Tuna "Cookies"

I was pondering Jamie's posting about quick healthy meals. I don't really have an answer for her as most of our meals of late are simple, easy and maybe repetitive as my focus/energy just isn 't on meal planning these days. That said, a new favorite, maybe semi-healthy and quite quick meal is tuna "cookies." B is strangely fond of tuna in various forms. He has faux tuna salad with me for lunch sometime (tuna, mayo, lemon pepper, pickle juice on crackers or bread). We subsequently tried to get him to enjoy tuna patties. They are a bit generic looking and not a very fun or descriptive name.

One day, B wanted to make cookies when we were discussion dinner and Brent suggested tuna cookies. He was all for it and had a great time helping smash the crackers in, stir, break eggs, and shake out the lemon pepper. He did not, of course, join in in forming the "cookies" as still not fond of getting his hands dirty. My mom made us salmon patties growing up, but I usually don't make them as I don't like cleaning the salmon in the can so perhaps he comes by his hand issues from me. Oddly, I also have very specific memories of my Grandma Blakley crushing crackers for salmon patties into oblivion with a rolling pin and newspaper so apparently variants of this are common in our crew.

In any case, He did eat more of his tuna than usual following his first foray into making the cookies and seemed to enjoy them. We had some again on Wednesday and while he doesn't eat a lot he had fun and it is good to get some fish in his diet. We generally don't have fish more than once a week (often less) so no big mercury worries or anything, but hope this random "cookie" helps expand his repertoire.

Tuna Cookies (for 3)

two cans tuna in water (not albacore or white tuna)
two eggs
1/2 tsp Lemon Pepper
Juice of 1/2 a lemon (or say 1TB lemon juice)
1/4 tsp onion powder (or a little chopped onion)
1/4 tsp rosemary (optional)
1/2 sleeve crackers of your choice (crushed)

Canola Oil

--- Caveat--- I practically never make this the same way and have been tinkering this for ages so if you say, don't have lemon juice don't worry, just skip it and add whatever you like. We've tried many other things including curry, thyme, garlic, old bay and various other herbs spices and blends. Measurements are also generally estimates as I don't really measure things out for this recipe.

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients save the oil together. Mixture should not be too dry, just wet enough to hold together well. Heat enough oil to cover the surface of you pan until it sizzles when sprinkled with water. Form mixture into patties --- we usually make between 4 and 6 depending on the size and prefer them a bit thinner as they cook better and are more cookie-like. It will only take a few minutes per side to achive a deep gold/orange. Take out and drain on a paper towel. Serve as they are or with ketchup or lemon.


Enjoy!