Skip to main content

Salmon Cakes and a Kind Word

       A few years ago two of my friends and I were struggling with obesity. We decided to start a blog to encourage each other to change our lifestyles and maybe, just maybe we could  achieve that dream of a healthier more fit body. In the blog my friend mentioned a book that might help us on our quest. Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat. By Naomi Moriyama and William Doyle. A couple of days later we were contacted by this incredible lady. She offered and did send each of us one of her books. This book tells the lifestyle of the Japanese woman and tells why they do not have obesity problems when they stay with their traditional diets. I will not profess that I stuck to the traditional Japanese lifestyle and diet but the encouragement from this complete stranger did have a profound effect.  Remember to encourage somebody today. No matter what the individual is trying to do a little spoken word, message or e-mail may be all it takes to help them to complete their goal.                     
                                                                                                                  
      Today I tried a recipe from this book. Fresh salmon patties. I have never made any type of salmon cake although my mother used to make them with canned salmon. I can say that I didn't care much for those. The ones I made today were quite different from Mom's. I really enjoyed these today. I think the freshness of the salmon and other ingredients made the difference. I can't wait to try another recipe from this book!


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Remembering Birch Creek Orchards

Recently, I have been reading a book by Barbara Kingsolver titled "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle."  This book is truly inspiring and focuses on harvesting local foods to reduce the amount of fuel used to transport foods all over the U.S.  She also emphasizes eating foods only when they are in season. Over Labor Day weekend, we took a trip back home to Jeddo, MI for my cousin's wedding (shout out to the beautiful bride Sarah Lawson!!).  While there, my uncle Mike invited us to his house to pick fresh peaches, apples and pears.  I was thrilled! This was my chance to eat locally and harvest fruit while it was in season! No more California fruit for me!  I took my husband and kids and we picked away. We filled boxes full of fruit and ate the fruit right off the tree! It was a special treat for me. Then it hit me, sadness...see friends, growing up my family helped operate Birch Creek Orchards in Jeddo, Mi.  Everyone in my family helped!  Even the smalle...

The Secret Ingredient

     I like to measure the ingredients and lay them all out before starting a new recipe. The other day when Lily was going to be in the kitchen making dinner for us, I began to wonder, as I looked at my spice shelf. What is the most important ingredient or spice that I have? What is used the most? What ingredient is the most important overall? Seems like salt is used in most recipes. But what type? Sea salt, Iodized, Kosher, or Seasoned Salt. What ingredient or spice will make Lily's version of Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage special? All was laid out ready for Lily to add in the order the recipe called for. She executed with perfection.       As I watched her grate the Parmesan cheese that finishes the dish, it came to me. The secret ingredient. The one that for me makes every meal special. SHARING ! When finished, I realized that this really good meal, first introduced to me by my Son and Daughter-in-law, was indeed just as good as the time they served ...

It was just a platter !

    There was a platter in some of my grandmothers things that my father had brought home years ago. There is a picture of a turkey on the face of the platter. It is still in fair condition considering that I am sure grandma used it a lot. We celebrated every holiday and lots of Sundays eating at her house. And since she didn't have a lot of "stuff" stored around in her small house, I'm sure I have seen it setting on the table with hams, turkeys or meat loafs to be served.      It wasn't until I turned it over that the true value of this platter was revealed to me! No it wasn't a makers mark from a fine china company in Japan or Germany. Nothing to convince me that this was valuable fine china. It was a piece of adhesive tape right in the middle of the back. Written in grandma's hand writing was a note. It read, From Mary Kathryn and Robert Lee, 1953. It was a gift to her from my parents in the year that I was born. Priceless!     The first thing I d...