Summer Cod Cakes

I've made it no secret that I'm not a cook nor a baker... but I do like to try a new recipe every now and again! This week's new recipe is an adaptation of this one found on Saveur.com. I changed it up a bit because I like to taste the fish in a fish cake, not so much the filler. I think this makes it a tiny bit healthier as well. Follow the recipe as shown in the link, but add twice the amount of fish and half the potatoes. The recipe is a bit time consuming, but the end result is SO worth it! My husband and youngest son both raved about the little fish cakes. My oldest son is a vegetarian, so he didn't want to try them. Oh well. More for the rest of us!

I served the cod cakes with a dollop of a sauce I whipped up.
1/2 cup mayo
1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp fresh dill
1/2 tsp sriracha
Mix together and refrigerate before serving. Add less or more of the seasoning ingredients to taste.

And with tomatoes being amazing this year, I also made this colorful tomato salad with fresh garlic, basil, olive oil, salt 'n pepper. A delicious Summer meal!

What are some of your favorite Summer recipes? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Summer's Last Hurrah: Martha's Vineyard Edition!

Many of you reading this may already know I've been on holiday on Martha's Vineyard.  I've tweeted daily about the lovely adventures my family and I have been having.  I thought I'd do a recap of the trip and show you some of the photos from around the island.  But first a little background on my love affair with the Vineyard...

I first visited and fell in love with Martha's Vineyard while visiting with a college friend the summer after I graduated from Purdue.  I say "fell in love" and that's exactly what I mean!  I absolutely loved the vineyard then and the feeling has only gotten stronger since.  You know the age old question, "Do you believe in love at first sight?"  Well I do!  I believed from the first visit to the vineyard this was going to be a life long love affair and so far that holds true.

My husband and I had a last minute change to honeymoon on the vineyard after a hurricane sadly blew away the tropical island we were scheduled to visit only two weeks before.  I've sometimes wondered if Martha maybe orchestrated the whole thing so that I wouldn't be tempted by another island... hmmm?

Since marrying and having children we've vacationed on the vineyard nearly every year.  Last year my husband was recovering from a torn ACL and the trip wasn't to be.  This year we've resumed our scheduled visit and made up for loss time!  We've biked, played tennis, visited beaches, swam, seen the lighthouses, eaten like a kings, seen the island from the sky in a biplane, visited the local farm and jumped off the famous "Jaws Bridge"!  Every year our visits get better and better, and this year is certainly no exception to that idea.  I hope that each and every one of my readers has an opportunity to experience the beauty, fun and simple pleasures of Martha's Vineyard!

Let me know, in the comments below, your favorite place to visit!  Or perhaps you have your own Martha's Vineyard "love story" to share.

To read about some of our favorite restaurants on the vineyard, please read my post on The Whimsical Fig!

Links:
Katama Airfield, Atria Restaurant, Winnetu Resort, Mad Max

Inspiration from the Garden

I recently entered a design contest hosted by Invitation Buzz. Invitation Consultants sponsored the "You Choose the Event" contest and I happened to have won! My inspiration for the winning design: Pink & Orange found in the garden.

Below, you can see the winning invitation as well as two more designs that were inspired by this summer's hottest color combination!