Back to Unbroken

Reading  Unbroken made me interested in reading about Roger's Uncle Osburn, who was killed when his B-29 crashed on take-off from China on a bombing mission to Japan. I've spent some time reading his biography, which includes many of the letters he sent home during his thirty months of training. So much to learn about his life, family, friends, and military comrades. So sad to read the longings of his parents, brothers, and sisters after his death.

When I was at the Whiteley Women's Weekend, Joan Jackson told a story about her daughter Christine, Osburn, and a Chinese museum. I wrote Christine to get the details. Here is her reply:

"Hi Linda! Nice to hear from you. I LOVE having a family so big that there's a cousin in every corner of the world. It's been really nice to meet Steve and Annie. The museum hasn't been open very long--since 2009. My husband works for the consulate, and I was talking with someone at the consulate whose great uncle was also a pilot here in China during WWII and I told him about Osburn. He told me about a memorial located in a city called Nanjing that is dedicated to foreign aviators who died in the fight against Japan. I passed along Osburn’s information. Our friend wanted to visit the museum, so he proposed it to the Public Affairs section chief. She told him they would be in Nanjing for a visit, so they decided to visit the memorial and then asked my husband Doug to go along. The consul General decided to join and make it in an official visit. As it turned out, Doug went out and gave a speech at the museum and gave them Osburn’s information. It was a great diplomatic opportunity and a really nice chance to remember family who died here in China supporting freedom. I was glad he could do it, and it has also given me a chance to reread a bit about Osburn in his book. Those letters from his mother, especially after he died and she didn't know... man! So sad. I guess growing up makes you reflect a bit more on what your ancestors did ( :"

We've got lots of people to be grateful for. Love, Mom

Black Cat Cooking

From the looks of it, we're a tad deficient in iron and protein around here. I haven't done a lot of cooking this month, but almost-vegetarian soup seems to be what's on the menu when I do. These two recipes were both really good--easy, creamy yet low-fat, and reasonably well-received by kids.

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/09/creamy-corn-chowder/
http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/10/butternut-squash-soup/


I made these for a Black family party the other night. Kind of fun.

http://www.cupcakesgarden.com/candy-corn-halloween-cupcakes/#.UI7cFc0k9bw

Happy Halloween!!!!

The Night Strangers

Just finished reading The Night Strangers tonight. Not really scary. Just odd. I thought it was very cleverly written, though I haven't read many other ghost stories to compare it to. Did feel a bit like The Turn of the Screw. I need someone else to read it and explain to me why there are 39 bolts on the door. 375 pages later, I still don't know if that is coincidence.

I'm thinking this could give you a new perspective on your Rosemary and Thyme, Mom. Detectives or witches?

Lots of love!
Em

Fancy cake with Uncle Mark

The kids have enjoyed having Uncle Mark come visit, particularly because he loves to bake. They made this Linzer Torte together and gathered actual leaves to mold chocolate leaves for the topping.  The recipe (from a fancy cookbook Nathan bought at a library book sale) was a little too complicated--we ended up having to substitute our plain old frosting recipe because the one in the book didn't work at all!  But after much effort it came out beautifully, and it certainly was fun.

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Yummy!  Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies are delicious!  We got the recipe from Penzeys catalog:

1/3 C. shortening
1/3 c. butter
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
1 1/4 c. sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the shortening and butter.  Set aside to cool.

Sift together the dry ingredients except for the oatmeal. In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg with the milk and vanilla.  Add to the dry ingredients along with the shortening/butter mixture, and stir until well combined.  It is best to do this by hand, not with a mixer.  Stir in the oatmeal.

Drop by tablespoonful onto greased cookie sheets.  (We used parchment paper.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.  Cool on paper towels.

We couldn't stop eating them--until mom made us!!

Unbroken

Roger and I have both read Unbroken. It's not light stuff; these guys had a rough time of it, but it's still very inspirational and made me appreciate the endurance and sacrifice of so many. If you go online, you can find recent interviews with Louis Zamperini. He's 95 now, is very lucid and funny. This also started us looking Roger's Uncle Osborne's life. He was on a B-29 when it crashed in China.

I'm excited to hear about and to read the children's book choices. Now let's see if this posts.
Love, Linda

Calling All Young Readers

For the month of December, we (Mom and I) thought we would let each of the older cousins suggest one of their favorite recent reads. My kids would love to know what Nathan, Ella, and Luke have discovered this year. Personally, I find myself enjoying the books Abby and Ellie are reading more than those I've checked out for myself half the time. So, should be fun....

Kiddos, feel free to add your choices to the comment section of this post anytime over the next month or so, and I will update our list.

Unbroken

Well, lovely readers and bakers, we are nearing the end of our first full month. The chosen book for September is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I haven't actually finished the book yet, but I will this weekend. It definitely isn't Edenbrooke, but it is a good read, and Mom says the pace picks up as it goes along. Please feel free to post any comments on this post, or you can start a new post whenever you like. I love the idea of an online club because we can still continue discussing these books even after the month has ended.

Thoughts?

Easy Banana Bundt Cake

This is our new favorite way to use browning bananas, especially when we (Abby and I) are feeling too lazy to make banana bread. We like using a bundt cake pan because it really tastes more like cake than bread, and we have found it is best to use five bananas for a very moist, yummy cake. And, of course, adding mini chocolate chips (at least half a bag) to the batter is of the utmost importance. We haven't tried it with nuts yet because some in our house are picky that way.

Cake Mix Banana Bread Recipe - Food.com - 340915

Monthly Book Selections?

Should we pick a book a month, and then people can post at anytime during the month about that particular book? Here are a few book ideas, but suggestions are welcome. After we finalize a list, we can post it on the side of the blog where it will always be visible. 

August—Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson (or any Jane Austin novel)

             

September—Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

October—The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

                 Dorchester Terrace by Anne Perry

November—The Happiness Project By Gretchen Rubin

                     Happiness at Home by Gretchen Rubin (out September 4^th)

December—

January—Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity 
                by Katherine Boo

February—The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani

March—Lots of Candles and Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlin

April—anything by Sarah Addison Allen (I just checked out Garden Spells from the library)

May—The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Under Construction

Hello, ladies! We are in the process of creating a family book club/cooking club. Please check back for more details. It may take us a few days to figure things out. Julie, programming genius? Annie, computer educator? We are just assuming you'll want to join us. :)