Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 98
November 5, 2022
Yes! Oahu Is Correct!
Sean O’Kane got it right! He recognized the classic spot on the North Shore near the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Ron and I spent just a couple of days on Oahu, before boarding a cruise ship. We stayed 3 nights on Waikiki Beach.
We wanted to visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, which we found to be extraordinarily moving. When the Japanese bombed Battleship Row and the airfield on December 7, 1941, they launched the United States into World War II. 1,177 sailors and Marines were killed on the USS Arizona alone, and the ship still lies on the bottom of Pearl Harbor and is the final resting place for more than 1,100 of those killed that day… and a number of survivors who later chose to have their ashes interred with their fallen shipmates.
People often toss fresh flowers into the water as a tribute. Now and then a few drops of oil still escape from the sunken wreckage, rise to the surface, and then spread upon the water till gone. We got to witness this.
Then we visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The grounds are beautiful and meticulously maintained. Over 60,000 military service personnel are buried here.
Stunning views overlook Honolulu and the famed Diamond Head dormant volcanic crater.
(PS… Honolulu only looks good from a distance.)
http://goodliving123.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11-05-22-11-2022-10-21-09.12.37-oahu-lava-cliffs-video.mp4On our second day, Ron and I drove around Oahu, starting by heading east around Diamond Head. We drove through huge volcanic lava-formed mountains and oceanside cliffs.
http://goodliving123.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11-05-22-12-2022-10-21-09.17.05.mp4Yes, the waters truly glow in turquoise blue, although my phone camera often failed to capture it well.
Windshield Time… Oahu style!
http://goodliving123.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/11-05-22-15-2022-10-21-09.34.15-ISLAND-COAST-VIDEO.mp4
Looks rather “Jurassic Park,” I know. But just wait until we get to the actual island where they were all filmed. THAT is amazing!!!
As we reached the north shore, we saw fields of huge windmills, capturing the trade winds to generate electricity. (Despite the many solar paneled buildings and solar panel farms and windmills, Hawaii has the dramatically highest electricity costs of anywhere in the USA.) Seeing the giant fields and rows of windmills looked very Stephen King’s “Langeliers.”
Though this is not the time of the famed high surf at Pipeline and Waimea Bay, we got to go there.
Being there was important for my former Surfer Dude, shown in a photo with Waikiki’s 9-foot bronze statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the Father of International Surfing.
“Dangerous Surf Break” and “No Swimming” signs abounded. Waves were only 5-6 feet high, but they were higher on the outer edges, which are packed with rocks. These were NOT the huge 30-50’ surf that happens in January.
Naturally, we enjoyed wonderful food… like fresh pasta at the outdoor Arancino di Mare Italian Restaurant.
We dined there with our friends, Ken and Priscilla Rondeau, who were also cruising the Hawaiian Islands with us. I loved the tagliatelle with Italian prosciutto and mixed mushrooms with alfredo sauce. Oh, yes!!!!
Your poolside chair overlooking Waikiki Beach awaits.
A new favorite of mine came with each morning’s breakfast. In addition to my fresh fruit, crème brûlée, and sticky bun, I loved fresh salad greens with papaya dressing. When in Hawaii… enjoy!
Papaya Dressing
This is refreshingly delightful drizzled over spring greens or baby spinach!
½ c white balsamic vinegar
1/3 c honey
2 tsp Dijon mustard (or ½ tsp dry mustard, not hot)
½ -1 tsp freshly grated ginger
¼ tsp kosher salt
¾ c virgin olive oil
½ c fresh papaya, cubed
3 T papaya seeds & pulp
¼ c minced sweet onion (or shallot)
Combine vinegar, honey, mustard, ginger, and salt in blender. With blades turning, then slowly drizzle in olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Add papaya, seeds & pulp, and onion, pulsing till seeds are chopped. Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
November 4, 2022
Guess Where We Are!
Yes, it’s an island… a very specific island. Can you name it? (Only true guesses, please. Just email, text, or private message to me if you know because Sir Ronald or I shared the info.) Think now… the visual and video hints will make you say, “Of course!”
November 3, 2022
National Sandwich Day
Most historians agree that the sandwich was “invented” by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, and thus, the name. It is noted that the “problem gambler” did not like leaving his card game for any reason. He asked that his serving of roast beef be placed between two slices of bread so he could eat with his hands. Yup… that simple.
Meats and cheeses, veggies and spreads… all sorts of delicious flavor and texture combinations now go between bread slices or in bread pockets or in wraps or various kinds. They may be hot or cold, room temperature or even frozen (if ice cream-filled). Enclose them or enjoy them open-faced, sandwiches are total winners.
When I go out for a sandwich, there is little that tops the Copper Door’s Rustic Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato-Basil Soup. Yup… I feel like a kid again. But cut up the sandwich into smaller triangles (3 per half) and enjoy an adult beverage while you decadently dunk the sandwich bites in the soup, as if it were a dip.
