My Favorite Salmon Cake Recipe

Living in the Seattle area makes you well aware of the abundance of the delicious fresh fish we have available to us. There's nothing more tasty than a fresh salmon filet prepared with your favorite recipe.

But that fabulous piece of fish comes with a hefty price tag. So I don't use it for salmon cakes because they can be made with canned salmon, and still be great.

There are lots of variations on a salmon cake recipe, and I have tried quite a few during the years. But this is my favorite. I like the combination of the onion and yellow bell pepper together. And I add a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce for an added kick.

These can be put on buns to make sandwiches, but I like them best with a tasty coleslaw and some salty French fries.

Recipe for My Favorite Salmon Cakes

Ingredients:

1 (14.75) can salmon drained and flaked
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs, plus more for outside of cakes
1 egg
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup diced onions
1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Pick through the salmon and remove any bones. In a medium bowl, add salmon, breadcrumbs, egg, mayonnaise, onions, bell pepper, Tabasco sauce, salt, and pepper.
Mix together well, and shape into 4 equal sized patties. On a piece of foil, sprinkle extra breadcrumbs and press patties lightly into breadcrumbs on each side.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Fry each patty 4-5 on each side until they are slightly crispy and golden brown.

Serves 4.

Ready To Win GO SEAHAWKS!!!

I am not a huge football fan, it's really more about the family getting together and eating some really delicious food and acting silly.

But I couldn't let today go by without saying how proud I am of my Seattle Seahawks and wishing them good luck today in the game. The fans here are incredible, and the support for our team is so awesome.

Have fun today everybody, and GO HAWKS!!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Blue Moon Burgers in Seattle

 

If you are ever in the Seattle area I recommend Blue Moon Burgers. 

Check out that Onion Ring!!

Do you get your Daily Candy?

Picture from Daily Candy Seattle for Pretty Parlor

                         


Do you subscribe to Daily Candy and there deals? What is Daily Candy Deals you ask? Daily Candy is a site that will send you emails on great deals in your local area or any area you choose, it is so simple and easy to sign up. They partner with local businesses to offer a limited number of unique deals for you to buy and use. They may introduce you to a cool new store, designers, restaurants, and great things happening around town. Things you might love but never would have found on your own! You can look by category and here are a few: Home, Style and Beauty, Out & About, Kids, $25 and under, Last Chance and more. There is a time limit on each deal so you have to snatch it up if it is something you really want!! 

Just wanted to give you a little in site to what I am subscribing to these days. I love a great deal on great things!

Weekend in Pictures at the Seattle Zoo

This weekend the weather was amazing! The sun was shining, which is rare in Seattle this time of the year. Usually we are drenched with rain wishing we could spend more time outdoors. We decided to take full advantage of the great weather and head to the Seattle Zoo. We invited some of our favorite friends and enjoyed the day.

JJ climbing up to get a better view of the hippo, who is usually hiding when we go to see him.

The boys watching the monkeys in this great waterfall habitat.

Liam always up to something!

Ashley had a great time in the indoor play area!

The boys again holding hands...love it.

JJ, Liam and I at the flamingos, with me sneaking in some kisses.

Wicked the Musical is Coming to Seattle

                                        

 

~ By Sam ~


I am so excited that Wicked the Musical is coming to Seattle!!! My husband gave me tickets to go see Wicked for my birthday back in August! A total treat from a guy who is not really into musicals. He knows that I love the theater and knew that I would love to go with him. What a guy! I can't wait to get dressed up, hit the Emerald City (which is what Seattle is called coincidentally) and head off to the theater.

The show starts this week, October 10th - November 17 in Seattle at the Paramount Theater. Curious if the Wicked tour is coming to your area? Check out the On Tour List here.

Another Day At The Market

I know I write a lot about Pike Place Market here in Seattle, but I just can't help myself.

Do you remember the scene in "Sleepless In Seattle" where Tom Hanks is in the Market and buying groceries to make dinner for that silly woman he was dating? And what about the restaurant where he was talking about Cary Grant with his buddy Rob Reiner?

