How I got my kids to eat… Salmon

I used to receive a bimonthly magazine called Taste of Home. New recipes overflowed it’s pages. Each issue had a segment called ‘How I Got My Kids to Eat…’ Thought I’d have a go at my own spin off this idea.

I grew up kind of a picky eater and wasn’t really broken of it until I started dating Sean. His parents had a garden and frequently served vegetables which I’d never tried like beet greens, zucchini, and squash. Since I didn’t want to offend them at the dinner table, I found myself stretching my taste buds. Anyway, I have worked hard to stretch my boys taste buds now when they’re young and believe I have a few tricks up my sleeve which I’d like to share from time to time.

Today I thought I’d share my salmon cake recipe. This one my mom used to make. Salmon is SOOO good for you!! It’s a great source of Omega 3. I tell my kids it’s brain food. One thing that makes eating salmon cakes so fun is that you can actually eat the bones. So don’t worry about trying to pick them out. My sisters and I used to make a game of seeing who could find the most bones. We’d line them up on the side of our plate as we ate. Maybe your little ones would enjoy this game as well:)

2 slices bread, crusts removed (I leave mine on…mom used to use bread crumbs, but I like bread better. It’s more moist)

2 tbsp. mayonnaise

2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning (You can find it with the spices at Walmart)

2 tsp. parsley flakes

1/2 tsp. prepared yellow mustard

1 egg, beaten

1 canned salmon ( or lb. crab meat)

Break bread into small pieces. Mix in mayonnaise, Old Bay, parsley, mustard and egg. Open canned salmon and drain out extra juices. Flake salmon with a fork leaving bones in. Add mayo mixture to salmon and combine well. Shape into patties. I use an ice cream scoop to create uniform size balls and drop into hot canola oil in a nonstick skillet. Turn once. Place on a platter lined with a paper towel. (You can also set under a broiler for ten minutes if you prefer.)

I usually double this recipe for the six of us and serve it with baked fries. The other bonus to canned salmon…IT’S CHEAP!!! About $1.69 at Aldis.

Do you have any tips for how you got your kids to eat?

My Dad

Where do I begin…

My dad grew up a pour farmer’s boy. The second born of seven children, which all endured varying degrees of abuse. All were deprived of their education to work on the farm. My dad ran away. He got his GED and went to college to become a preacher. He met my mother and after being married for five years they had me (he was 30 and she was 35). Sixteen months later came my twin sisters.

My childhood is dotted with many sweet and sour memories. Dad never wanted to hurt us girls like his dad hurt him. I am so proud of him for that accomplishment. He was gentle and thoughtful. He would ask me what I was thinking about when I would disappear to the front steps to be alone. Occasionally a warm washcloth would appear on my face on mornings when I couldn’t peel myself out of bed. He loaded our station wagon to the ceiling and drove us two hours away for a week of kids camp each summer. Residing in a 900 square foot row house, we didn’t have much, but Dad tried so hard to give us what mattered the most.

Dad had problems too. I don’t think he ever completely recovered from the devastation of his early years. He probably just wanted to put it behind him. This approach is like dumping good soil on top of a bed of weeds and trying to plant a garden. Those weeds will keep coming back if you don’t do the hard work it takes to get them out by the root. And this requires asking for help.

Before we settled in Baltimore, he seemed to get himself into a predicament wherever he pastored. By the time I was in second grade, he gave up preaching and picked up a job at Holiday Inn working the grave yard shift. I remember him always being tired and not having much time at home. He often sat at the dinner table eating with his eyes closed. He talked about going back to preaching someday.

After us girls were married, he found his opportunity to pastor again. There was a small old fashioned church not far from their home. Mom could play hymns on the organ and he could preach. They planned picnics and potlucks and parties. Mom started a ladies Bible study group. Dad loved to help people in need.

Then the unthinkable happened. One day mom called to tell me that dad didn’t come home last night. “What do you mean he didn’t come home? Where is he?” I asked. “I don’t know,” she replied. “Well are you going to try to figure it out?” I exclaimed. Dad had decided to leave mom for one of her Bible study friends. NEVER in my wildest imagination could I have fathomed that MY father would pull something like this. I knew their marriage wasn’t perfect, but I thought they would just tolerate each other for the rest of their lives.

My sisters and I all traveled home to plead with him to return and remind him of his vows, but he would not budge. I dove head first into my Bible searching the concordance for every verse I could find about adultery. When I discovered I Corinthians 5 I could not believe my eyes. “I have written you in my letters not to associate with sexually immoral people not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral… In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral…. With such a man do not even eat…. Expel the wicked man from among you.”

It was not the advice I was searching for. Why does the Bible say that? As I prayed about it and asked the Lord to help me understand, I began to agree that my father’s judgment could not trusted. If he could not see that this was a big mistake, he had the potential to be a misguiding influence in our lives…..(to be continued)

To work or not to work

There is a large group of mommies in my son’s preschool class who are sending their youngest child to kindergarten in the fall. We are all very excited. Everyone is a buzz about what they plan to do with their time. Some are picking up a full time career and others part time work. I feel very torn. I marvel at how some women manage to work all day and come home to work all night on top of it. If I were to pick up subbing for instance, I would spend 8 to 2 taking care of a room full of others people children and then I would come home and work from 2 to 8 taking care of my own. Do I have what it takes to get everything done after 2 pm which I have normally accomplished before 2pm? Would I ever exercise? Would I have time for friends? Would I ever sit down and read a book? Would my husband and I date? Would we eat more fast food? Would I have any patience left for my family at the end of the day? Would I bite someone’s head off? Would I be available to my kids when they need me?

What if I decided to stay home? My paid-for rusty 90,000 mileage caravan will probably putz me around town for another 90,000 right? Maybe. Then maybe I could volunteer more at the school. Maybe I could do more at my church. Maybe I could still pitch in at MOPS. OR maybe I could go back to school. I could defer my loans! (Side note: I just recently found out that if I continue to pay off my student loans at the rate we are going now, they will be paid off in 2017. I also found out that my SECOND son will be graduating in 2017. CRAP!!!)

So what to do? What to do? I had no idea making these decisions would be so hard!!! One thing I know for sure… I HAVE to serve the Lord. It brings me such a peace. Proverbs tells us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path.” I pray that God would make his plan clear to me and that when I see it I will know and will follow. God please open your doors in your time…Amen

Do you have hard decisions to make?