On a day like this, my Armenian side gets to shine. I love kebabs, crispy brown on the outside and juicy, tender on the inside, with just the most mahhhhvelous blend of herbs and spices. Whether you like to marinate or simply dry season, enjoy the process of both preps and cooking. I always think of my Grampa when I make kebabs. I so enjoyed sitting at his feet as he patiently grilled long skewers of lamb over the hot coals. I can drift away just thinking about the luscious aromas! Yummmmm… and then comes the first delectable bite! Oooooh-la-la! Whether you choose lamb, pork, beef, or seafood, enjoy your kebabs today or any day. Here is the recipe that I have included in the back of Book 2 in the historic fiction Destiny Trilogy. Destiny of Determination: Faith and Family will be released in paperback and eBook formats on November 2nd, with an audiobook to follow.
Grampa Hrant Gulumian’s Lamb Shish Kebabs
This is the recipe Hrant Gulumian made as an adult in New Hampshire in the 1950’s and 60’s, as written on a 3×5” card in Mom’s collection.
¼ c olive oil
¼ c red wine or wine vinegar
3 T lemon juice
1 tsp each: salt, oregano
½ tsp ground black pepper
4 lbs boneless lamb, cut into 1½“ cubes
Combine marinade ingredients in 13×9” dish. Add the meat and toss until coated. Cover for 3-6 hours. Thread meat on skewers. Grill over charcoal, turning to brown evenly; baste with marinade. Grill about 15-25 minutes until brown and crispy. (Or up to 45 min if you do this in true Armenian fashion, fanning the coals.) Makes 8 servings.
Author’s Notes: I adapted this recipe a few times over the years. My favorite twist from 1970 adds a sliced or chopped onion and a tablespoon of minced garlic to the marinade combination. I also put it all in a large, zip-top plastic bag and marinate overnight (on a plate, in case of a leak, and sometimes with a sliced onion) in the refrigerator. Though threading colorful vegetables, such as mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and tomatoes, looks nice on a skewer, I use separate skewers for most vegetables, other than maybe some of the onions. Combining 1” pieces of onions and peppers works great, but I let mushroom caps and cherry tomatoes have their own skewers, as they cook very quickly. I also brush the veggies with remaining marinade. This marinade works equally well on lamb chops, shanks, and leg of lamb. Shish Kebab is delicious simply served with rice pilaf, salad, and fresh Armenian lavash.
“No matter what you believe it doesn’t change the facts.”
Best Fried Chicken
Time for another Super Simple recipe!
We have heard it said, but in our comfortable human way, we tend to forget that freedom is never free.
“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”
“Don’t ever lose hope. Every time it appears the world will stop spinning it turns on for another millennium.”
Sometimes it’s more challenging than others to see the humor in a situation. But I do believe it helps us to step back and take a deep breath. And if we can find our happy place, we can be healthier. As a great believer in attitude over aptitude, I also believe in never squelching anyone’s ability to think happier.
“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”
Thank you to my dear mother, Glenna Burnham. You have been my role model, my guiding light, and my rock. You celebrated my successes and caught me whenever I fell. You have been a great blessing to me and so many others! You have beautifully touched countless lives. You have led the way to successfully choosing to live a life based on faith, family, love, service, and a positive attitude.
“My parents blessed me with directives to think, to be aware of my choices and their repercussions. They were always trying to teach me how to think, rather than what to think.”
National Seashell Day is celebrated on the first day of summer every year. This is a time to admire this remarkable aspect of Nature. I do not recall a time when I didn’t collect seashells when I visited a beach somewhere. My grandfather had made jewelry from seashells. I adorned various items with seashells… from baskets to picture frames. I enjoy large ones and small ones… neutral shades and vivid colors. I have marveled at the artistic talents of folks who turn shells into fantastic works such as realistic-looking cakes and tortes to a massive, sprawling octopus. Such a pleasure to walk along a beach on a peaceful day, pausing to pick up and examine some precious shell the waves have tossed ashore. Sure, there have been times when a storm may have cast clusters of live starfish or live scallops up onto dry land, and I gleefully take some time to gently cast them back into the sea.
Greetings and gratitude to all the fathers out there! Whether you are a birth father, stepfather, grandfather, great-grandfather, or father figure, we salute you! Of course, my hubby calls Father’s Day the holiest day of the year, but he is an original wise guy. In seriousness, fathers are more important in families than some folks seem to realize. It takes love and a long-term commitment. Fathering requires patience, wisdom, and strength someone may not even realize they have inside. As with most things, a sense of humor helps, too! Faith and family provide a powerful foundation for children. Many of us have been blessed with wonderful fathers. Many have not. If your Dad loved you and tried his best, that is enough. You were blessed. I was blessed, too. And I proudly say that my Poppy was the greatest Dad ever. I hope you feel the exact same way about your Dad. It does not mean that they were perfect. (There was only one perfect person.) Today we pay tribute to every father and say “thanks” for being the best you could be. Happy Father’s Day!
