Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 78

Proverbial Experience

Photo by Pascal Habermann

 

“A proverb is a short sentence based on long experience.”

– Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616)
Spanish writer

National Yucatan Shrimp Day

Yucatan Shrimp combines authentic Mexican cuisine with some Caribbean flair. But surprise! Yucatan Shrimp comes from Florida, though inspired by Mexico. The dish was created by Doc Ford’s Bar & Grille of southwest Florida fame. (Check them out in Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, St. Pete Pier, and now also in the Jungle Terrace in St. Pete.) At Doc’s, these shrimp are served as a peel-and-eat specialty. I find that eating shrimp is easier and far less messy to remove the shells first. I also Super Simplify by skipping the traditional boiling step.

So, with a nod to the official National Yucatan Shrimp Day, here’s my take on Doc’s Yucatan Shrimp.

(Oh, and they also make this with oysters, baking them with a creamy Manchego cheese topping. Sooooo, go ahead and make that, too!)

Super Simple Yucatan Shrimp
4 T butter
1 minced garlic clove
1 tsp seeded and finely diced or chopped jalapeño pepper
Juice of 2 large or 4-6 small limes
1 T sambal oelek (garlic chili sauce)
Kosher salt & ground pepper
1½ -2 lbs shelled & deveined jumbo shrimp
2 T chopped fresh cilantro

Melt butter over low heat in large skillet; stir in garlic & jalapeño peppers for 2 minutes before stirring in lime juice, garlic chili sauce, salt & pepper. Then increase heat to medium and add shrimp, cooking just 2-3 minutes, till they are just barely firm. Sprinkle with cilantro and toss again. Makes 4 servings.

KISS Tips: The shrimp can also be roasted in a BBQ grill or 400° oven. As an appetizer, serve with crispy baguettes and a little salsa on the side. Plus a rum drink or a favorite Mexican beer, of course! For an entrée, try serving over slices of grilled or roasted sweet onion. Oh, yeah!

National Lucky Penny Day

 

Do you believe a penny is lucky? People in many cultures do.  Because today is National Lucky Penny Day, you just may want to keep glancing at the ground. You just never know when you’ll find a lucky penny.

International Being You Day

Photo by Craig Hellier

 

Of course, we’ve all likely heard various expressions that encourage us to be ourselves. Well, yeah… Everyone else is already taken.

But while we are being ourselves, why not try being our best selves? We all have happier days when we exude positive, encouraging expressions. Wherever you may be in this world, enjoy being you today.

Deserve Happiness

Photo by Alexander Rotker

“If we cannot live so as to be happy, let us at least live so as to deserve it.”

— Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862) American naturalist, philosopher, and writer

As written in his Journal on January 21, 1838

National Pick Strawberries Day

Photo by Oliver Hale

 

In many areas, strawberries are not quite ripe yet. In others, the luscious berries have already been getting picked for several weeks. Regardless, every year on May 20th we recognize National Pick Strawberries Day.

My sister and I recently relived a childhood memory. We walked through our meadows and kept looking for AND FINDING adorable wild strawberries. Ripe but not quite as sweet as my childhood memory.

Photo by Joseph Gonzalez

Strawberries are merely mahhhhhvelous plucked fresh. But they are also delightful in cooking, whether you are making jam, jazzing up a salad, or whipping up some muffins, tarts, or a pie. For true decadence, simply dip a strawberry in melted chocolate. Or go all in and indulge in fresh strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, ice cream, or both! Yum!

If you can, pick some fresh strawberries today. Otherwise, buy a box at your favorite grocery store and indulge!!!

Respond Positively

Photo by Simran Sood

 

“Consider how much more often you suffer from your anger and grief than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved.”

— Marcus Antonius aka Mark Antony (83 – 30 BC)

Roman politician and general

Do Our Best

 

 

“Ability will never catch up with the demand for it.”

— Malcolm S. Forbes (1919-1990)
American entrepreneur and publisher

National Walnut Day

National Walnut Day originated in 1949, thanks to the Walnut Marketing Board. It then received a presidential proclamation by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958. So, go ahead… celebrate!

High in antioxidants and heart-healthy fats, walnuts are not just for desserts. Try coarsely chopping walnuts and adding to rice or veggie dishes. Or replace pine nuts with walnuts when you make pesto. Top cereal or muffins with walnuts, either whole or coarsely chopped. Walnuts are great in banana bread, slaw, granola bars, and stuffings. And over salads, walnuts are nutty mahhhhvelous, whether raw, toasted, or caramelized.

Caramelized Walnuts are Super Simple. Nibble on them as a snacking treat or to use as a decorative addition for cakes and cookies or roasted meats.
1 c walnut halves (or large pieces)
¼ c granulated sugar (or monk fruit or coconut sugar)
1 T butter
Toss all the ingredients into a skillet over medium heat. As the sugar begins to melt, stir the nuts continuously for 5 minutes to coat them while toasting. Then spoon onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, quickly separating the nuts (with a couple of spoons) to help them cool and “set,” which only takes 5 minutes. Enjoy these gems in popcorn, over salads, or just for snacking! (And, yes! This works with other favorite nuts, too!)

Mother’s Day

Too many years had passed since my sister and I were both with Mom for Mother’s Day. We enjoyed that blessing this year. Sir Ronald and I have spent Mother’s Day with Mom many times, but we kids got somewhat scattered as adults and were not together as often as we would have liked. After Deborah’s visit to NC, we flew to Florida to spend Mother’s Day together with Mom.

 

At Church, members placed photos of their Moms on a big table. Mom chose a 4-generation photo taken at our wedding, the last family celebration her Mom got to attend, and the photo included Mom’s Mom, Mom, Deborah, Deborah’s daughter Jennifer, and Yours Truly.

 

 

 

 

 

We were all given flowers at church and again at lunch. We enjoyed Hawaiian sweet bread and a melt-in-your-mouth crab-stuffed grouper. Yes, it’s difficult for me to omit the food references.

 

Deborah is staying with Mom now for a few weeks, where she will be teaching some Tai Chi and meditation classes. Mom’s friends are so excited for this.

 

 

 

We take no precious moments together for granted. Mom has always taught us to work hard, stay involved and busy, love each other, and stop to smell the flowers of all sorts…

 

 

gardenias on this particular day. I have been mightily blessed, and I never forget that.