Salmon Cakes with Lemon Dill Mayo

There are toys all over my floor.  I think I've put them away roughly 3284759 times today.  The ironic thing is that even though there are toys all over my floor, my son spent the majority of the last half hour repeatedly messing with my computer.  He knows he is not supposed to do this.  Say what you want about a one year old not remembering limits, but trust me - he doesn't play with anything for 30 minutes unless he knows that he isn't supposed to.  I was at my wit's end trying to get him to stop.  Stern tones don't upset him anymore, giving him a new toy doesn't fool him anymore, and when I got eye-to-eye, said "No" with all the force I could muster sans-yelling, and took away the block he was hitting my keyboard with, he literally laughed in my face.  Sigh...  My baby is now officially a toddler.

On the flip-side of toddlerdom is this adorable little thing that dances like a crazy person every time he hears music, fake-laughs as loud as he can whenever he wants attention, gets up on his knees and reaches his hands straight out to the sides when he wants up, and destroyed ate his first Oreo today and loved it.  He now says Mommy (finally!) ALL the time.  He thinks having his diaper changed is hilarious, and crawling off naked is hilarious-er.  He wants and enjoys some of whatever you have, including tacos, raw onions, salt and vinegar chips, and coffee (seriously).  He thinks Curious Buddies are the coolest. thing. ever. and claps and squeals whenever they show up on the magic babysitter box.  His favorite and happiest time of day is when Daddy comes home from work.  He will kiss, clap, high-five, and dance when asked.  He makes me smile every day.

He also has an internal clock like you wouldn't believe.  For example, whether you put him to bed at 7:30 or 9:00, he still wakes up at 6:15.  Amazing!  Also, at promptly 6:00p.m. he yells out, "MOOOOMMMMMMM WHERE'S MY DINNER????"  Or at least, that's my best interpretation of "mamadageeeeeeeuuuuuuuuhhhhhh!"  It seems like we could just feed him at 6:00 and eat whenever we are ready, but oh no.  Remember how he wants some of whatever I have?  Even if he is absolutely stuffed, he will not be happy if I am eating and he is not.  He has had an entire second meal many a time because I got my dinner timing off.  I like to eat later in the evening, but even more than that, I like to eat without an urchin clamoring up my leg.  So, I'm trying to work on this whole get-dinner-on-the-table-by-six organized housewife thing.  Tonight, I am happy to announce, I actually succeeded.

Salmon Cakes with Lemon Dill Mayo   

• 2 cans boneless skinless chunk style salmon
• 1 cup bread crumbs or crushed Saltines
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried dill
• 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• lettuce
• a few fresh basil leaves
• 4 sandwich buns of your choice
       For the mayo
• about 3 heaping tablespoons mayo
• about 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
• about 1/2 teaspoon dried dill

Drain salmon well and empty into a bowl.  Break up the meat with a fork.  Mix in bread crumbs and eggs until the mixture begins to bind together. Mix in the spices and onion.  Form mixture into 4 one-inch patties.  

Now is a good time to start toasting the bread if you want it toasted - which you do.  Heat oil in the pan, then cook patties over medium heat about 4 minutes per side.

In the meantime, mix spices with mayo to taste.  Put mayo, lettuce, a little torn basil, and salmon cakes onto buns and serve.