Those places are here in the Market, and every time I see them, it makes me happy. In fact, every time I watch "Sleepless In Seattle" I get happy in a teary, ridiculous, nostalgic kind of way.

So I was at Pike Place Market on Sunday with my daughter Megan, and my son David. We played tourist and went in all the shops, looked at the flowers, the food, the people, and just generally hung out and had a good time.

The picture above was on a produce truck parked in front of the Market. It was so colorful and pretty that i just had to take a picture of it. And really, when is the last time you saw a truck like this at your local supermarket? Just another reason to love my Seattle.

Posted by Patricia

Give A Little To Help A Lot

I know that most of us don't have wads of money to donate to good causes, and our hearts would like to help more than our pocketbooks will allow. That is very true for myself.
 
I live in the Seattle area, and we are fortunate that it is here that we have people like Bill and Melinda Gates who have donated a staggering amount of their wealth to charity through The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

I used to think that it was so great that this money was being donated from right here in my own backyard, and it was enough so that I somehow felt relieved a little from having to donate anywhere myself. I also felt that my tiny donations of money or goods were so small in comparison to others, would mine even matter?

It turns out that the answer is yes, every donation has the possibility of helping to make someone else's life better, and that every act of giving can have meaning.

I was so happy to come across this great book called How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist. There are hundreds of ways to help others both locally and globally. The ideas and examples in this book will inspire you to make our world a better place. There is a chapter that shows you how to give back and help out by using your computer, without even leaving home.

Big or small, our daily actions can truly make a difference in this world. Reading this book gave me clear guidance on using what I have to offer, and that the size of my bank account does not determine what I can do to help. Find out how easy it is to make a difference, and how good you will feel when you do.

Life's A Beach

Here in Washington State people always think it's raining. We deserve the reputation of being a wet and soggy place to live because it does rain a lot of the time.

But when the sun comes out, there is no more prettier place for me. The water, the mountains, and the sky all add up to the word Gorgeous. We aren't called the Emerald City for nothing.

This is a photo from last weekend and we have been blessed with beautiful weather all week. That is a Washington State Ferry in the background. But the forecast calls for rain next week, so I'm hoping to go out today and soak up a little of this beautiful sunshine while it lasts.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Future Mariner?

Baseball season is in full swing around here. Looks like Liam is ready to join the Mariners! 

Oh wait, first he might want to turn his helmet around :)

Help Kids Get Active With Odwalla Juice & Champions for Kids

I think that one of the most important things that children should be encouraged to do is to get physical exercise. Childhood obesity is a serious health risk for so many kids today and it is really up to us as a nation to do something about it.

So I was very honored and pleased to be participating in this month's Simple Service Project with Champions for Kids and Odwalla Juice.

This month's project is all about getting kids outside to play, run, be active and enjoy themselves and the outdoors. Odwalla Juice and smoothies add to an active lifestyle for kids and adults with their healthy and delicious drinks.

I went shopping at Walmart to find play equipment to donate to a charity that helps children. Balls, jump ropes, paddle ball games and more are all things that kids love to play with and helps them to be active. I also bought Odwalla Juice to donate. I love the company's Do-Good philosophy and love drinking their juice and smoothies too!

I told my neighbors that I was working with Champions for Kids and all about my service project. One of them generously gave me these three almost new bike helmets for kids. I know how important the helmets are to prevent head injuries, so I was thrilled to get them to donate.

Last month I also participated in a Simple Service Project and donated food and personal items to the Kingston Food Bank here in Washington State.

This is a wonderful organization that is directed by Barb Fulton and her staff of volunteers. Barb is a warm and gracious woman and an instant friend. I knew she would be able to help me find a place to take my donations. She said she would find me a couple of places but if they didn't work out, the food bank could always use the play equipment and juices.

This is when I remembered seeing how they donated much more than food to the community. They help with clothing, they help parents provide babies and children with things they need, and they provide for the community in every way that they can. I absolutely knew that this is where I would make my donation.

