers on Holiday!

The Big Dinner

We always try to have one The Big Dinner 

when we do road tripps.  

Sometimes, it's a Restaurant, Sometimes, it's cOOking.

Since we had a full kitchen I was in the mood to cook it.

A full on Roast Beef Dinner

I love to cook roast, its just that I hardly do.

I like Sirloin Tip roast best, 
but any beef roast will do.
As with most all of the meat I cook, 
I use very simple Spices.

For the Roast, I use:
Salt
PePPer
Garlic ~ fresh or powdered
Onion ~ diced or little strips
Water ~ about 1 cup


Tin Foil
Roasting pan or dish
*****
Puncture the Roast all over, place some cloves of Garlic in a few. Throw the Onions and rest of the Garlic into the pan, 
add the water, cover with Tin Foil.
 









I cook my Roast on a low temperature, 
around *250/300 degrees 
for approximately 45 mins to an hour. 
Adjust yours to the size of your roast 
and the temperature of your oven.
Take the Tin Foil off 
and turn temperature up to around *350,
finish cooking for another 30 ~ 40 minutes, 
basting a couple of times.
Test the Roast. 
I cut the center to see, and go from there. 
We like med!rare at our humble abode.





The Sides
*****
Yams ~ I just opened the can, put in pot, added a touch of salt,
a sprinkle of sugar and cooked on a low heat til heated through.

Peas ~ a couple of pieces of butter; 
cook til heated through. 









Rice ~ long grain.
Cooked for about 20 mins and then allowed 
to "steam" with towel placed on top
MAKE SURE BURNER IS OFF!!!!!

And of course, I~have~conquered~the~gravy Gravy.

This time I decided to try a canned store bought Beef broth

which worked technically, but wasn't anywhere NEAR the prize 

you get when you use  
the Broth & Drippings from the actual meat.

It was still delicious; just had to flavor it up more.

Who is that guy?

Add drinks,

Bread,

Cherry Clafouti for Dessert

and you truly have The Big Dinner!

The only sound was the clinking and tinkling

of Silverware against China.

Is there a better compliment?

Cherry Clafoutis

Cherry Clafoutis is the Cherry BomB!

A few years ago, 
I made a Cherry Clafoutis to bring to a dinner party.
The recipe just sounded Divine to me,
Custard and Cherries baked together...
um, yummm.

Since our condo had a full kitchen, 
I knew this would be the perfect time to bake it again.

After looking at many recipes, 
I stumbled upon someone using Julia Child's recipe.  

Unbeknownst to Me, 
it has become very popular since the movie came out. 
Oh well, I like Julia Child 

The recipe sounded really good 
with no diet or low anything in it.
It helped that the Cherries I were really great too!

The recipe says 
to bake a thin layer  of custard
then add the Cherries, 
and rest of the batter. 
I didn't. 
And it came out Fantabulous!





I also DID NOT PIT the CHERRIES.
The Pits are supposed to add a subtle Almond flavor,
so I left them in.
and No One broke a tooth!
Forewarned is Forearmed...

About the Baking Dish!
I used a 9 x 13 baking dish.
If you like thicker custards, use a smaller dish.
Or you may double the batch, so adjust your dish accordingly.

 









Cherry Clafoutis the Julia Child's Way
**************************
1 1/4 cups Milk
1/3 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
1 Tbls Vanilla
1/8 Tsp Salt
1/2 cup Flour
3 cups Cherries {I DID NOT PIT MINE}
1/3 cup Sugar

BuTTer 

 Preheat oven to *350
 Butter well! a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Place Cherries in the baking dish 
and sprinkle 1/3 cup Sugar over them.

In a blender, 
blend the Milk, other Sugar, Eggs, Vanilla, Salt, and Flour.
Pour over the Cherries, slowly, so you don't go knocking them about.

Bake for about 45 minutes
{depending on your oven}
until the Clafouti is puffed and golden brown;
and a knife, wooden stick, comes out clean when tested.
I tend to like my custards like this, more on the "dry" side.


It really is best warm.
Ours was rOOm temperature and was just a good.
You may want to serve it sprinkled with powdered sugar.


There were no leftovers.

7/12/10

Florida Bound

 Boogie on the Beach ~ Red Elvises
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS5jEbr_bYk


We're going to the beach, We're going to the beach...
I'm excited
The Chook Man is excited
The Womb Fruits are excited...

even The Grown Womb Fruits, for they are coming too!

I've always loved zipping through the underwater tunnel in Mobile, Alabama.
Alas, there is no more zipping through for traffic sucks here just like every where else.
But it doesn't stop The Family from enjoying it.

The Trick to any vacation is Organization! especially for the Beach.
so, I organized.

There's the Goodie Bag full of goodies to keep my busy, on and off the Beach.

There's the Beach Bag with all we might need ~ Towels, Sunscreen, Floaties, Water, Snacks, Goggles..

Movies ~ thanks to technology, we can buy them, bring them, and watch them...on the move. or not.
Found~ Walmart $5 dollar bin ~ The classic Adventures in Babysitting.

Paperbacks ~ a beach must! Toss in a couple and you'll effectively keep busy while you roast your flesh.
umm, yumm, is that cocount?

We are all set.

Road Tripp

Doin my part to help out, I will be basting my buns in the sun....

cHOCOLATE wALNUT bREAKFAST cAKE

 

I discovered this unholy~licious cake

from a cookbook found in the sale bin.

