You Should See Me Eat

“We sailed away from the U.S.A., Friday at noon and it’s a thrill I’ll never forget. Band playing, flags waving, streamers flying - gosh it was wonderful. Had quite a crowd down to see us off. We are certainly enjoying this. Gee, Mom, you should see me eat and sleep. We eat about six times a day. They wake us up at 7 with a glass of orange juice. At 8 we eat breakfast and even breakfast has six courses. At 10 o’clock they serve boullion and crackers on deck - wherever you happen to be - and at noon we have lunch. At 3 they serve tea - and what a tea - all those pretty gooey cakes, and you know my weakness for them. At 6:30 we have dinner and then at 9:30 after our movies or bridge game we eat again - lemonade and sandwiches. I never ate so many different things in my life. Eat a shrimp omelet for breakfast after grapefruit and bran and then top it off with buckwheat cakes and coffee. And to eat soup, fish, meat, potatoes, and vegetable salad and dessert for LUNCH. Each meal has about eight courses and about four choices to each course - and you may have as many choices of each course as you wish - comes in hand for desserts - that’s what I like best - to eat about 3 desserts instead of one.” - Annette, writing to her mother in March 1940

One of my favorite parts about this project has been ‘getting to know’ family members from my past. Even more exciting is reuniting with my living family members! Through this process, I’ve been able to talk to my Aunt Jackie, who is married to Annette’s youngest brother Don. I remember Aunt Jackie and Uncle Don visiting us when we were children. It has been such a joy to reconnect with her. She has so many stories about Annette and that side of the family. Which leads me to this entry.

Aunt Jackie sent me a book of letters sent from Annette and Clary, and in all my years of reading Annette’s diaries and letters, I had never seen these! Before Annette left for China, she worked for a publisher, and he offered to publish the letters they sent home while they made their way to China. This slim book contains their letters from February 1940 - September 1940, detailing their journey from St. Louis, MO to Enshih, China. The letters start off in Chicago, their first stop, and continue on to San Francisco, where they boarded a ship to carry them across the Pacific.

Reading her stories about the journey across the globe has been amazing. It fills in some gaps, and confirms some family legends about their big adventure. I just love this entry describing her ship, the Asama Maru.

Annette and Clary set sail on the Asama Maru on March 15, 1940. It was the fastest ship of its time, making the voyage from California to Japan in 15 days. A few months before, that same ship gained notoriety by attempting to smuggle German crew members into Japan - check out the ‘Asama Maru Incident.’

After a few days of sea sickness, Annette really got into the swing of life on the boat. I love her descriptions of all the meals! Her preference for sweets is, once again, quite evident. While on board, they played deck golf, shot clay pigeons, and took relaxing salt-water baths. One of my favorite lines in the entry was this - “here on the ocean, where the sea and the sky meet, you somehow seem so close to heaven - and it was so beautiful - I’ll never forget it.”

She was on her way to a brand new world, with her brand new husband, on a big fancy boat for 15 days straight. Can you imagine?? I can’t wait to explore these letters a bit more. Thanks, Aunt Jackie, for brand new insights into our family’s past!

Bigger Things To Do - and Curried Lentils

I am so frustrated with this orchestra.  No one cares that it sounds bad.  It's so discouraging.  But what's worse is that it could be so good.  But no one cares and no one wants to fix it.  So now my goal is to transcend the Augusta experience.  To kind of pretend I'm not really here.  I'll practice a lot and I'll be that really good clarinetist in the ensemble.  That's my goal.  To get out of here.  To move on.  I can't let this ensemble get to me, or I'll start lowering my own standards of my playing.  I have bigger things to do with my life.  On a positive note, I have $487 in my checking, and a $390 visa bill.  So that's $97 surplus.  Not much, but a surplus nonetheless.  No more spending, except a trip to Publix - I have 2 recipes I'm going to make so I'll have some real food.  - Miranda, October 2004

 

If you ever want to wear yourself out, just pick up your diary or journal from 14 years ago.  I promise, in no time, you will be thoroughly sick of yourself.  Actually, it's not really that bad.  Sometimes you come across an entry like that sums up a whole lot of feelings, like this one.  As I read it, I think back to Annette's and Frances' entries.  Even though they weren't working jobs like mine, they always expressed their inner emotions.  Both women were observing their current situation, but always looking to the future.  Sometimes with worry or fear.  Sometimes with hope or anticipation.  Sometimes they just sketched out their paychecks and did the math to see if they would make it though the month.  Looking back on this entry, I can relate to all of that.

