Author Archives: Cathy Burnham Martin

About Cathy Burnham Martin

Author of 20+ books, and counting! A professional voice-over artist, dedicated foodie, and lifelong corporate communications geek, Cathy Burnham Martin has enjoyed a highly eclectic career, ranging from the arts and journalism to finance, telecommunications, and publishing. Along with her husband, Ron Martin, she has passions for entertaining, gardening, volunteering, active and visual arts, GREAT food, and traveling. Cathy often says, "I believe that we all should live with as much contagious enthusiasm as possible... Whether we're with friends or family, taking people along for the ride is more than half the fun."

National Inane Answering Message Day

This is our day to get super silly… leave someone a goofy message… a prank! Just be sure you tap in the correct phone number first! Just makeup something utterly senseless. “Mr. Ed may have had horse sense, but that … Continue reading

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Welcome to Curmudgeons Day!

If you crinkled your mouth or furrowed your brown upon reading that word, you likely look like a curmudgeon! (Better to look like one than to behave like one.) Think of the stereotypical “grumpy old man.” A curmudgeon is a … Continue reading

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Let’s Celebrate National Blueberry Pancake Day!

Pancakes make perfect comfort food on a wintry morning. If you don’t have fresh blueberries, stir in frozen ones just prior to cooking, which will help prevent them from turning your batter blue.  I also like to add a bit … Continue reading

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Yummy Chocolate!

This is National Chocolate Cake Day! So, let’s get right to it. Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Cake 1¾ c all-purpose flour 2/3 c cocoa powder 1 tsp each: baking powder & baking soda 1 c sugar (or granulated monk fruit) ½ c … Continue reading

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Celebrate National Pistachio Day!

Whether you like to toss them on a salad or directly into your mouth, this is the official day to enjoy these little gems. According to the American Pistachio Growers Association, pistachios are compatible with everything from honey and chocolate … Continue reading

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Achieve!

  “Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master.” — Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) Italian High Renaissance painter, scientist, sculptor, and architect (His full name is Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci.)

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National Peanut Butter Day!

In a salute to National Peanut Butter Day, let’s simply eat some straight out of the jar! I go for Super Chunk, personally. You should enjoy whatever version is your favorite… from homemade, all-natural to creamy extreme. Have a peanut … Continue reading

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Hope

      “Hope is the golden thread that should be woven into every experience of life.” — Unknown

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Progress

  “Be like the turtle. If he didn’t stick his neck out, he wouldn’t get anywhere at all.” — Harvey Mackay (1932 – ) American businessman and author

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Ignorance and Confidence

“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.”  (also quoted as): “To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and confidence.” — Mark Twain (pen name for Samuel Langhorne Clemens) (1835-1910) 19th … Continue reading

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Ethics and Virtue

  “Confidence in another person’s virtue is no light evidence of your own.” — Michael Eyquem De Montaigne (1533-1592) French philosopher, essayist

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National Popcorn Day!

I love popcorn. Favorite memories seem to often go hand-in-hand with popcorn. I remember sitting at the bonfires on Lake Newfound as a kid, as my Dad popped corn in a big, square, metal pan. We popped corn for every … Continue reading

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National Gourmet Coffee Day

So, go ahead and splurge on your favorite. Snag that caramel macchiato with coconut milk or an iced signature latte with cake batter flavor. If you’re grabbing your coffee at a take-out, here’s Thrillist’s latest list of the best: The … Continue reading

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Fuhgeddaboudit!

Sometimes I get the urge to post something that will cause some folks to say, “Well, yeah! Of course!” And it will cause other folks to say, “No way! Fuhgeddaboudit!”  (Best to pronounce that with a New York or North … Continue reading

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Preparation

  “Don’t tell me how rocky the sea is; just bring in the ship.” — Vince Lombardi (1913 – 1970) American football coach

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Celebrate National Bagel Day

Bagels are boiled for 30-60 seconds before they are baked to “set” the crust before they hit the oven. Boiling water gels the starch on the outside of the bread. The length of time they boil impacts the thickness of … Continue reading

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Later in Life

Sharing thoughts from later in life… not that any of us fall into the Super Senior category! LOL. Some days a bit of perspective and a ton of humor are more needed than on others. A friend of ours, John … Continue reading

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Live with Hope!

“He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.” – Arabian Proverb

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Attitude Builds Ability!