Quick and Easy Chocolate.

It was Love at first bite.

And quite by accident I found it to be PERFECT

for Breakfast.

It's not an overly sweet cake.

It's very heavy, dense.

You can taste the cocoa, and dark chocolate.

The walnuts really rock the taste.

Add your favorite cup of tea,

or java,

and breakfast is actually enjoyable again!

It's also the cake I'm baking the

night before our Road Tripp.

It's the perfect car~snacker.

When I bake this cake,

 I make a few adjustments:

*I double the recipe

* I use a 9" cheesecake pan w/ removable bottom

* I have not frosted mine yet.

  

Start the recipe as written with the correct measurements

at least the first time You bake it, to get a feel for it.

and Honey, this is Not a calorie counting cake..

 Ingredients:

*************

4 eggs

1/2 cup superfine sugar

1 cup all purpose flour

1 Tbsp unsweetened CoCoa

2 tbsp Butter, melted

2 1/4 oz dark chocolate, melted

1 1/4 cups chopped Walnuts

 a dash of Vanilla

Preheat oven to *325.

Grease a 7 inch deep round cake pan and line the base.

Place the eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl,

whish with electric beaters for 10 minutes

or until the mixtre is light and foamy and the whish keaves a trail that lasts a few seconds when lifted.

Sift together flour and cocoa,

fold into egg/sugar mixture.

Fold in the melted butter and chocolate,

and the chopped walnuts.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake

about 30 - 35 minutes until springy to touch.

Leave to cool in pan for 5 minutes,

then transfer to a wire rack.

*****************************************************

Now if you decide to Frost the cake:

2 3/4 oz dark chocolate

1/2 cup butter

1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar

2 tbsp milk

walnut halves, to decorate.

Melt the dark chocolate and leave to cool slightly.

Beat together the butter, confectioners sugar

and milk in a bowl until the mixutre 

is pale and fluffy.

Whisk in the melted chocolate.

Slice the cold cake into 2 layers.

Spread up to 1/2 of the frosting on the top of one layer

place second layer next,

and then use rest of frosting on top of second layer.

Decorate with walnut halves.

Quick & Easy Chocolate by Parragon Publishing

White

With the heat of SuMMer melting Us into pools of gloob, 

You may associate White with the glaring heat and killer death rays
of the sun....not I.

To me, it is the vision of Wynter and the wishful want of Sneaux.

At least, in that theater called my Mind, it is....sigh.

What better way to dance your way into cooler weather 

than with this sweet pair of Mary Janes!  

I'm not sure about this whole no white after labor day thing, 

but I have no doubt that I could smash it up with something 
and look great!

While hunkering inside the Humble Abode,

pass some Creative Time with Your Self, Kids, Friends

and make these cards speaketh!

They just ache for something Fantastical.

Expressions, bits of PaPer, Mod Podge....

Priscilla says "Sugar, don't forget The GLiTTer!

 I see a deck of Tarot Cards.....

 Naturally, in the Glaring Heat,
Hair can quickly become Your worst enemy!

The Longer the Hair, the more evil it is...

And since I entertain no thoughts of cutting it, I shall pin it up. 

Although these pins are listed as Bridal, 

there is no reason why they can't be worn any other time.

Put on that wrap dress and pin that hair up....

and whether its the summer breeze blowing on your neck

or your honey blowing sweet nothings in your ear.

no worries, Your hair is

 All I could think when I saw these, 
was how delightful it would be to just dive in 

{WITH a spOOn!} 
to some luscious pudding or parfait....

cause, everybody loves parfait!

maybe even something exotic, like Geranium Rice Pudding.

 I'm not usually a fan of white purses; but this LoVeLy caught My eye.

It reminds me of mOOnflowers at night. 

Perfect for a full moon evening in New Orleans, anytime.

and then, there's just good old Ivory Soap. 

It makes me feel clean just by scent.

And on those hot sticky days and nights, 

who wants a film of anything adding extra nuisance?!

I see your hiney, so bright and shiny....

 White Wedding ~ Billy Idol 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AofzLsvTsM0

Knights in White Satin ~ The Moody Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9muzyOd4Lh8

Dear Golden Vintage ~ Mary Janes
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51795161/vintage-1960s-babydoll-mary-janes

Scrap Bits ~ Blank Cards
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53181024/48-top-notes-rectangle-scroll-white

Venust ~ Flower Hair Pins
http://www.etsy.com/listing/52124925/bridal-hair-pins-set-of-three-silver?ref=sr_gallery_15&%3Bga_search_query=white+hair+pins&%3Bga_search_type=all&%3Bga_page=5&%3Border=&%3Bincludes[0]=tags&%3Bincludes[1]=title

Melanie Peralto 28 ~ Milk Glass Goblets
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51726590/pair-of-milk-glass-vases-goblets

Eight Seasons ~ Purse
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51480529/summer-sale-little-rose-spray-messenger

Ivory Soap
http://www.ivory.com/

Onor's Fashion ~ Wrap Dress
http://www.etsy.com/listing/49570985/chic-elegant-wrap-dress-with-puffed?ref=sr_gallery_3&%3Bga_search_query=white+wrap+dress&%3Bga_search_type=all&%3Bga_page=&%3Border=&%3Bincludes[0]=tags&%3Bincludes[1]=title

Geranium Rice Pudding
http://www.tasteofbeirut.com/2010/07/rice-pudding-west-bekaa-style-muazzabeh/

7/8/10