Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 87
February 23, 2023
Celebrate National Banana Bread Day!
Hubby is a huge fan of bananas. When he has a few bananas that did not get eaten before turning too soft, I turn them into banana bread for him. On this occasion, I made him 2 loaves… one plain and one with blueberries, which go very well with bananas.
Super Simple Banana Bread
½ c butter, softened to room temperature
1 c sugar (half brown; half white)(see Tips)
1½ c mashed bananas (3) (see Tips)
2 lg or x-lg eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 c chopped pecans
2 c flour
1 tsp each: salt & baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 c optional add-ins, such as mini chocolate chips, raisins, blueberries, or toffee bits
Use the back of a large spoon to cream the butter in a large bowl; then cream in the sugar, followed by the bananas, eggs, & vanilla. Then stir in the pecans and set aside. Sift dry ingredients together into a small bowl. Gently stir flour mixture into banana batter in two batches. Spoon into two greased & floured 5×7” loaf pans. Bake at 350°F for 45 -50 minutes. A loaf is done when a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the pans rest for 10 minutes before turning the loaves out onto wire racks to cool completely.
KISS Tips: I always replace sugar now with granulated monkfruit or coconut sugar, which work beautifully in breads. For a yummy topping, crush a favorite streusel square or nut cluster, such as those with pecans, mangos, coconut, etc. Also, if you need more bananas, you can substitute applesauce, sour cream, or even yogurt for the moisture. Try spooning half the batter into one loaf pan and adding ½ c add-ins to the other half of the batter before spooning into a 2nd pan. If using blueberries, frozen ones work beautifully. Simply keep them in the freezer until you a ready to use them to prevent your batter from turning blue.
February 22, 2023
Celebrate National Margarita Day!
Photo by Jill Fulton
The classic margarita is shaken with ice and then served either on those “rocks” or straight up. Or it’s served “frozen” by blending it with the ice. The traditional glass is rimmed in salt and garnished with a lime slice.
There are countless variations, but here’s how to make the Classic Margarita.
2 oz tequila
1 oz orange liquor (triple sec or curacao)
1 oz lime juice
(Some recipes also call for a bit of sweetness from simple syrup.)
That’s it! Enjoy one today… with a side of cheesy nachos, please, for me.
February 21, 2023
Catch Only Happiness
“A sad soul can be just as lethal as a germ.”
– John Steinbeck (1902 – 1968)
American writer
Never let anyone else crush your spirit. Their attempts are mere reflections of their own sadness and lack of control.
February 20, 2023
Believe!
Let no one dash your dreams or belittle your beliefs.
February 19, 2023
Happy Birthday!
On this day in 1950, a remarkable man was born. He grew up as an only child, but never lost his childlike love of life. He loved sports, from tennis, golf, and baseball to hockey and football. Boats, particularly sailing, became a passion that lasted into his adulthood. Music became a powerful theme in his life, and he played in bands when he went to college. Then he settled down… as much as a man who lives in the moment possibly can. Sometimes deep and brooding, often crass and over-reactionary, this emotional soul has a heart of gold. The father of 4, I met him later in life. We were engaged to be married 5 months later. Being a step-Mom for his children became an immediate learning experience… and an utterly fulfilling portion of my life.
I ended up doing marketing at the company he founded and ran seamlessly for so many years. While this remarkable man had always struck people as successful and utterly independent, I discovered a highly vulnerable person inside. His easy wit and raucous, rippling laughter readily disguised the sensitive and compassionate man within. I learned that he truly needed my love. He needed me.
He works hard. He plays hard. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry. He makes me proud. He frustrates the daylights out of me. But when the chips are down, he stands up. He comes through.
Yes, he is incorrigible. And I laughingly remind friends not to “incorrige” him. But I love him with all my heart. No one is perfect, although he often quips that he is the exception to that rule, but we have been a perfectly splendid duo for 23 years and counting.
Through ups and downs, thick and thin, celebrations and sorrows, I love him. He is mine, and I am his. Please join me in wishing a very Happy Birthday to the man I call my Hubby, Dahlingest, and often Sir Ronald. Happiest Birthday wishes to Ron Martin.
February 18, 2023
National Drink Wine Day
Unwind today, National Drink Wine Day, with a glass of your favorite vino… with or without alcohol… with or without bubbles.
My favorite is pinot grigio. Yup, the white one. And I only like the dry varietals, rather than fruity sweet wines. Happily, my favorites are also the least expensive ones. I admit I do not have one of those cultivated palettes when it comes to wine. So be it. To each his or her own.
In ancient times, many cultures worshipped their wine… or their wine gods. When water was not clean to drink, wine was the safest beverage. History shows records of wine production as early as 7,000 BC. So, enjoy a perfect glass today in celebration of National Drink Wine Day.
February 17, 2023
So Says Daniel Boone
Photo by Terri Sharp
“All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife.”
— Daniel Boone (1734 – 1820)
American pioneer & frontiersman
February 16, 2023
National Almond Day
Celebrate National Almond Day with the timeless Almond Joy candy bar. Or a snifter with some Amaretto. (Or perhaps both.)
Today I will share my recipe for Everything Bagel-Seasoned Almonds. This delicious snack delight is Super Simple to make and irresistibly impossible to stop eating (sorry). If making Everything Bagel Seasoning, feel free to adjust the portions to suit your personal tastes! Oh, yes… this works with other sweet or savory seasoning combos, too!
4 c whole almonds
1 lg or x-lg egg white, beaten well till very frothy
Super Simple Everything Bagel Seasoning (recipe follows)
In a bowl, toss almonds with the egg whites. Sprinkle with seasoning and stir; repeat. Spread in single layer on olive oil sprayed, foil-lined 10×15: sided baking pan. Roast 45 min at 250°F, stirring every 15 min. Let cool in the pan. (Any “connected” Nuts will break apart easily then.) Store airtight at room temperature. Makes 4 cups.
Super Simple Everything Bagel Seasoning
3 T each: white & black sesame seeds
2 T each: dried minced onion & sea salt flakes
1½ T poppy seeds
½ T dried minced garlic
Combine & store airtight at room temperature. Makes ¾ cup. Serve sprinkled on cream cheese on any bagel, on hard-boiled eggs or sliced avocado, atop salads, soups, or a buttery, toasted English muffin, or sprinkled inside a grilled cheese sandwich.
KISS Tips: I prefer the minced onion toasted, which happens during the roasting. If you won’t be “baking” the item on which you use the seasoning, try substituting HALF the onion amount with dried onion soup mix… which is what I use in making onion bagels, anyway. For a yummy, flaked sea salt, try any of the gourmet varieties available today from pepper berry to smoked. I have a personal fondness for the naturally pink Murray River salt flakes from Australia.
February 15, 2023
Lantern Festival Day
On the 15th day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar, Lantern Festival is celebrated. Usually falling in February, it signifies the last day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. Lanterns can be very simple or elegantly complex. But this would be a lovely day to light a lantern, even if we cannot see hundreds of them flying into the night sky together.
February 14, 2023
Love!
There’s more than enough hatred in the world. Let’s choose love, not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day.
Or as the great Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
