OT: Friday happy things

I have always wanted to dance like the Peanuts gang. I try every year. My husband looks at me like I am crazy. This was one of the best nights at my house. Very simple. Burning the Christmas tree.

 

My dad took the tree out on yhe front lawn every year and set it on fire. It goes up so fast, with nothing but a single match. Scary, scary stuff.

That is why we have a fake tree now. This looked like there were helicopters flying overhead searching for people. It lit up the sky. We do burn our neighbors and friends trees every year. 

I love camp fires. I know this one isn't really but it was fun. 

Ooh I wanna play! I have a few things making me smile today!

First is  that my BIL and SIL are coming to visit this weekend from Cleveland and we're going to be super nerdy and play fun board games all weekend and it's going to be awesome! I'm sure we'll be discussing books, video games and generally not pay attention to that football game on tv. 

We're trying a new recipe for fish cakes tonight and I'm stupidly excited for it lol. 

And lastly is this picture I saw earlier which is killing me with it's cuteness:

 

You should share the recipe if it turns out well! I haven't had those in AGES, even though my mom used to make salmon cakes when I was a kid :)

Speaking of recipes, I made no carb cloud bread for the first time last weekend.  Holy ****balls, Batman!  It's awesome.  I can't believe how easy it is to make.  I put chopped rosemary on the top and made sandwiches all week.   My husband asked me for the recipe to give to one of his coworkers who has diabetes.  I don't know why I never tried this before.

oh, speaking of happy Friday things - this recipe would me happy! no carbs and bread whaaaaat???  I need to check that out please!

Fish Cakes With Dipping Sauce

Makes about 8 (2?1/4-in.) cakes.

Note: From "100 Days of Real Food," by Lisa Leake.

? 1 lb. white fish, such as cod or flounder

? Flour

? Salt and pepper

? 2 tbsp. butter

1/2 c. plus 2 tbsp. sour cream, divided

? 4 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided

? 1 tsp. yellow mustard, divided

? 1 c. store-bought or homemade whole-wheat breadcrumbs, divided

? 2 eggs, lightly beaten

? 1 tbsp. minced fresh onion

? 2 tbsp. sour cream

? 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

? 1/2 tsp. yellow mustard

 

Dash of cayenne pepper

? Olive oil for cooking

Directions

To prepare fish: Sprinkle flour onto a plate. Season fish with salt and pepper, and then dip in the flour to coat on all sides. Transfer to a clean plate. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt about 2 tablespoons butter. Add coated fish to pan and cook for several minutes until the fish is golden brown on the underside. Flip and coo****il it is golden brown on the other side and the center is white, flaky and cooked all the way through. Cool and shred to use in fish cakes.

To make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 teaspoons lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon mustard. Cover and refrigerate.

To make the fish cakes: Spread 1/2 cup breadcrumbs on a plate and set out another empty plate.

In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine fish, eggs, onion, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper and the remaining 1/2 cup breadcrumbs.

To form the cakes, grab a golf-ball-size handful of the fish mixture and squeeze it together with your hands just enough for it to come together (discard any excess liquid). Slightly flatten the ball, coat the outside with a light layer of the breadcrumbs on the plate and then place the fish cake on the empty plate. Repeat with the rest of the fish mixture.

Set a large sauté pan over medium-low heat and add a thin layer of olive oil to cover the bottom. When the oil is hot, cook the fish cakes (in batches if necessary****il golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Serve warm with dipping sauce.

 

 

OMG - these were AMAZING!!! Above is the original recipe, I didn't use bread crumbs, I used almond meal instead. I also didn't use any mustard just because I hate mustard lol. I was very impressed with how good they were!

how adorable!  ditto for the recipe please 

I wanna play nerdy games too! 

I donated to a kickstarter for a game called Secret Hitler by the creators of cards against humanity.  It's a strategy game that recreates the politics of 1930s Germany and you have to work out who the Hitler is and stop the fascists from taking over.  I'm excited to get it.  Should be out in April sometime.