Summer Luncheon ~ Salmon Croquettes

July 11, 2016July 10, 2016 RefreshHer4 Comments

A couple weeks ago while visiting my family in Kentucky, my sister had my parents and me over for a summery lunch. Everything was so delicious, and I promised I would get her recipe for the Salmon Croquettes for you all. Today’s the day!

This is a great meal – it’s healthy, it’s economical, and it’s so yummy! These are all things you could keep on hand for a busy night when you need supper in a hurry. I chop up fresh red peppers and keep them in the freezer for recipes like this. Why not plan on making this one night this week?

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Salmon Croquettes & Mayo/Herb Topping

WHAT YOU NEED:

15 oz skinless, boneless pink salmon (I used Kirkland brand from Costco)

½ cup panko crumbs

½ cup finely chopped red sweet pepper

½ cup finely chopped green onions

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 TBL mayo

1 TBL yellow mustard

Topping:

½ cup mayo

3 TBL finely chopped fresh parsley

1 TBL fresh lemon juice

1 tsp bottled hot pepper sauce

Mix topping ingredients. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
In a medium bowl combine salmon, bread crumbs, sweet pepper, green onions, egg, 2 TBL mayo, and mustard. Shape into eight 2 ½ inch patties. (about 1/3 cup each)
Coat a large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium heat. Add patties, cook 4-5 minutes or until browned. Spray the tops with cooking spray before flipping. Continue cooking 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. (160 degrees F)
Place patties on a platter with a dollop of the mayo topping.

Her potato Salad tasted like something purchased in a nice deli! This was a great addition to the Salmon!

POTATO SALAD

8 medium red potatoes

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

¼ cup chopped green onion tops

1 cup chopped celery

3 hard boiled eggs, chopped

¼ cup diced pimento

1 TBL Dijon mustard

1 cup mayo

¼ cup sour cream

salt and pepper to taste.

1 TBL seasoned salt

Wash and cube potatoes, leaving skin on. Boil potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain and place in a large mixing bowl. Mix the remaining ingredients and gently fold into potato mixture.

Now, let me end this post with a fun and delicious way to have the taste of S’mores but with a little twist! Pictured below is what we call Waffle Cone S’Mores:

Take all the ingredients you would like to melt and roast together, add it to the inside of sugar cone or waffle cone. We have found that a good combination is chocolate, marshmallows and strawberries. Fruit really adds the “over-the-top” edge! The mini Reeses cups makes the perfect little cap at the top of the cone, and when it melts…wow!

Pack it deep inside the cone, wrap in foil and set it on the grate over a fire or grill. Try to wait patiently for everything to melt together – about 10 minutes. Unwrap and enjoy!

These are the kinds of treats summer was intended for! Plus you have the fun of the fire, everyone standing around making their own dessert, laughing, munching and enjoying the summer evening. What fun!

I hope you’ll put some part of this on your menu soon. What a great recipe for your family, and one special enough for entertaining with as well!

With love from my country kitchen,

entertaining · Home decor · organization · summertime

A Look Through My Lens

July 8, 2016July 7, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

It’s unreal how much activity goes on in one week, isn’t it? I look through my photos on my camera and am shocked at how much we did in the last seven days! Let me give you a look through my lens:

On Friday night we hosted our church teen group at our home. They are led by Alli’s husband, Andrew who does a great job! The teens love both Alli and Andrew, and it was fun to see them interact that evening. They played volleyball, and a new version of football. Oh, and they ate. A LOT! Which means they loved it, and that makes me happy!Their meal was a simple one of grilled hot dogs and the fixings, but I can’t wait to tell you about the dessert we served. Here’s a little peek, but I’ll share the details with you on Monday.

On Saturday I hosted a baby shower for a sweet young mom, expecting her first baby. You can tell by the pictures that she’s expecting a girl!

A friend at church did the food, and it was amazing.

Another gal does the cupcakes for our church showers. These are White Chocolate Raspberry. Oh my goodness!! The little size makes it completely safe to try without feeling too guilty! Also check out the waffle bowls filled with fresh fruit; those were so good!

Saturday night my husband and I went with Alli and Andrew to Carter’s Fold to hear Fiddlin’ Carson Peters, a talented 12 year-old who plays fiddle with his father and two other instrumentalists. It was such a fun night! The music was great, the setting was country and perfect!

Sunday morning we had the blessing of seeing two little girls who recently accepted Christ as their Savior get baptized, or as one of them called it, “Bap-ti-tized!” It always brings tears to my eyes to see these young ones trust Christ, then declare their devotion to follow Him all their lives!

It also always makes me so thankful to be married to the pastor who gets the privilege of baptizing, and pouring into their lives the Truth of God’s Word. He always gives a personal challenge to each one, and it’s so sweet.

