Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 70

Prayers Please

Please include everyone in Hawaii in your prayers.

“We can’t heal the world today, but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, and an act of kindness.”

— Mary Davis (1954 – )

CEO, Special Olympics

Shapely

August 10 is National Shapewear Day. Honestly? Seriously. Okay… I am skipping the Shapewear because I am in shape. Don’t hate me. Round is a shape.

Hmmmmm…

 

“Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination.”

Mark Twain (1835-1910)
19th Century American author and humorist; pen name for Samuel Langhorne Clemens

This is Happiness Happens Day!

Sometimes we can make ourselves happy. Sometimes we share happiness with others. Most times, happiness is a decision.

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain!”

— Dolly Parton (1946 – )
American singer & songwriter

National Friendship Day

“Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm & constant.” 

— Socrates (? – 399 BC)
Greek philosopher

Shweeeeet!

 

 

“Cookies are made of butter and love.”

— Norwegian proverb

National Oyster Day

August 5th celebrates the different species of bivalve mollusks that can be eaten. Hello, Oysters! Since Roman times there is evidence of oysters as a culinary treat. In the 19th century, NY harbor was the largest producer of oysters in the world.

 

 

 

The most nutritious way to consume oysters is raw, simply served with cocktail sauce, vinegar, or lemon. But raw oyster consumption is not for everyone.

 

 

Thankfully, oysters can also be boiled, steamed, roasted, or fried. Grilled, scalloped, and stewed oysters are also popular.

The most popular hot oyster dish, by far, is Oysters Rockefeller. In 1889, the New Orleans restaurant Antoine’s became the site where the founder’s son, Jules Alciatore, developed the now famous dish during a shortage of escargot. After that substitution, they never looked back. Best yet, they are Super Simple, and yet impressive. So, let’s cook up a batch… in the oven or on the grill.

Super Simple Oysters Rockefeller
24 live oysters in shells, rinsed, cleaned, opened & top shells discarded
4-5 T butter
2 finely minced shallots (or ½ c finely chopped sweet onion)
10-12 oz fresh baby spinach, stems removed & discarded
2 T Pernod, white wine, or vermouth
1 T fresh lemon juice
12 oz heavy cream
½ c finely grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
2 slices cooked & crumbled bacon (optional)
½ tsp each: ground black pepper & garlic powder
¼ c panko breadcrumbs
Rock salt & lemon wedges, for serving

Use a sharp paring knife to cut under each oyster, loosening them from the shells, but saving the shells & juices.  Place on baking sheet & refrigerate. Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté & stir shallots for 2-3 minutes. Add spinach and wine. As spinach wilts, add lemon juice, cream, cheese, bacon, pepper & garlic. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat and let cook till liquid has reduced by half. Cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. To serve, scoop 1 T spinach mixture onto each oyster. Sprinkle with panko. Bake 8-10 min at 375˚F. Serve immediately on rock salt bed with lemon wedges, either on a single platter or portioned serving plates.

KISS Tips: Try your own variations as this works well with clams, scallops, shrimp, and crabmeat. It’s also great as Chicken Rockefeller, so look for non-seafood options, too. For a hearty variation, go for Cheesy Rockefeller, by adding 4 oz of both shredded Monterey Jack and Mozzarella cheese.

Celebrate National White Wine Day!

 

“It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine…  it’s summertime!”

— Kenny Chesney (1968 – )
American singer & songwriter

 

To know me is to know that my white wine must be mega chilled (yup, and I add ice… lots of ice). It also must be crisp and dry, never buttery and most assuredly never oaky. Chardonnay grapes are delicious, but few winemakers age in stainless, rather than wooden barrels. Yum yum thanks to those who do! I started drinking white wine with mega sweet types, which no longer appeal to my taste buds. Give me a crisp, dry pinot grigio… or pinot gris… or sauvignon blanc any day. Of course, there are those that tell me that not having developed a taste for the “better” white wines, such as Chardonnay, screams that I have no class. I protest! 4th IS a class! (And, oh yes, I am known for tossing in a few frozen raspberries.)

Courage

Photo by Sammie Chaffin

 

 

“Courage is grace under pressure.”

— Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
American author

Are You Confident?

 

“Confidence, like art, never comes from having all the answers; it comes from being open to all the questions.”

— Diogenes Laërtius (180-240 AD)
Biographer of the Greek philosophers