Sunday Suppers

This is a bit of an unusual recipe for Sunday Suppers.  It's one that we have as an old standby here at our house.  Lee would tell me when we first got married that he loved to eat salmon patties that his mom would make when he was growing up.  I had no clue what a salmon patty even was and even less of a clue how to go about making one.  I finally got a chance a few years later to watch his mama make these little yummies.  I have a feeling that someday my own girlies will be making these for their own families. 

Lee's Mama's Salmon Patties

2 cans of canned salmon (drained)

2 cups of plain flour

Salt to taste

Cayenne pepper to taste

Ok, I know some of you are thinking "canned fish?".  Yeah, I understand your reservations.  I had a few myself.  My Georgia people assured me that it's alright.  I got ok with it after that first taste.  I will willingly admit though that it is the only exception I am willing to make in the canned meat department.

Now on to the directions:  Empty your drained fish into a large mixing bowl and pour in your flour, salt and red pepper.  Use that salt sparingly but give that pepper shaker an enthusiastic shake or two or three.  You'll thank me later.

This is where it gets fun, if you think messy is fun. Get your hands down in there and mix it all together.  You gotta get that flour thoroughly worked into the fish.

When everything is all mushed up together start forming your patties.  Do it the way you would form a hamburger patty. If your patties won't stick together good, add a little bit of water to moisten the mixture.

You should be able to get about 15 or so patties out of one batch.  They are just a little smaller and thinner than hamburgers. 

You will want about a 1/2 inch of oil in your frying pan heated up to about 375 or med high.

Pop them down into that hot oil carefully.

We fried them about 3 minutes on each side.  Just get them to that pretty golden brown color.

Drain these little yummies on a paper towel.

Traditionally we serve salmon patties with homecut french fries and those tiny baby green peas that come in a silver can.  I know, I know, don't send me any hate/nag mail telling me just how unhealthy this meal is.  Like you don't eat junk every now and then?

At least there is something green on the table even if it did come from a can.

By the way, my family tells me to remind you all that salmon patties MUST be consumed with gourmet red sauce also known as Heinz Ketchup. 

Friday Funny

In honor of the Olympic games beginning in Beijing today, I give you Engrish!

Rotion= Found in the hotare room of the Orympic Atheretes. 

Sister Sister Sister Sister

A rare moment of sisterly togetherness

Caitlin- Now 16 and looking forward to having that all important little card that will allow her to drive all by her little self.  She bought herself a new phone that is o so cool.  It has a full, tiny little keyboard and a touch screen.  She can now text all of her buddies, who happen to all be on vacation at the moment, as quickly as her thumbs will allow! 

Holly-13 is our taller than me bookworm.  She stays to herself most of the time with her nose in a book.  When she isn't sequestered in her room, she's out here keeping us all entertained with her antics.  Some things never change.  Recently inherited Caitlin's old phone.

Abbie- just turned 12 and I am just now realizing that I forgot to blog her birthday.  Bad mommy!  Anyway, Abs is still her sweet self.  She's getting taller and her feet are bigger than the rest of ours, which means she gets her own shoes.  No fighting on Sunday morning over who is wearing the black flats for her!  Abbie is currently the primary caretaker of all things pet related.  Not sure exactly how or why it fell to her, but she seems to enjoy the job.  Sometimes we worry about her becoming the crazy cat lady but only sometimes.

Gracie-9 is currently pining away for her best friend Brenna who dared to go away on family vacation leaving her here to fill her days alone.  Ever our little Martha, most days find her busy about something crafty and creative.  I need to find that kid an outlet so she'll stop cutting up spare clothing and sewing it back together as decorative pillows. Lately she had been spotted under the kitchen sink helping with repairs and outside helping tap together a chicken coop. Busy, busy!

Overheard Conversations:

Gracie on the phone with her friend Asia

G: Did you know that we are going to get some chickens?

A: Live ones?

