Hobbes' Favorite Tuna Salad

 Bill Watterson

 My youngest loves a good tuna salad sandwich.  And he loves to read Calvin and Hobbes.  And being the youngest of four, he gets whatever he wants.  At least that's what my three older ones accuse me of.  

So when he begged for a stuffed Hobbes, I went searching online.  OK, maybe the older ones are right.  

Quickly I found out that a stuffed Hobbes can't be purchased anywhere, because Mr. Bill Watterson never liked the idea of commercializing his work.   So if you want to own a stuffed Hobbes, you gotta make it yourself.  

And here I found a great free pattern available online. Thanks to super creative Seamster, the instructions, complete with helpful step-by-step photos, were super-easy to follow, even for this novice sewer.  

The hardest part was hand sewing Hobbes' way-too-many stripes, but my youngest "hoorayed" and said things like, "Mom, you are the best sewer in the world!"  every time a stripe was sewn on.  With this kind of encouragement, I could have sewn the moon for this kid.  

Just like the real Calvin and Hobbes, these two are inseparable lately.  After only a few weeks,  Hobbes' white muzzle is already grey-brown, and his limbs are beginning to detach from being carried around so much.  And watching them share this tuna salad sandwich for lunch? Priceless.  

Print This Recipe!

Hobbes' Favorite Tuna Salad 

Makes 2 generous sandwiches

Recipe inspired from Cook's Country

2 (5 oz) cans solid white albacore tuna, packed in water

2 Tablespoon grated onion (great way to hide onion from kids)

1 Table Olive oil

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 Cup Hellmann's Mayonnaise

Salt and Pepper to taste

Optional ingredients: finely chopped celery, hard boiled eggs, fresh dill, or anything else that catches your fancy.

4 slices of bread

2 pieces of lettuce leaves  

Open two cans of tuna and drain water completely.  Transfer tuna into a medium size bowl and pat dry with a few sheets of paper towels.  

In a small microwave safe bowl, combine grated onion and olive oil and heat for 45 seconds.  Cool.  

Using a fork, toss onion mixture with tuna and add lemon juice and mayo.  Add any optional ingredients if using. Season well with salt and pepper.  

Assemble the sandwiches or use it to top a bed of greens.  

Note: Here is the link to canned tuna drainer that Pateberry mentioned in her comment.  Thanks Pateberry for this tip!

Working Hands

“Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art” - Leonardo da Vinci

There is so much beauty in working hands.  I love to capture the images of hands as they touch, slice, and hold, and share foods.  

I think hands are one of many God's exceptional gifts to mankind.  

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."  Proverbs 31:20

May your hands be instruments of blessing today.  

Last Photo Shoot - Picnic Lunch for Two

Helene and Clare demonstrated how they set up a food shot and work it.  Watching these pros setting up and styling helped me tremendously.  And this what I came up with : Picnic lunch for two.

I learned so much this weekend and the creativity and energy of these two women and 10 other attendees really recharged me.  Of course on the drive way home from Charleston to Savannah, I was stopping at every antique stores hunting for props.  Oh, boy, my husband will love me more lugging in all the stuff into the house.....

It was an incredible weekend learning from Helene, Clare, and the attendees.  But most of all, I think this is a beginning of a wonderful friendship.

With Helene and Clare-Day 2

Day 2 of Food Photography Workshop with Helene and Clare included an early visit to Charleston Farmer's Market.  And our assignment was to be inspired for our brunch photo shoot.  

 With beautiful produce like these, it's not very hard to be inspired.  

And here are my shots.  Join me for some brunch.......

Food Photography Workshop with Helene and Clare-Day 1

Well, guess where I am!  I am spending this weekend with Helene and Clare at a food photography and styling workshop in Charleston, South Carolina.   And yes, this tops as THE dream vacation for me learning from these pros.

Day one photo shoot consisted of antipasto and dessert.  Beyond their excellent teaching and coaching, I truly sensed their genuine passion for their work and for their students.

Choosing from amazing collection of props from both Clare and Helene totally inspired me.  Talk about feeling giddy like a school girl in a candy shop!

Can't wait to see what next two days will be like.  Tomorrow....Charleston Farmer's Market.

Do you want to attend one of their workshop?  I assure you, it will transform the way you take food photos.  Click here for their workshop schedule.

Helen Dujardin

Clare Barboza