I was so lonely in Augusta.  There I was, a 'real' clarinetist, playing in a professional orchestra and making it on my own.  But it was really hard to make friends - mostly because the members of the orchestra came in from other cities.  I was one of the few that lived in Augusta full time.  I came from college life in my hometown, where I had friends and football games and local dive bars.  I had a hard time adjusting to being by myself so much.

Also, I had a hard time adjusting to the level of playing in the group.  I had only known musicians from Eastman and Florida State.  I remember during an orientation meeting at Eastman, the Dean of the school said "For most of you, the ensembles you play with here will be the best ensembles you will ever play with."  I never really appreciated that comment until my tenure with the Augusta Symphony.  Playing with professional musicians was different.  There was a different level of intensity.  People had families, other jobs, personal lives.  I was used to school life - practicing all the time, listening to recordings and attending concerts, having deep discussions about which orchestra we dreamed of playing with (and a good bit of drinking). 

This journal entry was my turning point.  I wanted to set my sights higher than my current position, so I created not just playing goals - "transcend the experience" - but also financial goals.  Working with money can sometimes be stressful for me, but usually, I find it very calming.  If I wanted to get out, I would need money, which meant a financial plan.  I am great at making plans!  I started saving $100 each month, so when I left Augusta and moved to Atlanta, I had $1000 to get started.  No job, no gigs - just an apartment I had never seen in person, and $1000.

Of course, to celebrate my new plan, I wanted to cook!  The journal entry doesn't mention the exact recipe, but I remember what it was.  Curried Lentils.  I didn't do much cooking in Augusta, so when I found something that worked, I made it ALL THE TIME.  This recipe included a tomato-yogurt sauce, but I never actually made it.  Just lentils and rice.  I haven't made these curried lentils since 2005 or so.  I think it's time to try them out again!

 

Curried Lentils with Vegetables

3 cups vegetable stock

1/12 cups lentils, rinsed and drained

1 cup chopped carrot

1 cup chopped onion

2/3 cup chopped celery

4 teaspoons curry powder

2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

In a large saucepan combine water, lentils, carrot, onion, celery, curry powder, ginger garlic, and salt.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until lentils are tender and most liquid is absorbed.  Remove from heat.  Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.

 

I had forgotten how easy this meal really is.  It all goes in one pot and can easily be vegetarian or meaty.  Check out the pictures below!  Enjoy!

 

Recreating "The Queen's" Dinner

I had such a blast with this project!  For those of you just joining us, I recreated one of Frances' meals from 1892 (original post below).  There were several components to this menu, so I've compiled the photos into collages.  Hope you are hungry!

As we ate dinner, my fiancé commented that this meal is pretty close to meals we have had here in Atlanta.  There is a huge 'Southern American' trend happening in restaurants right now, and this meal stacks up with the best of them.  We started talking about the MANY changes in the world since the 1890s, and yet, we can still enjoy the same food.  But there is something bigger, too.

Frances didn't just write what she had for dinner - she wrote about enjoying the meal with her family.  Dinner together can be the quiet moment of the day where you get to sit down and talk to the people you love.  Not everyone has the luxury of a made-from-scratch meal every night, but when we do, it is usually a special occasion.  It's not just about the food - it's about the people.

