Tuna Cakes

I'm kicking myself for not having this recipe posted. This is one of my favorite recipes and it is a special treat in our house. The cakes and so flavorful and the spicy mayo totally makes it. I originally got this recipe in a Rachael Ray cook book. The original called for roasted garlic and capers and fresh parsley. Well, let me tell you, I don't have things like that in my fridge and I don't have time to roast garlic all day (except for when it's topped on homemade pizza, thanks Alexis!) I have since perfected it to make it the easiest and most delicious version of itself. Try it for dinner tonight!

What You'll Need:
- 2 cans drained tuna
- 1 clove minced garlic (or half of a large one you can split between the cakes and spicy mayo)
- 1 cup mashed potatoes (This can be from left over from the night before, frozen mashed potatoes that are so convienient, or the boxed instant mashed potatoes. I've used all and all work just fine - though of course, I prefer homamde - sometimes I've got a craving for tuna cakes that needs to be fixed NOW!)
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese - about 2 handfuls
- 1/4 cup regular or panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- handful fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped (Can be left out or used dried)
- S&P
-Panko breadcrumbs for coating

What You Need To Do:
- Easy as can be: Mix all of the above except panko for coating.

- Form cake patties. I usually get 6 cakes from this, though I believe the original recipe said something like 12...I like mine dinner sized!

- Heat a shallow non stick pan with canola oil (enough to shallow fry them) and set on high heat while you coat the cakes.

- Place cakes safely in the oil and fry on each side until browned. Drain.

- Serve with plenty of spicy mayo

Spicy Mayo:
- 1/2 cup mayo (I only use Dukes Mayo. No if, and's or but's about it.)
- Juice of half a lemon
- Flat leaf parsley (fresh or dried)
- Black Pepper
- Minced garlic (a VERY small clove or the other half from the cakes. It stays raw in both the cakes and mayo so start off with a small amount)
- About 6 drops tabasco sauce - or however much you like. I never measure!

- Mix all together and TASTE!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I thought I had completely abandoned this poor recipe blog...But lately I've been in a crazy cooking mood (minus that one week where my house was a stuffy 83 degrees and I did not even want to look at my oven, let alone use it!) But I'm back at it...so here's the latest recipe I've tried and LOVED.

It's basically the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe on the top of the Quaker Oats lid. Seriously. I had searched all day for a recipe to soothe my chocolate fix. I love, love, love chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Not to be confused with Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies which are equally amazing and hold a special place in my heart. There's a time and place for every cookie.

What You will Need:
- 1 stick + 6T butter, softened
- 3/4 firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 t vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups AP flour (I use half wheat/half white)
- 1 t baking soda
- 1/2 t salt
- 3 cups Oats (quick or old fashioned)
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (and an extra little handful for good luck...or if you're a chocoholic like me.)

What to do:

- Preheat oven to 350. Line some baking sheets with parchment paper.

- Beat butter and sugars together until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla.

- In a smaller bowl mix flour, salt and baking soda.

- Add flour to butter-sugar-goodness. I do this in two steps, with a rubber spatula.

- Add oats and chocolate chips and fold in until combined.

- Drop by spoonfuls. I did about 2-big heaping Tablespoons full.

- Bake for 8-10 minutes. Mine took more like 12-14 minutes.

(I had also cooled my dough in the fridge while I made dinner. Then while we ate dinner I baked the cookies off so we had fresh baked cookies for dessert. It rocked. Why did I not think of this before!? I felt totally together too. I got this baking thing.)

Try them. Eat too many of them. Share them with friends. To my knowledge baked goods never stay good for long and I end up with a crumbly mess by the third or fourth day so I've gotten better about giving away goods to everyone ;-) Want to be my neighbor!?