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” — Lou Holtz  (1937-  ) American football coach

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Disappointment versus Hope

  “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” — Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 19680 American Baptist minister & civil rights activist

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National Oysters Rockefeller Day

This appetizer classic was first created to simply fill in for the snails that were highly heralded in New Orleans’ French Quarter in the late 1800s, at a time when a snail shortage was plaguing the restaurants.  Jules Alciatore, son … Continue reading

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Celebrate a Little Stone Fruit

On National Apricot Day we celebrate the little stone fruit we call the apricot, which is also known as the Armenian plum. Apricots have long been hailed for medicinal purposes for everything from asthma to infertility. They are high in … Continue reading

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National English Toffee Day

If you’re unfamiliar with English toffee, think of a Heath bar, which has an English toffee core. So, how many generations have enjoyed the sweet confection known as English toffee? Every generation since the early 19th century. There are subtle … Continue reading

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National Tempura Day

Our “food mood” is determined by more than just flavors. Texture also plays an important role. When light and crispy, but not greasy tug at your heartstrings, tempura is perfect! Japanese chefs spend many years perfecting their tempura technique, but … Continue reading

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National Bean Day

The famous geneticist, Gregor Mendel used bean plants and pea plants to develop theories on genetics in plants. January 6 is recognized as National Bean Day in his honor, as this is the day he died in 1884. Legumes are … Continue reading

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Celebrate National Whipped Cream Day!

Serve it on a fave food, whip it into any sauce you like, or simply go ahead and indulge straight out of a can. No one is judging. “She has a laugh so hearty it knocks the whipped cream off … Continue reading

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National Spaghetti Day

I recall hearing as a child the ol’ commercial that Wednesday is “Prince Spaghetti Day.” I guess it’s appropriate that National Spaghetti Day falls on a Wednesday this year. So, do it up your way… and listen for “Mama’s” voice … Continue reading

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Love!

“To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” — Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874 – 1936); English writer & philosopher

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Celebrations!

  Here’s to hoping that you welcomed in the new year with hope in your heart and friends and/or family in your face! Yeah, Baby!         Thanks to everyone who celebrated at the Green River Tavern!   … Continue reading

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Happy New Year 2023!

  May your days be filled with good health, laugh-out-loud humor, and more happiness than harm.

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National Champagne Day

Once upon a time it was decreed that to be called “champagne” a sparkling white wine had to come from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France. Everything else was simply sparkling wine. Really? Well, that was before the … Continue reading

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Dec 30th = National Bacon Day!

No shockeroo here… I like bacon. It’s tough to think of foods that are not improved by the smoky, salty, sinful sensuousness of freshly fried bacon! Instead of a recipe for this special day, I thought a technique might be … Continue reading

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Encourage Hope to Blossom

  “Whatever enlarges hope will also exalt courage.” — Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784) English writer May 2023 be all that you hope and need it to be. (Photo by Gabriel Lamza)

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National Pledge of Allegiance Day

On January 14, 1969, comedian Red Skelton shifted gears on his popular TV show. He recited the Pledge of Allegiance and added the meaning of words and phrases as he did so. His presentation warmed the hearts of millions of … Continue reading

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Resolution Time

More plotting, planning, and well-intentioned promises are made at the end of December than during any other time of the year. And the number one New Year’s Resolution comes as no surprise. Diet. Yup. We vow to lose weight, get … Continue reading

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This Is National Thank You Note Day!

I take this occasion to say thank you to YOU! All my dear friends, family, and ohana (friends that have become family) mean more to me than all the riches on earth. I do not say it often enough, but … Continue reading

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Merry Christmas!

    A couple of days before Christmas, Sir Ronald and I went to a lovely holiday event at the historic Lake Lure Inn in Lake Lure, North Carolina.               The 1927 setting proved … Continue reading

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Merry Christmas Eve!

  We did a whimsical Christmas tree this year… filled with child-like fun and fantasy. Even my very first ornament from back in the 1950s is here. The little bird no longer has a tail, but it flies in the … Continue reading

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Celebrate National Pfeffernusse Day

This day celebrates a fluffy German spice cookie that’s filled with ground nuts and spices and then covered in confectioners’ sugar. The word “pfeffernusse” translates as “pepper nut.” One belief holds that this day started as part of the feast … Continue reading

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Blessings to All

“Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings.”  –  Publilius Syrus (85-43 BC) Latin writer   (Photo by Sabine van Erp) May your life and home be filled with many such blessings this holiday season and throughout the … Continue reading

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