Here is Barb with my donation of play equipment and Odwalla Juice. Barb's parents started the food bank 55 years ago, and the community has been helped by it ever since. I am so happy that my donation will help the kids to have some fun and get healthier.

Thanks Champions For Kids and Odwalla Juice! Thanks also to Barb Fulton and the Kingston Food Bank for all the good you do. #OdwallaCFK

If you'd like to participate in a Simple Service Project, go to Champions for Kids for all the information
To learn more about Champions for Kids and how you can get involved in a Simple Service Project, visit their website, Facebook and Twitter pages.



You can see my shopping trip to Walmart for kids sport activity supplies and Odwalla juice by reading my Google+ story.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™.
All opinions expressed in this shop are my own and your experience may vary. #Cbias #OdwallaCFK

No, I'm not getting a Tattoo!

I was walking around Seattle last week with two of my daughters when we came across this sign. I thought the colors were beautiful and it certainly stood out in the very gray day we were having. We joked about getting mother/daughter tattoos, or maybe even Frugal Family Tree ones.

But I am far too conservative to ever get a tattoo. And if I didn't do it when I was young , I'm sure not going to do it now. But lots of peoples are getting tattoos later in life. Really late in life! People are doing it for all sorts of reasons, too.

I have heard of getting a tattoo of your loved one's face after they have passed on. Or best girlfriends all getting one when they turn fifty. Or of a beloved pet, be a it a cat, a dog, or a parrot. What ever makes you happy I guess! Contrary to what the sign says, it would definitely not be a "super genius" idea for me!

Soggy In Seattle

The weather around here can make you a little crazy. It can be raining one minute and the next it is so sunny and beautiful, you can hardly take it all in. A favorite Sunday outing to the Pike Place Market is just the thing to cheer me up. The vendors are friendly, the flowers are beautiful, and there is every kind of fish imaginable that is for sale.

This friendly fellow was more than happy to pose for a picture. Yeah, it's rainy up here, but whenever I visit the Market, I feel less "crabby".

Have a great Sunday!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Up here in the Seattle region we are famous for the amount of rain we get. And we well deserve that reputation because it sure has been raining a lot! I love the rain, really I do, but even I have my limits.

But then I see the flowers that it brings, our beautiful green trees, children in colorful raincoats, and I am reminded that I'm pretty lucky to live here. We are expecting rain all next week, so I think I'll go buy myself an armful of these dafodills and keep my umbrella handy.

Just Another Reason I Go To Starbucks

Anyone living in Seattle knows that it is almost true that there is a Starbucks on every corner. And in the grocery store, too. Everywhere we look there is a Starbucks. I am proud of the fact that the very first Starbucks opened right here in Seattle and is still open today. We love our coffee up here, there is no doubt about it.

Seattle has a lot of different and distinctive neighborhoods. So each Starbucks can take on the flavor and vibe of that particular neighborhood. I was in the Pioneer Square neighborhood last week and popped in for a latte. Pioneer Square is a little eclectic and I like it that way. You just never know who or what you might see on the street, or in Starbucks, for that matter.

I loved this picture on the wall. I love the mellow atmosphere it creates on a cold windy day. There are long wooden tables to sit at and read the paper or chat with friends. Very relaxing.

But then again, this lady was also there. She graciously let me take her picture and it wasn't even Mardi Gras and I didn't even ask.

Sundays At The Flea Market

I love going to the flea market. I love books. So I am really wanting to buy these two gorgeous books all about flea marketing. There are so many great flea markets all across the country and Spring is just around the corner. When the weather turns nice, it is definitely time to go shopping!

Here in Seattle we have a market called the Fremont Sunday Market. Everything from furniture to art to funky clothing and handmade candles is here. For me, part of the fun is people watching. Hippies, babies, hipsters and dogs all turn out for the Sunday market. It's a colorful, funky way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Welcome Spring!

I know it isn't quite Spring yet, but nothing says Spring as arrived more than tulips. A stroll through Pike Place Market in Seattle is the perfect place to buy fresh flowers. I love tulips for their simplicity and variety of available colors. Roses are beautiful, but a vase full of tulips is lovely and frugal. Tulips let me indulge my love of fresh flowers without breaking my budget.