“Be it good or bad, when we display strong character, we will find immediate supporters and detractors.”
Yum! If a super strawberry dessert deserves its own day, a strawberry shortcake wins my vote. Always a crowd-pleaser on a summery day, slice up those fresh berries (and mash more than half of them to up the juiciness). I add no sugar but sprinkling the slices with sugar will most definitely bring out the juice. Pile your mashed berries along with some slices between the layers of cake and top with more slices. Freshly whipped cream can (and should) be in between layers as well as on top. I mean, why not!?! Oh, you like vanilla ice cream? Sure, add that also, if you like. Make a true shortcake (like a large, cakepan-sized biscuit) or split regular-sized biscuits or angel cake or pound cake or whatever you prefer. Strawberries are a scrumptious superfood, so indulge away! And this is Flag Day, so add some blueberries, if you’d like, and give your shortcake the ol’ red, white, and blue treatment!
Any way you make ‘em, I just know these are melt in your mouth yummy. Mom rocked these… straight out of the original Betty Crocker Cookbook. I’ll share a couple of my old recipes here. First, my 1970 recipe card. Oh, and when the word is “shortening,” I assure you that this means Crisco. Not the way I cook today, but it sure made great cookies.
‘Tis the season to enjoy fresh rhubarb. If you are a fan, that is. And I am indeed a fan… from raw straight out of the garden to cooked down into a sauce. Strawberries prove to be the perfect companion as they impart a melt-in-your-mouth sweetness to the crazy sour tartness of rhubarb. In a pie, this combo is one of hubby’s favorites. He wanted one for Christmas, but I’d run out of frozen rhubarb. Now fresh rhubarb flourishes, so I could bring on the pie. Enjoy it warm out of the oven with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for a lusciously decadent treat.
Not that we need an “official” holiday to indulge, but any excuse to visit an old-fashioned ice cream parlor is a good excuse! Or simply load up a bowl at home… enjoy au natural or loaded with your favorite toppings from nuts and hot fudge sauce to berries and whipped cream. Oh, and if Happy Hour is more your style, let’s make a float! For Family Friendly, simply omit the alcohol.
Starting the first Sunday in June each year is Pet Appreciation Week. The American Veterinary Medical Association created PAW in 1981 to create awareness of the importance of pets in our lives and to appreciate them for everything they do to enrich our lives. They definitely keep us busier, healthier, and happier! So, this week we can show our appreciation for those wagging tails, jingling collars, and gleeful meows but giving them some extra cuddle and playtime, a pet massage, and an extra treat. This is also a good time to choose other activities that focus on them, watching their favorite TV show with them or playing their favorite music, or scheduling their annual health check-up.
Hubby goes in for his 2nd 6-month PT scan next month after enduring the grotesquely challenging esophageal cancer treatment, which included lengthy chemo and the maximum radiation dosing a human body can endure. We remain confident his tests will still show his body to be free of cancer. Why are we confident? Because it’s the best choice.
Feline fans know that the love of a cat is amazingly impressive. They play, they hunt, they follow, they croon, they preen, they purrrrrrr, they nap, they bring us gifts they have worked to collect, and they adore their humans. The loving “head butt” of a cat says it all. A cat will knowingly and ceaselessly woo someone who is not a fan of cats. And when a cat looks you in the eye, we can assure them that we understand by looking straight back and very slowly blinking our eyelids. While we show them daily that we love them, too, June 4th is a special day to give them an extra hug… or 9. That’s purrrfect, too!
A few years ago, I learned to produce my first audiobook and wondered why I had not done this 20 years earlier. They are fun to make, and I have recorded them for several types of books and various authors. They are available on sites like 
Kind words cost us nothing, but they just could mean the world to someone else. With likable folks, it’s easy to find positive things to say. That becomes a bit more challenging with any miserable person in our midst. Typically, crabby folks do not even realize that they are observed as cranky and miserable with their skepticism, criticism, and constant ire. It can sometimes seem daunting to see something worthy of appreciation in them. But we can do it! There is always something sweet, even when deeply hidden.
Let’s end the month with a bit of levity, with a nod of apology to all my friends who have served in law enforcement. This story so fondly reminds me of my dear mother-in-law, I simply had to share it.