Garden Update 2016

I have to say - I am in love with my garden this year!
I came up with the design this past winter, and with the help of my husband and sons building it. It became a reality!
Hey and I even planted my flower bulbs the right side up this year - yahoo!!! haha...... You would not think that was a hard thing to do but I do manage to screw that up.

gladiolas 

This year I'm doing a little experimenting on trying out different veggies, I may plant again next year or I may not.

But I will for sure be plating the yellow pear tomatoes again next year, they are SO good!!!!
I have been making bruschetta with them.  Great flavor!

Having these raised garden beds make weeding so much easier, thank GOD!  I hate weeding!  Does anyone like it?

I did a little canning yesterday, I made some refrigerator pickles and dilled some string beans, these string beans are so beautiful, a vibrant shade of purple!

Over this past year I have accumulated a ton of new canning recipes and have a few new canning books in my possession, I'm excited to try out.

Are you ready for this LONG list of what Angie planted this year?  Hey if you have any great appetizer ideas for any of these veggies - pass it my way, I'm always looking for new things to try!
3 types of tomatoes (or is it 4?)
tomatillos
swiss chard
green bell peppers
banana peppers
jalapeno peppers
eggplant
strawberries
leeks
purple string beans
winter squash
spaghetti squash
zucchini
cucumber
broccoli
cabbage
lettuce variety
brussel sprouts

Flowers
Gladiolus - SO pretty!
Sunflowers

Herbs
rosemary
basil (way to much)
dill
oregano
chives

I know I over did it, again!

* also I totally made a new appetizer out of one of my new canning cook books the other day, do you think I took a photo of it?!  I'm slacking people.  It was a bean dip, yummmmm......

Salmon Patties

YUGH!!!!  I didn't take a stinking photo of these AMAZING Salmon Patties!!!  :(
Ok I was in full on vacation mode, and totally spaced taking a photo - my bad!
I mean they were not super beautiful or anything, but super tasty - trust me!

Ill just throw in here a stock photo so you have something to look at ok???

So I found this video on the Food Networks website, Ina Garten's recipe.

OK back to vacation, we spent a week in Ely on a lake, grilling everyday - livin' the summer life!

Found out I'm pretty much a kayaking pro!  Who wooda thunk!  Kidding, actually I grew up canoeing in the summer, samething just a bit more controlled in my opinion.  

What does this have to do with salmon patties you ask, nothing I have no idea where I'm going with this.

I made way to many of these salmon patties for my husband & I, my youngest kiddo would not try them.  Picky - Picky. And my Mother who stayed with us one night opted for steak tacos off the grill instead.  

So needless to say husband will be eating these for a while.

They were really good, I think you could make a nice dipping sauce for them also.

What you will need it:

1/2 pound fresh salmon ( I got mine at Sams Club)

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

4 Tablespoons butter

3/4 Cup 1 small purple onion, diced

1 1/2 Cups celery, diced

1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced

1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced

1/4 cup parsley, minced

1 teaspoon capers (I left this out- not my fav)

1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay (I used Tonys)

3 slices stale bread, crust removed

1/2 cup mayo

2 teaspoon dijon mustard

2 large eggs

How to make them:

Heat oven to 350

place salmon on a double lined pan with tin foil, skin side down.

Generously pour olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, seal shut with soil bake for 20 minutes.

Remove and cool for 10 minutes, place into fridge until your next steps are done.

Add 2 tablespoons of butter and olive oil to a frying pan, melt and combine.

Now add in your onion, celery, peppers, parsley, capers, seasoning, worcestershire, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper.

Cook for about 15 minutes.

In a food processor add bread crumbs, OR just buy store made bread crumbs!  

Flake your chilled salmon into a bowl and add in your bread crumbs, mayo, mustard and eggs.  Mix well.

Add in your veggie mix.

Pop all of this into the fridge for 30 minutes, times up - take out and form into patties.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and oil.

Saute salmon patties for 4 minutes each side.

Serve hot & ENJOY!!!