Dinner At The Queen's Table

Well Mr. Grimes came in and he Embry and I sat down to our little meal of fried pork, Irish potatoes, biscuits and butter, and sweet milk, and felt as well as if we had dinner at the queen's table.  - Frances, January 1892

 

While Frances' diary doesn't contain many recipes, any Southerner knows that food is more than just sustenance.  Food is how we show our love for others.  As soon as I saw this menu, I knew I had to recreate it for someone I love.  I've done a little research, and here's my plan so far:

Fried pork - I'm thinking this is most likely bone-in pork chops, lightly breaded in a flour-salt-pepper mixture.

Irish potatoes - Still not sure about this one.  I've found a few Irish Potato recipes that make more of a casserole-style dish.  Others that are simply steamed or stewed, with some mashed potato recipes thrown in for good measure.  There is also a set of recipes for Irish Potato Candy, but I'm pretty sure that's not what Frances made here.  I'll keep digging, and see if I can come up with an authentic version.  Right now, my plan is to use russet potatoes, and boil them for a bit in salty water.

Biscuits and butter - I have several biscuit recipes in my recipe files, most of which call for self-rising flour.  It looks like self-rising flour came about in 1844, and likely made it to America by the mid-1850s.  White Lily flour has been around since 1883, so I'm thinking that their self-rising flour is a likely candidate.  Butter was probably hand-churned - at least I'll get an arm work out!  I'm going to buy some buttermilk, though, just in case my liquid buttermilk isn't enough.  

Sweet milk - I think this was just used to distinguish from 'sour' milk (buttermilk), but I've seen a few recipes for sweet milk that call for a glass of whole milk with heavy cream floated on top.  I'll try both.  I'll see if I can get my hands on unprocessed, unpasteurized milk, too.

Thanks so much to the following websites for their info!  Wish me luck!

Alabama Pioneers

Alabama Foodways

Joe Pastry

NCpedia

White Lily Flour

 

 

A Grand Day

Merry Christmas!  Tawei + Deedee sure had a grand day.  At first Tawei was afraid of some of the cars, but soon he got acquainted with them.  Clary + I played with them all afternoon.  Then we had our own dinner - not much but we did have pineapple + chicken + stuffing.  Clary opened his bottle of gin and it was really smooth.  It was grand and we sang all the Christmas carols in all the books we could find.  -  Annette, December 1943

 

Annette's entry reminds me of how the simplest things can be the best things.  From her words, you would never know she was living in a war zone.  You would never know that the presents they gave the kids were discovered in the attic of their new house, left behind by a previous missionary family.  Tawei was afraid of the cars, because, in his young 2-year-old life, he had seen very few cars!  You would never know that Clary had figured out how to make his own gin (as well as beer), because it was too difficult to get alcohol.

All you know is that they were happy.  They played and ate and sang carols and loved each other.  That's all they needed. 

Deep down, we are more similar than we are different.  It's not about elaborate celebrations or complicated dinner menus.  Basically, it just comes down to sharing and connecting with one another.  So this year, whether fancy or simple, I wish you a peaceful, joyous holiday.  

It Was Such Fun Having Company

My 27th birthday and the first one I've ever had when I didn't receive a single present.  Was sort of disappointed that Elsie forgot.  We celebrated Thanksgiving tonite.  I invited Mr. Chen + Miss Su + Doc + Mrs. Chen.  It was such fun having company for a change.  We had a very nice dinner I thot - chestnut stuffing + a pumpkin pie with nuts.  Our table looked very pretty with candles + the jack-o-lantern, tangerine place cards + red autumn leaves.  - Annette, November 1942

 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  My family has a history of large Thanksgiving celebrations with polished silver, place cards, and delicious food made with love by all our guests.  Every year, my aunt and I start working weeks in advance to plan all the details.  This year, my Thanksgiving will be a bit smaller - just 6 instead of 20 - but I am excited for new traditions!  As I worked on my to-do lists, I started thinking about Annette's Thanksgiving celebrations.

While in China, they were never really sure when Thanksgiving was supposed to be, so they would have their celebrations when they could.  This one happened on a Sunday - maybe to celebrate her birthday as well!  I love that she used fresh tangerines as place cards, and decorated with leaves from their trees.  I love that they made chestnut stuffing and pumpkin pie.  I love that my grandfather carved a pumpkin as decoration.  I can just imagine this beautiful scene, and as I embrace my own inner hostess, it makes me feel so connected to her.

