One of my favorite foods on our coast is the California King Salmon. We did not have much of a season in the past few years but this year they are back again. I'm able to buy local salmon fresh off the boat. It is expensive, but I like the flavor better than other wild salmon. I usually try to get steaks as they are a little cheaper and I don't mind picking out the bones. I often put a rub on the salmon an hour before my husband barbecues them. For the rub mix together 3TBS of brown sugar, 1TBS of ground cumin, 1tsp chili powder, and about 1tsp of salt and pepper. This rub is enough for several filets and will keep. Use it depending on your taste.

When I have guests I serve a filet instead. I season the filet with butter, garlic salt, and lemon juice and bake it at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. I always make sure that I have leftover salmon to eat the next day with a salad, or to make salmon cakes. 
​I enjoy eating me salmon cakes with my green sauce.

Whenever I am cooking and children are around I like to involve them, even if they only get to lick the bowl. I find that children are curious and love to be involved in preparing food. It takes time and patience but it is worth it. At this stage in my life I have to borrow children from my friends.

Last week my friend Britt visited, bringing her daughter and her four grandchildren. I decided to make crêpes with them. The day before I prepared two different batters, one savory, and one sweet crepe batter.

I put out different fillers for them to choose and make their own. For the savory crêpes I used cooked turkey ham, cheddar cheese, avocados, and cherry tomatoes. For the sweet crêpes I bought an organic hazelnut spread ( a little healthier than Nutella, but still yummy ), different homemade jams, soft, spreadable cream cheese, fresh strawberries , blueberries, chocolate sauce, bananas , nuts, and chocolate covered pomegranate seeds.

We cooked the crêpes together, and Ruby, the oldest, was  able to make perfect crêpes at the end. The savory ones were their favorite, they loved cutting the cheese on their individual cutting boards. We had a lot of fun together and I was happy to be around children .

I have a drawer in my kitchen with my favorite recipes. I also have folders with recipes and I have shelves full of cook books and let's not forget my magazines. In years past I would invite people and then start looking for recipes I could prepare. The covers of Gourmet and Bon Appetit were always intriguing. I mix and match and have fun.
But let's get back to my drawer. Those recipes are special, they are my favorites. Some of the pages are full of stains , some of them are handwritten , some of them are torn out of magazines or newspapers, and I have made them over and over. One of them is a recipe for Lemon Cesar Salad that my friend Linda Ristow send me years ago. It is a vegetarian version of a Caesar salad. My family and friends have enjoyed this salad over and over.

This apricot cake is fruity and rich in flavor. The marzipan gives it an added flavor. I used a German recipe for Aprikosenkuchen. This cake can be easily transported and it is great for picnics and tea in the afternoon.