Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 46

Dress Pretty

 

June 1 is National Wear a Dress Day… to celebrate wearing dresses. Be sassy, sophisticated, or silly. Of course, some people wear them better than others. My hubby has perfect legs for skirts, so when he chose to dress as Minnie Mouse to me as Mickey, I had no problem making him a snazzy little red and white polka-dot number, with shoes, pantaloons, and a petticoat to match.

 

 

 

Hmmm… Whatever your reason, skip the jeans today and go for lovely.

Believe!

Image by Jorge Vasconez

 

“Do not despair when the sun sets with sadness, for each new dawn delivers defiant radiance, even when the sun shrouds herself in clouds.”

— Cathy Burnham Martin (1954 – )
Author: “The Bimbo Has Brains… and Other Freaky Facts” 2017

Philosophers and Kings

“There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands.”

–Plato (427-348 BC)
Greek philosopher

Live Well

Image by John Hain

 

 

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”

— Robert Byrne (1930 – 2016)
American author

Truth Beyond Opinion

“Not the violent conflict between parts of the truth, but the quiet suppression of half of it, is the formidable evil. There is always hope when people are forced to listen to both sides; it is when they attend to only one that errors harden prejudices, and truth itself ceases.”

— John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873)
Naturalist & English language philosopher
Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom

Honor the Fallen

 

“Heroes never die. They live in the hearts and minds of those who would follow in their footsteps.”

— Emily Potter (1975 – )
Australian author & professor

 

 

Woah!

 

“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.”

— Joseph Stalin (1878 – 1953)
Soviet politician and revolutionary; former Premier of the Soviet Union

National Wine Day

For me, a glass of pinot grigio on ice with some raspberries. Oh, and a side of fresh, salty chips. Ahhh… perfectly balanced “meal.”   LOL! Need I say more?

National Asparagus Day

 

For those who love fresh veggies, fresh from-the-garden asparagus is a perfectly splendid Spring delight.

 

 

 

 

 

Asparagus spears serve as a beautiful accompaniment to meats and fish.

 

 

 

They are also delightful in a stir-fry with other veggies or a protein such as shrimp or poultry.

 

 

Or… one of my favorites… wrap them in bacon and crisp them up on the grill for a splendid appetizer.

For National Asparagus Day, I share my recipe for Souper Simple Asparagus Soup. Enjoy both the strained “fancified” version or the heartier cheesy variation.

Souper Simple Asparagus Soup
1 sweet onion, peeled & chopped
2 T butter
1 lg bundle fresh asparagus spears, cut small
2 c chicken bone broth or stock
Salt & white pepper, to suit your taste
¼ c half-and-half or heavy whipping cream
Sauté onion in the butter for a few minutes over med heat, just till it softens but does not change color. Stir in the asparagus; cook and stir for 3-4 more minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil; reduce heat to simmer and let cook another 10 minutes. Blend (immersion or covered container) till smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Blend in the cream. Serve, garnished with a few asparagus cuts or tips. Makes 4 servings.

 KISS Tips: For an elegantly smooth texture, you can pass the soup through a sieve before serving. Or, if you enjoy cheese, add up to 1 c shredded Muenster, Monterey Jack, or other melty cheese just before adding the cream. Add some hearty croutons to your garnishes.

Love and Forgiveness

Image by Scott Broome

“When women love us, they forgive us everything, even our crimes; when they do not love us, they give us credit for nothing, not even our virtues.”

— Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850)
French novelist & playwright