Do you buy fresh flowers for yourself? What kind? What color? The few dollars I spend on tulips can make me feel happy all week. Now that is a good investment!

Fruit And Veggie Love At Seattle's Pike Place Market

One of my favorite places in Seattle is The Pike Place Market. It's very well known as a tourist attraction here in the city and the crowds do get heavy with visitors in the summer time. Over ten million visitors pass through here a year. I was here last Tuesday and it wasn't crowded at all. It was really lovely to stroll down through the main arcade and look at all the produce that was for sale.

The colors are so beautiful that I just had to start snapping pictures! I love buying vegetables here because I am helping to support all the farmers who come here from all over Washington State to sell their produce. The quality is always excellent, too. Did you know that at one time the Market was going to be bulldozed and a parking lot put in it's place? Fortunately, the citizens of Seattle rallied together to save it and give it historical preservation status, insuring that it will be protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy. I love Pike Place Market and all it has to offer. Some people say it's the heart of Seattle. I agree.

Magic Mouse Toys in Seattle

My family and I moved to the Seattle area when my youngest child Megan was six years old. We loved walking in all the different neighborhoods in Seattle and making new discoveries of things we liked. In Pioneer Square we found the most delightful toy store called Magic Mouse Toys.

This has become our favorite toy store, and we have come here many times through-out the years to pick out birthday and Christmas presents. There are two floors filled with the most beautiful and unique toys imaginable. Dolls, puzzles, educational toys, games, cars and more will be sure to completely delight you and your child. And if you don't have a child, this magical store will delight the child in you.

My daughter Megan is all grown up now. We were recently walking by Magic Mouse Toys and I said to her "Remember?"

So if you are in Seattle, or planning to visit Seattle, go to Magic Mouse Toys. Like the name says, this store really is Magic.

DaVinci Gourmet Review and Giveaway Holiday Gift Guide

Here at Frugal Family Tree, we all love reviewing goodies, treats, and yummy food. I was lucky enough to get to review DaVinci Gourmet, a company that makes and sells delicious syrups and sauces. They can be used for making hot or cold drinks, desserts, milkshakes, cocktails and more. They are especially popular for making flavored coffees, lattes and tea. DaVinci offers over 170 flavors of their syrups and sauces, so everyone is bound to find a favorite.

I have tried the Egg Nog and the Peppermint syrups, and the Chocolate and the Caramel sauces. Let me just tell you right now, they are fabulous. We used the chocolate and caramel sauces for ice creme sundaes, and the chocolate sauce was so rich and tasty. We have all decided that ice creme sundaes do lead to happiness.

I used the Egg Nog syrup to stir into my coffee with a little milk and cinnamon and that was really good. It felt very festive and I loved how much money it saved me by not having to go out for my holiday coffee treat.
Next to try was the Peppermint syrup, so I looked on the DaVinci website for a recipe or suggestion on how to use it. I made Peppermint Patty Coffee, and that was delicious, too. This coffee would be an excellent choice for after dinner, instead of a dessert.

DaVinci Gourmet is located right in the heart of Seattle Washington. They have been in business for over two decades. The company started out making high end truffles, but when the Seattle coffee craze came, they jumped into making the flavored syrups that compliment the espresso and coffee drinks that were becoming so popular. The prices for their products are very affordable, and they offer hundreds of recipes to choose from. Visit their website at DaVinciGourmet.com to see all the flavors they offer and ways to use these delicious syrups and sauces. With the holidays just around the corner, this is a great time to try out something new, to treat your guests, or yourself.

GIVEAWAY

 
Win DaVinci Gourmet Flavored Syrups and Sauces.

To Enter This Giveaway:  

What Recipe on DaVinci Gourmet would you like to try?

 *Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on. 

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#Win DaVinci Gourmet Flavored Syrups and Sauces from @DaVinciGourmet at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 12/16 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2011/12/davinci-gourmet-review-and-giveaway.html


*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts December 9, 2011 and ends on December 16, 2011 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.