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.
Unwind today, National Drink Wine Day, with a glass of your favorite vino… with or without alcohol… with or without bubbles.
Celebrate National Almond Day with the timeless Almond Joy candy bar. Or a snifter with some Amaretto. (Or perhaps both.)
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.
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.
Because this is Superbowl Sunday, it’s also National Pork Rind Appreciation Day.
Okay, potato fans, let’s talk taters! Any style will do… one favorite crowd-pleaser is the basic Twice-Baked Potato. Trust me, they merely sound fancy, but they are Super Simple! And dinner guests always revel in the flavors.
These make ahead to this point beautifully and can be refrigerated or even frozen till you want to serve them. Before serving, bake (after thawing, if frozen) at 350°F for 20 minutes to warm through and to crisp up the cheese on top a bit. It’s also fun to add all sorts of other goodies inside… from some dried onion soup mix or thinly sliced green onions to cooked bacon bits.
Invented in 1908 by Italian restauranteur Alfredo di Lelio, this celebrated dish is simply noodles tossed in butter and parmesan cheese. Of course, we have a great many adaptations, many including adding a decadent alfredo sauce for more creaminess. We also toss in chicken or shrimp… or both. I also love alfredo with bacon, baby spinach, or mushrooms… or all of the above. However you choose to adorn your fettuccine alfredo, enjoy a hearty dish today!
“I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.”
Stuffed mushrooms first appeared as a food item sometime between the mid-19th to early-20th Centuries. Culinary experts widely agree that they most likely originated with the Italians, as they are very much like the Italian stuffed zucchini, which has a much longer history. However, the French were the first to widely cultivate mushrooms for consumption. The brown cremini mushroom soared into popularity, followed by more gourmet varietals, such as shiitakes.
Cathy’s Mouth Watering Stuffed Mushrooms 2003
KISS Tips: Garnish the tops with bits of fresh parsley for a pretty finish. For great variations, consider additional protein additions, such as crabmeat or chopped chorizo sausage. Stuffed mushrooms also soar to a whole new level when you wrap them with pliable, but partially cooked strips of bacon before baking. Ohhhh, yeah!!!! I also like to pre-cook the mushroom caps to release some of their excess moisture. After removing stems, simply place them open-side down on a plate lined with a couple layers of paper toweling and microwave 2-3 minutes. Use paper towels to dab out extra water inside, which continues to emerge as they cool.
The famed Québécois dish called Poutine forms the center of a week of Food Festivals, especially in Canada, where the dish originated. French fries, topped with cheddar cheese curds and brown gravy started in the province of Québec, Canada, but the popularity of the interesting flavor and texture combinations has spread internationally. Some add fried chicken tenders; others add a generous sprinkle of crispy bacon crumbles.
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 doesn’t make Sponge Bob wear square pants.”
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 mean-spirited, nasty “buggah!”
This is National Chocolate Cake Day! So, let’s get right to it.
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 (dark, milk, or white) to oranges, lemons, and dried fruits like raisins, dates, and apricots. Spices that work well with pistachios include saffron, cardamon, cloves, sea salt, and pink peppercorns.
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 butter and jelly sandwich… or pop some peanut butter between 2 Ritz crackers or a couple of pretzel flats… or melt it down and drizzle peanut butter over ice cream… or make a splendid Asian peanut sauce to toss with some rice noodles, veggies, and a fave protein.
“All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.” 
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 skating party and movie night. I still pop corn several times a week, and I have been known to enjoy it for breakfast, too.
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 the crust and the interior “chew.”
