Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 20

Be Someone’s Light

Photo by Daniel Mirlea

 

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.”

— J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)
English author & philologist

Calmness….

Photo by Eugene Chrstiakov

 

 

“Calmness is the cradle of power.”

— Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819 – 1881)
American novelist & essayist

National New England Clam Chowder Day

Super Simple New England Clam Chowder
Celebrate this classic American dish with clams, potatoes, onions…. and bacon, or I’d be lost!

4 (6.5-oz) cans chopped clams in clam juice
8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
2 T butter
2 large sweet onions, chopped
4-5 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 ½ lb small red-skinned potatoes, ½ “ diced (peeled, if you prefer)
1/3 c flour
2 c chicken broth or bone broth
8-oz jar clam juice
2 tsp Better Than Bouillon – lobster (or chicken)
2 bay leaves
½ tsp garlic powder, minced parsley, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt & pepper
1½ c heavy (whipping) cream

Drain juice from clam cans into large measuring cup or bowl; set aside. Cook bacon in Dutch oven over med heat, stirring occasionally till nearly crispy; remove with slotted spoon to paper towels. Add butter to bacon drippings. Increase heat to med-high and sauté onions & celery 5-6 minutes. Add potatoes and sauté 1-2 more minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, stirring and cooking for 1 min. Then gradually stir in the broth till well combined. Then stir in reserved clam juices & bottled clam juice. Bring to a boil. Stir in the bouillon, followed by the bay leaves and all the seasonings. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce to a simmer, and let cook 15-20 min. (Potatoes should be tender.) Discard the bay leaves. Stir in half the bacon and all the cream. Return to a simmer to heat through. Stir in the clams and remove from the heat. Ladle into individual bread bowls or serving dishes. Garnish each serving with reserved bacon, oyster crackers, and/or  fresh parsley, as desired. Makes 6 servings.

KISS Tips: If not using half the bacon for garnishing, definitely add it to the chowder. Fancify the dish by topping with a crispy slice of baked puff pastry. Chowder is also excellent served simply with a warmed, crusty loaf of French bread. For a spicy twist, add ¼ tsp crushed red pepper along with the other spices. You can also choose a gluten-free 1:1 replacement for flour. For extra creamy, thicken with a little flour or cornstarch slurry.

KISS Variations: For Super Simple variations, add chopped or diced tomatoes and replace cream with tomato broth for Manhattan Clam Chowder. For Rhode Island Clam Chowder, opt for a clear broth by replacing cream with additional chicken broth. We’ve also heard of a sort of “combo,” by keeping the cream and adding tomato broth for New Jersey Clam Chowder.

Want to use fresh clams to replace some or all the canned ones? Scrub 7-8 lbs fresh cherrystone or littleneck clams. Bring 5 cups water and 1 cup white wine to a boil in Dutch oven. Add clams, cover and let cook 5 minutes. Use slotted spoon to remove opened clams. Cover and let cook another 2-4 minutes. Remove remaining opened clams and discard any that failed to open. Pour remaining clam juice through fine mesh sieve to remove any shell bits or sand. (Add bottled clam juice or water if you don’t have a total of 4 cups of broth.) When clams have cooled, remove from shells and finely chop.

May “47” Flourish

Photo by Casey Horner

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)
American Baptist minister & civil rights activist

Today many millions of Americans celebrate the relief, hope, and promise of the new Trump administration. Many millions also shudder in fear or even horror over the exact same thing. We can only unify in peace when we recognize shared truths. We all want many of the same things… peace, harmony, prosperity. We all abhor many of the same things… greed, dishonesty, hatred. We all need calmness, healing, good health, and even the American dream.

Peace, Please

Photo by Pierre Lemos

 

 

“When two elephants fight it is the grass that gets trampled.”

— African proverb

Oh, Bother!

English author A.A. Milne and English illustrator E.H. Shepard created the m ost beloved fictional teddy bear. Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in London’s Evening News for Christmas 1925. However, Winnie-the-Pooh was “born” on August 21, 1921, inspired by a stuffed toy the author had bought for his son Christopher Robin and by a bear they’d seen at the London Zoo. The first book of Winnie-the-Pooh stories was published in 1926. Happy National Winnie-the-Pooh Day!

 

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.”

— Winnie-the-Pooh

Patriotism

 

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it.”

— Mark Twain (1835-1910)
American author and humorist

Thank You for Your Service

 

“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”

— José Narosky (1930 – )
Argentine writer

Happiness & Success

 

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”

-Albert Schweitzer 1875-1965)
German-French philosopher, physician, musician & Nobel laureate

Welcome Ainsley Jo!

 

“A new baby is like the beginning of all things… wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.”

— Eda J. Le Shan (1922-2002)
American writer

 

 

 

Sir Ronald and I thank Adam and Caiti for blessing us with our third granddaughter. Ainsley Jo was born on January 8th. She joins her two big sisters, Ayla and Adaline, who are delighted with their truly terrific trio. We are overjoyed and look forward to greeting her in person.

 

 

 

 

And yes, mother and baby are home now and doing beautifully.