¨*·¤.,.~·**¯`·*ღ Melinda’s Pageღ¨*·¤.,.~·**

 

My Dad and Stepmum are arriving Friday night (eleven at night!) and I've been working my katushkus off trying to prepare the house for their three week stay. But now, finally the house looks like it's almost ready! We've painted the front and back porch, ordered a new wicker sofa for the front porch. Painted the outside window trims...thinking about painting the shutters....bought a "Floor Mate" (they are really cool!!) and cleaned all the wood floors, bathrooms and kitchen/laundry, having new kitchen appliances delivered and installed on Monday. Put up new curtains in the guestroom, bought a new bookshelf, rug and side table. Cleaned and scrubbed..and scrubbed and cleaned almost every surface in the house...apart from the ceiling...haven't worked out how to do that yet..any suggestions??LOL

More New Guinea Impatiens are now growing and smiling in the front garden. Lauren and I accidentally "dug up" a little hibernating toad yesterday! He was sooooo cute! Lauren tried to make him stay in the front garden bed..but he insisted on making a mad dash-hop every time Lauren turned her back for just a second. Eventually she let him have his way...he's now hiding somewhere in our neighbors’ shrubs.

We also had another visitor last weekend! I was on my way out the front door to put some trash out when Mark comes around the corner frantically telling me to come with him right away! I was a bit concerned about what he was going to show me in the yard..Mark has a morbid curiosity with dead animals, neighborhood dogs who poop on our lawn..etc..etc..so  Iwas expecting the worst...when I rounded the corner of our driveway....who should be sitting in the middle of my strawberry planter munching away merrily....a widdle brown cutesy furry bunny!!!

I squealed out every cutesy wootzy adjective known to Mummies who wuv bunnies...and dashed inside to grab my now protesting (almost three year old) daughter. Her mean ol' Mummy was tearing her away from Sponge Bob!!

"I promise...Mummy has something really cool to show you Bethy..come with me outside!!" She glanced at the TV and pouted.."But Spooo Bub Mamma!!"

Not wanting her to miss out , I grabbed her and ran out the front door!

When Bethy saw our little visitor, she squealed louder than I did! "Oowww Mamma, a bunny is eating your starwboobies!!!"

We watched our little breakfast guest for a few minutes...then I stared thinking...the more that little buggar eats in my "strawbooby" planter...the less cuter he looks! He was nibbling off every leaf, flower and berry! 

So once again. mean ol' Mamma ruins everyone's fun! I shooed the bunny into the back yard, hoping that he would stay there while Bethy and I ran inside to rustle up some more "appropriate" bunny breakfast.

So there I was. butt up in the air. rummaging through the fridge. thinking.. "Damn, what do I feed this rabbit??" Broccolli??..nahhh...left-over cheeseburgers ...hmm ...dang, who didn't put the lid on this chocolate topping!!...Uughh sticky brown mess all over the dagone shelf....

"Bethy...what should we feed Mr. Bunny?"

She clapped her hands together and jumped up and down...

"Carrowts Mamma" In her "oh-so-cute" Wonder Pets, cutesy wootzey voice.

Ughhh...duh! Why didn't I think of that!

I grabbed the smallest carrot we had and raced out the door.

Bethy and I scattered bunny-size pieces of carrot around the planter. Then threw some more pieces in the backyard. but our poor widdwle bunny friend was no-where to be found!!!

So anyway, during all this "bunny-fun", I did manage to snap some pics of our furry friend, but unfortunately I cant find my USB Port thingy to upload the photos from my digital camera. I think last time I saw it Gilly was using it as a pacifier...so who knows where it is! Probably in the bottom of the toy box with the TV remote and Lauren's cell phone...

Mmmmm we have had such a yummy weekend!! LOL These Salmon Cakes where sooooo good! We had one left over this morning, and I thought I might save for my Mother-in-law for her lunch today....but I looked at that lonely Salmon Cake in my fridge this morning..it was quietly whispering..."eat me..eat me", and I just couldn't say No!!

Serves 4

2 tablespoons corn oil for frying

1/4 cup minced shallots

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 pound salmon fillet, poached and cut into small dice

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon

1 1/2 teaspoons of chopped fresh parsley

Old Bay Seasoning to taste

2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/2 cup of fresh bread crumbs

3 eggs

1/4 cup milk

4 cups cornflakes, lightly crushed

3/4 cup pistachio nuts, toasted and coarsely ground

Flour for dredging

Cucumber-Yogurt Ranch Dressing

    In a small sauté pan over medium heat, heat the two tablespoons oil and sauté the shallots and garlic until translucent. Add the coriander and sauté until aromatic. Transfer the shallot mixture to a plate or shallow dish and let cool completely.

    In a medium bowl, combine the salmon, mayonnaise, fresh herbs, Old Bay, and lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Gradually add just enough bread crumbs to make the mixture adhere well. Scoop the mixture into 1/4 cup portions and shape them into cakes.

    In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. In a second bowl, stir the cornflakes and pistachio nuts together.

    Dredge the patties in flour and shake of the excess. Dip each patty into the egg mixture, then the cornflake mixture. Place the patties on a baking sheet.

    In a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, heat about 1/4 inch of the oil until the surface shimmers. Fry the cakes in batches until they are evenly browned on both sides. Drain on paper towels and keep warm in a low oven until all of the cakes are cooked. Serve at once with the dressing.

(They taste even better the next morning for breakfast!! LOL