Hey hey!

Happy Thursday!

I hope this post finds you happy and well! 🙂

I just thought I would start off with some HOT NEWS. Just kidding—but not really? Kinda? Idk.

https://www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2023/05/why-jalapeno-peppers-less-spicy-blame-aggies/

The Jalapeño has been OFFICIALLY APPROPRIATED by mild-taste buds. There I said it. There are only 3 things I want: 1) SPICY JALEPENOS 2) Non-Modified food 3) and 8 hours of sleep. Leave the rest to the dogs.

For this post—I am making my Aunt Shiela roll over in her grave. lol

Growing up, my Aunt, who raised me, would make us her special Salmon Patties. Hers looked very similar to the ones pictured below(including the cast iron pan).

My aunt would mix together the necessary ingredients—eggs, saltines, salt, pepper, salmon—nothing more, nothing less. Simple, tasty, and quite healthy. Her’s didn’t feature the little green flecks seen below haha. It would also feature a “hunka’ onion”, and a glass of whole milk.

I rolled my Salmon into BALLS, OKAY!? And…added jalapeños, and onion. I subbed egg for a splash of milk, and instead of saltines. I used bread crumbs and a dash of flour—plenty of salt and pepper. Personally, I would have used Saltines and Egg—vs—Bread Crumbs+Flour and Milk—1) the saltines add necessary saltiness2) they combine the crunch of bread crumbs, and the binding properties of flour 3) and lastly, it’s such a novel thing to crunch up saltines.

I find myself making these whenever I am wanting to feel closer to her—or to honor her memory. My Aunt Shiela was and is the reason I am the man I am today. She instilled in me the capacity to love, and love fearlessly, love softly, love noisily, love goofily, love presently, and to always see the Love that is in our every day lives’. “Because Honey, that is really all we got.”—she says to me. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss her—and I am thankful to have landed in her arms.

She would say to me: “Daniel, don’t ever grow-up”—and I take this to heart. And she demonstrated just that—anyone who knew my aunt—knew she was in-touch with her Inner Child. It was rare not to catch her heavily emoting: laughing, crying, shouting, dancing, or teasing—she kept her heart on her sleeve. One of the more important things that I learned in our time together—“Daniel Boone, always keep your Heart on your sleeve.”

I love you Aunt.

Step 7: Add Hot Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 cans of Salmon
• Breadcrumbs
• 1/4 of an Onion, diced
• 2 Jalapenos, diced

Instructions:

1. Begin by draining the canned salmon and carefully deboning it before transferring it to a mixing bowl.
2. Add the diced onion and jalapenos to the bowl with the salmon.
3. Begin adding breadcrumbs to the mixture, starting with a small amount and gradually increasing until the mixture reaches a consistency that allows it to hold together when formed into balls. Aim for a firm but moist texture.
4. Once the mixture is well combined and holds its shape, portion it into equal-sized portions to form the salmon balls.
5. Roll each portion of the mixture between your palms to form round balls. Adjust the size of the balls according to your preference.
6. Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium heat and add a small amount of oil.
7. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the salmon balls into the skillet, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
8. Cook the salmon balls for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and heated through.
9. Once cooked to perfection, remove the salmon balls from the skillet and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
10. Serve the Salmon Ballz hot as a delicious appetizer or snack, accompanied by your favorite dipping sauce or as part of a meal.
11. Enjoy your flavorful and satisfying Salmon Ballz!

About the Author:

Daniel is a 29-year-old, and self-proclaimed traveler, energy-worker, caregiver, activist, and long-time foodie. He enjoys spending time in nature, going for long road-trips, meditating, and spending time with his friends and family.

He finds purpose through his day-job as a caregiver—and is in the process of completing an Associate Degree in Human Services. While concurrently enrolled in classes, and caregiving, Daniel is working towards opening a Non-Profit Charity: Love Gives—whose mission statement is: “Love In Action”, aimed at providing Direct-Cash Payments to those In-Crisis (ie. unhoused, hungry, veterans, recovering-individuals, abuse-survivors). If you are interested in working with, or making a donation, please email: love.gives@outlook.com and find them on 

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