Essence of Summer in the Winter FOR ONE

After being in California for a week, I have already missed the sunshine that was there.

Essence of Summer in the Winter FOR ONE J

An easy salad when you are missing the sun that summer brings.

1 Cucumber

4 Thin slices of onion (as thin as you can get it)

2 Tsp extra virgin olive oil

3 Tsp white champagne vinegar

Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Slice cucumber to like thickness and throw in onions. MIX and that’s it! The longer you let it sit in the fridge the yummier.

Crab cake alternative, Salmon Cakes

I was craving crab cakes but to get enough crab to feel like you actually ate crab can be sometimes very expensive so a great alternative I have created

Salmon Cakes Approved By Hubby

20 oz. Salmon drained boneless skinless

2 eggs

1/3 heaping cup shredded cheddar cheese ( I know it sounds weird but it works)

¼ Tsp. Pepper

¾ cup panko bread crumbs

¼ cup bread crumbs

6 shakes of hot sauce ( any will work)

1 Tbs. Parsley

¼ of medium onion chopped

1/8 Tsp. salt

½ stick of butter + 1 tbs

2 tbs. oil

3 tbs. Flour

Cook onion with butter on medium heat until the onions are translucent and then set aside.

In one bowl mix salmon, eggs, cheese, pepper, panko, bread crumbs, hot sauce, parsley, onion, and salt. Form into patties that are about ½” thick, I made about 6 of them, but you can make them the size you want. On a plate with the flour put a light coating of flour on each. In a skillet, melt butter and oil on medium heat. Cook until golden brown on each side; while you are waiting for the rest of them to cook off make sure you put them in a low heated oven so that the ones that are done do not get cool.

Scones Ala Weronique

Scones Ala Weronique

This is a great recipe when you’re craving something sweet but with not a lot of sugar in them. Make sure every time you start a new recipe you look through the whole recipe even the instructions so that you are not surprised by anything. This recipe is so fast from start to end that will satisfy your sugar craving without feeling too guilty. J

2 Cups of flour plus extra for flouring surface

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tsp. baking powder

¼ Tsp. baking soda

½ Tsp. vanilla extract

1 stick of FROZEN butter

½ cup sour cream

1 egg

1 cup frozen fruit ( I use Blackberries)

½ cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400. Put the rack 2^nd from the bottom.

In 1^st bowl you will need to mix sour cream, egg, and vanilla.

2^nd bowl mix together sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and flour. Once that is all mixed together, take a micro planer and grate the butter into the dry ingredient bowl. Mix that all together so it feels like sand, where there are not big chunks of butter. Toss in fruit and chocolate.

Mix wet ingredients into dry only until incorporated slightly, it will look like there is not enough liquid but there is , now on a lightly floured surface dump the whole bowl on the surface and pat down firmly into a 3” pile. The patting down firmly will start to soak up the remaining dryness.  Gently cut into 8 slices, as you would a pizza. With a spatula, transfer wedges to a cookie sheet with parchment paper. If you have excess flour falling off or it wants to fall apart on you, don’t worry just pat it together on cookie sheet.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until lightly golden brown on top.