Caitlin while mixing brownies:

The recipe says to stir the dry ingredients into the wet ones until moist.  The wet ingredients are already moist and I haven't even stirred in the flour yet.

Gracie in the backseat sitting beside Abbie:

I need to make Abbie a birthday present.  Mommy, can I cut up those old underwear that have the holes and the elastic is loose?

Holly:

Can I drive?

Abbie while signing her up to play softball:

You do know that I can't run, catch, throw or hit right?

It's Been A Hot One!

At our house, if you do not ride roller coasters, you're just a big sissy.  Sorry if that seems harsh but, girls who are fearless in the face of breathtaking drops and stomach flipping loops can sometimes be like that.  Last year we all had this gnawing dread that Gracie would be the only sissy among  us.  She trembled on the baby coaster and quaked in fear of anything that looked even a tiny bit thrilling.  It was a sad day.  My guess is that behind closed doors her sisters used the passing winter to shame her into riding whatever crossed her path this summer.  However it happened, Gracie is, as of this summer, a courageous, roller coaster riding maniac!  Ahhh we are all breathing a little sigh of relief.

This will go down in our family history as the summer of Busch Gardens. We took advantage of the Virginia resident benefit of buying a ticket and getting a pass for the rest of the summer. So at least once a week we've been making the trek up to Williamsburg for a day of fun.  We're milking that pass for all it's worth!  The Stovall family did the same deal so Rob and I have been trading off weeks running the kiddos up there.  Once every other week is about all any sane adult can handle of even the best theme park!

The girls have learned where the cameras are on each and every ride.  They spend their time waiting in line figuring out what silly pose they will make for the camera.  Here Gracie is saying "WOW" with her mouth and fingers.  The funny thing about this picture is that this was only her second time on a roller coaster!  Ahhh... her sisters taught her well.  As for her friend Brenna sitting next to her, well, what can we say?  This was her first and last roller coaster ride.  She looks a little freaked doesn't she? The big sissy!

Having splurged for the Busch Gardens summer passes there was not room in the budget for water park tickets too.  Who needs a water park when you've got coolers?!

Sunday Suppers

I cannot stress enough how EASY EASY today's recipe is to make.  Yet considering the easiness, the wow factor is HUGE!  Just like last week's recipe, today's also came from my friend Joy who lives in Texas.  I've been making this one for years and every time it gets eaten it gets rave reviews.  It's unlike any fruit salad you've ever tasted, I promise.  It's so sweet you could almost call it dessert.  As a matter of fact, we sometimes put a dollop of cool whip on top and do just that.  I gave my mom this recipe a few years ago and it is now known down in Florida as "Joan's Special Fruit Salad".  OK Mom, your secret is out now!

Joan's Special Fruit Salad

1 large can Mandarin Oranges (drained)

1 can Pineapple Tidbits (drained)

1 container of frozen sliced Strawberries in Sugar (thawed)

SECRET/MAGIC INGREDIENT:

1 can of Peach Pie Filling (this is what makes this recipe so yummy)

Optional Ingredients:

1 can of blueberries (drained)

1 or 2 sliced bananas added just before serving or they will get mushy

(We rarely add the optional ingredients  but the salad is yummy either way)

After you drain the oranges and pineapples dump them into a large mixing bowl.

Now dump in the peach pie filling.  Make sure to scrape out all of that yummy, gooey stuff sticking to the inside of the can.

Dump in your strawberries and give it all a stir.  You could serve it now, or chill it and then serve.  You could also stir in the optional ingredients at this point. 

Give this one a try!  I promise you'll love it.

Georgia VIsits Virginia

Hey Ya'll, just passing through Virginia on the way back to Georgia.  Just had to stop in for a visit with the nieces.

This is about as serious as we could get.  That Holly is always cutting up!

As a matter of fact this shot was all Holly's doing!  That's some family picture.  Think we'll get this one enlarged and framed for Grandma's wall. 

We had a great visit.  This is how we spent quite a bit of our time, in my favorite gathering place; the kitchen.