Copper Door is part of a New Hampshire-based restaurant group. If it’s not a place you can get to, I understand. Make your very best creamy/semi-chunky tomato-basil soup and serve with gloriously grilled sandwiches with thick slices of bread and gobs of fabulous, melty cheese, all grilled to crispy perfection!
The Earl had it right. Meal complete.
November 2, 2022
“Destiny of Determination” Launch Day
Book 2 in my Destiny trilogy officially becomes available today! While both sweet and heart-wrenching, this story is also 100% true.
Mom’s friends have been so excited because they know that as this story of her family progresses, this is where she will come into the picture. Yes, indeed. (I do live to not disappoint.)
Now, I am already getting hounded by advance readers who are anxious for Book 3. That will happen, but not until late Summer. Meanwhile, I look forward to hearing what readers think! Does the story touch you? Inspire you? Bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eye?
If you read it, I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to post comments on Amazon, GoodReads, Barnes & Noble, or anywhere else you check for books. I thank you for all the encouraging support as I move through this process.
November 1, 2022
National Fun with Fondue Month
Fondue adds fun to any entertainment plan. It’s versatile and very easy. Anything you like can serve as “dippers.” Try crackers and breads, or meats, seafood, vegetables and fruits. To show you how simple it really is, here’s is an early recipe creation showing my emerging Keep It Super Simple thinking back in the early 1970’s.
Fondue was very “in,” and this recipe was very easy. Both fondue and simplicity are back in vogue, so this vintage recipe, originally created by my KISS Kitchen, is perfect.
1970’s Cheese Fondue
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 single serving can (6-oz) tomato juice
1 envelope dried onion soup mix
2 c shredded Swiss cheese
1 c shredded Cheddar cheese (mild or sharp)
1 c shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Heat and stir together all the ingredients until melted, thick, and stringy. Serve and keep warm in a fondue pot with large cubes of crusty French bread, whole mushroom caps, fresh broccoli florets, sweet red pepper sticks, and wedges of Granny Smith apples.
October 31, 2022
Happy Halloween!
With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, a great many parties and celebrations happened Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! For those who cherish this holiday… like a few special friends of mine… nothing could be more perfect.
Some embrace the holiday’s origins, others celebrate with Trick or Treating, and still others choose to ignore the holiday altogether. Do what works for you.
Historic records show that Halloween’s roots live in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This was a pagan religious celebration to welcome the end-of-summer harvest. Costumes were donned as people danced around bonfires to ward off ghosts and evil spirits.
By the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1st as the time to honor all saints. All Saints Day came to incorporate some of the old Samhain festival traditions. Thus, the night before All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve, leading to today’s Halloween. 
My family has always enjoyed the fun of Halloween. Mom baked fresh gingerbread boys, and we decorated them with raisins, sliced maraschino cherries, gumdrops, and M&Ms.
Decades later, another generation of trick-or-treaters was finding their way back to the home that I then owned, causing me to bake over 200 gingerbread boys (& girls) each year. Oh, yes… I always put out a big bowl of individually wrapped candy bars, too. Many little ghosts and goblins had properly been instructed by their parents to not collect home-baked items. But many more were being driven there by their parents precisely to score one of those freshly baked gems.
Thanks, Mom! Thanks for teaching me to cook, bake, and celebrate all that is wonderful around us. Especially I thank you for teaching me to appreciate all our similarities and differences. We are so blessed that your love and fun sense still sparkle today. I simply love how you now have a chef and a team of decorating ladies cooking up more than 1,000 gingerbreads every season at your independent living apartments. Bravo!
October 30, 2022
National Candy Corn Day
This is officially the day to celebrate America’s favorite “vegetable.” Candy corn was yellow, orange, and white to represent the bright colors of corn kernels. Talk about sweeeeet! If you are a fan, you most assuredly have a sweet tooth. George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company is said to have created candy corn in the late 1800’s.
We can be certain that today’s candy corn is made in bulk by machines. Back in the 1800’s, the hand-made confection was made from corn syrup, sugar, water, marshmallows, fondant, and carnauba wax (made from the leaves of a palm tree).
Nothing healthy allowed in there. But, if this is your “thing,” take a day off from healthy eating and have some candy corn. (Don’t tell your dentist.)
October 29, 2022
Good Habits Take Practice
“Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.”
— Aristotle (384 – 322 BC)
Greek philosopher
October 28, 2022
Happiness
“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, poet, and philosopher
As written in his Journal on January 21, 1838
October 27, 2022
National Popcorn Poppin’ Month
My folks used to say that I could live on hot dogs and popcorn. They were probably right.
When I smell popcorn popping, I feel as though I could literally float in its direction, lilting across the space on the deliciousness that is filling the air. I remember Dad popping corn in a square metal box on a long handle… as we’d sit around a bonfire anxiously awaiting our turn to grab a big handful when it got passed around.
Even today, the moment that hubby asks, “Would you like to watch a movie?” I am instantly in the kitchen starting to pop corn and melt butter.
For this salty girl, very little is more satisfying… right down to the very last tiny bit at the bottom of the bowl.
