The past few weeks have been so busy that I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Most of it is my own damn fault for saying yes too often.  But one area that’s stressing me out is the homework my 9 year old is expected to complete each night.  The first few weeks of school not much was given but lately it’s like a plague, especially the writing.  Writing: something I love to do but my son hates.  He has so much going on in his head it’s hard for him to organize his thoughts and translate them to the page. I have to sit with him and try to pull ideas out of his head or brainstorm with him then get him to agree on which idea to put on paper. Now if my son were the type to just sit down and complete his work independently it wouldn’t be as stressful, but he’s not.  If I leave the room, he gets distracted and will most likely do something else.  Because he has Aspergers my son has an aide to help keep him on track at school but at home it’s usually just me with my other sons and now a chew-happy puppy. 

Obviously my blogging has suffered for lack of time (or poor time management).  I have been able to cook the boys good food, but writing about it— no time.  

One meal that I cooked up quickly when I had limited time between one son’s tennis and a town-wide gathering campfire sing-along was with salmon cakes.  They reminded me of when I hitch-hiked down the West Coast of Australia, years ago.  One kind lady put me up for the night when I couldn’t get a ride out of town and she made me salmon cakes for dinner.  I didn’t have her recipe but just winged it. 

Salmon Cakes

1 can Alaska Salmon (fresh salmon is preferable, but I used what I had.)

3 pieces bread

1 egg

⅓-½ red bell pepper, chopped

1 scallion, sliced

¼ tsp celery salt

½ tsp dried dill

salt and pepper to taste

Grind the bread in food processor until it is crumbed.  Mix all ingredients in a bowl and then form cakes.  Heat neutral oil (grapeseed, sunflower) in fry pan.  Add salmon cakes (don’t crowd) and cook several minutes each side until cooked through. 

I thought they were good, my youngest two were not impressed because I put red bell pepper in them.  I also served mine with a Sriracha mayonnaise. I will make these again but without the pepper for the boys. 

Hopefully we’ll get the homework issues sorted out and I will miraculously get better at managing my time.