Summer Midpoint

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."--Ronald Reagan

     This weekend the rain came and put out the fire that was started by lightening on the mountainside just east of our home.  It was called the Flood Canyon fire.  It put quite a bit of smoke and ashes in the air in this valley.  This is one of three fires close to home this week.

     Lately, I have had a few people ask me for this recipe so I thought it better go on the blog.  We have this quite often.  I use the salmon that we purchase from Costco.

Salmon with Lemon and Dill

1 pound salmon                                    3 T. lemon juice

¼ tsp. salt                                             2 tsp. dried dill weed

¼ tsp. pepper                                       2 T. butter

1 tsp. onion powder                             3 T. soy sauce

1 tsp. garlic powder

            Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly grease a medium baking dish.  Place salmon in the baking dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.  Pour lemon juice and soy sauce evenly over the salmon.  Sprinkle fish with dried dill weed and place slices of butter evenly over it.  Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with a fork.

     My mom has been begging people to come and get apricots from her tree this week so they don't go to waste.  It reminded me of this recipe that we enjoy.  This is a nice, moist cake and a delicious way to use apricots.

 

Apricot Spice Cake

                                         2 eggs                                      2 C. flour

                                         1 C. sugar                                1 tsp. cinnamon

                                        ½ tsp. salt                                 1 tsp. cloves

                                        ½ C. vegetable oil                     2 tsp. soda

                                         2 C. apricot puree                    1 T. hot water

            Generously grease 9 X 13” baking pan.  In large mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar, salt, and oil; beat well.  Stir in apricot puree.  Add flour, spices and soda mixed with hot water.  Pour into prepared baking pan.  Bake at 350* for 25 to 30 minutes.  Cool.  Frost, if desired, with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

            In large bowl, cream together 4 ounces softened cream cheese and 2 T. softened butter or margarine until smooth.  Gradually beat in 3 C. powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Beat until spreading consistency adding small amount of milk if needed. 

     This quilt is called "Stars and Stripes" and is one of my favorites.  The pattern was printed in the magazine McCall's Quick Quilts a few years ago.

      I realized this year that I have never read Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  So in March I read it and quite enjoyed it.