Sunday evening we did not have services at church. My husband and I took special care to spend time together and also to rest. We sat on our front porch rockers and played Farkle while several of our neighbors put on quite a firework display.

We had front row seats and never had to leave home!

Even Liza got to enjoy some time outside. That’s a great treat for this indoor kitty!

Monday’s Fourth of July celebrations took us to Cherokee Lake to friends’ home. We had a wonderful time. It included a feast of picnic foods, a boat ride, and fellowship with new friends.

This barn was on the dead end road that took us to the lake house. What is it about old barns that makes them so beautiful?

My pantry got some further organization when I finally found a couple of Lazy Susans at TJ Maxx. These will make finding my canned goods so much easier!

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Lastly, I harvested some of my herbs a few weeks ago and had them drying in small bundles in our hot, dry garage. This week I pulled the leaves off and got them stored in small jars. They’re so fragrant and I can’t wait to use all three – Thyme, Dill and Oregano.

God is good to give sweet blessings that we get to enjoy each day. He also gives grace for the difficult things that come, but God is always good!

How have you seen God’s goodness to you this week? Do you have a favorite photo from this post?

Stay refreshed,

Denise

Cooking · Home making · summertime · Uncategorized

Tempting Your Family with Summer Fruits

June 17, 2016June 16, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

There is a saying my girls remember well that I used in our home A LOT. When they would want dessert, I would say,

“Why don’t you have some nice fruit?!”

They would look at me as if to say,

“Really? That’s not dessert!”

It may not be a chocolate chip cookie, but summer fruits are sweet and full of flavor! I love summertime for lots of reasons, but all the fresh fruits is one of them! I love cutting up a variety and having it in a bowl for quick snacks or dessert! Having a big bowl all ready washed, cut up and ready to eat is far more appealing than the watermelon that has to be sliced every time you want to indulge.

Another ~~trick~~ secret to getting your family to eat more fruits like peaches or grapes is to have some washed and sitting out on the counter. Put it in a pretty tray or bowl and set it on the counter. They’ll snack on it more readily if it’s within easy reach.

The pineapple will be sliced for a rice dish I’m making, then I’ll add the rest to my bowl of cut up fruit! For now it’s serving as a garnish!

This week our Aldi’s had mango’s for forty-nine cents! That’s a good deal! Mango’s are so sweet and make a great addition to a taco (if you haven’t tried that as a topping, you really should!) or a fruit salad. To get the most out of the fruit, here’s the easiest way to peel and chop them:

You slice down on each side beside the long stone in the middle. Then score each half with a knife. Pop the skin inside out, then slice off the squares of fruit! It’s super easy this way!

I have a bowl of fruit in the fridge right now with watermelon, peaches, honeydew, strawberries, blackberries and mango. My favorite? Probably the melons – or the blackberries, or maybe the mango… Excuse me while I go have some nice fruit!

What’s your favorite summer fruit? How do you serve it?

Stay refreshed by slicing up some summer fruits!

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Child training · Family life · summertime

Unplug for Summer!

June 24, 2014June 2, 2025 RefreshHerLeave a comment

I have a confession: I have a pet peeve – it’s children + electronics. Call me old fashioned, a stick-in-the-mud or a fuddy-duddy. It’s okay. I still don’t like children and electronics. When you put an electronic device in a child’s hands, their minds are disengaged. Checked out. They hear nothing around them. They see no one around them. They are in Cyberspace until the beeping of a low battery signals them back to earth.

It’s summertime, moms! Can I encourage you to get your kids outside and on the move? Give them some fun activity to do every day while they’re on break and put a “no-electronics” rule in place. How about sitting down with them and making a list of fun things they’d enjoy doing? Then cut those into strips and drop them into a jar. Let someone choose out one activity each day. Let the anticipation build. Make summertime fun! Why not unplug for summer? Need some suggestions?

If you have a large tree at your house, hang a tree swing in the branches.
Build a fort outside under a tree.
Go to the park and play on the playground equipment. Eat lunch there.
Go to the library and everyone pick out 5 books to read this week.
Attend a Bible club or VBS.
Make Popsicles with fruit juice.
Play in the sprinkler.
Fill up a small swimming pool in the backyard.
Have a lemonade stand and give away cups to people who pass.
Go to the local Hands-on-Museum.
Have a play date with other moms and their children.
Bake cookies.
Wash your bikes. Add streamers to handlebars. Have a bike parade.

Here are other great lists of things to do. Of course Pinterest is full of good suggestions, too. The point is, someone has to plan, and that someone is you, Mom. Don’t let the summer slip by with everyone plopped in front of the television or behind an iPad screen. Make good use of these months to create wonderful memories of fun times as a family!

What activities have you planned for your children this summer?

With love,