I also love that she mentioned how glad she was to have company.  And that she was a little bit sad to not receive a birthday gift.  So much of our existence on this planet is tied to the people around us, and celebrations can sometimes be bittersweet.  This will be my first Thanksgiving since I was I child that I won't be with my aunt.  That makes me a little sad.  But, I'll be celebrating with fiancé's family, whom I completely adore, so with the sadness there is also joy!  To me, Thanksgiving is a celebration of family - whether family by blood, by choice, by circumstance, or anything else.  I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with good food, good company, and love.  And maybe a place card or two.  

Pasta, Greens, & Beans

Had a pretty successful day.  Practiced (even though I hurt from yesterday), paid some bills, shopped (Dollar General, Target, Barnes & Noble for a new journal), MADE DINNER.  Nothing fancy - just Pasta, Greens, & Beans that Mama's friend Rhonda makes.  But it was good and I actually cooked!  - Miranda, October 2004

 

I often use my journal to make lists or track the day's events.  Here, I was living in Augusta, and I was having a kind of rough time.  I had only lived there 2 months, so I didn't have much of a social life.  Still, I was living on my own, paying my own way, and living like an adult!  Making dinner was a very big deal!

Pasta, Greens, & Beans always makes me think about my time in Augusta.  I was vegetarian at the time, and scraping by on a $17K salary (can you say 'starving artist'??)  This meal was cheap, comforting, and only used one pot - definitely a plus for my tiny kitchen!  Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

 

Pasta, Greens, & Beans - adapted from Rhonda's recipe

2 tsp olive oil

1/2 cup carrots, chopped

1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning (or combination of basil, oregano, parsley, etc)

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 box (16oz) vegetable broth

1 can Italian style diced tomatoes

1/2 cup whole wheat fusili pasta, uncooked (or any type/shape of pasta you have on hand)

1 15oz can chick peas, drained and rinsed

1 5oz bag spinach

 

Heat oil in a dutch oven or large pot.  Add carrots, garlic, & onion.  Sauté 5 min.

Add spices, broth, & tomato.  Bring to boil.  Cover.  Reduce heat.  Simmer 10 min.

Uncover.  Increase heat to Medium High.  Add pasta, beans, & spinach.  Cook 14 min.  Stir.

 

 

A Huge Feast

All the foreigners were invited to a huge feast today by all the Generals Major - met so many big shots.  There were 200 present.  This affair was all 'tung ming guo' - all allies together - and has never been done in W.  The food was good but not extraordinary, but we did enjoy being there + meeting so many of the people.  - Annette, January 1944

 

Last night was the Opening Night of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I at the Fox Theatre.  I'm sure many of you know the story.  Anna, a single mother of English upbringing, travels to Siam to teach English to the many wives and children of the King of Siam.  Just before Act Two, the King learns that Western countries find him 'barbaric,' so Anna helps him plan a lavish party to display the kindness, beauty, and tolerance of the kingdom of Siam.  In some ways, the party is a success...and some ways not.  No spoilers!  Go see the show! =)

While playing the show last night, I kept thinking about Annette and her role in China.  She played organ at the church, helped train the nurses at the hospital, cared for the children at the orphanage, and through it all, taught English to the women and children who lived in the village.  Here, she describes a party with some very important military leaders.  She describes the event as "'tung ming guo' - all allies together."  This is likely tong meng guo, or 同盟国.  This was a time to celebrate the collaboration between the US and China - one never before done in Wanhsien.  I'm sure it was quite a lavish event - much like the party that Anna and the King planned.

What an exciting evening!  Of course, she mentions the food - a crucial element of every party!  I wonder what they served their American guests. 

Wonder What I Did

The guys all had a meeting this afternoon so I fixed supper.  Made a tamale pie + I liked it fine, but of course I didn't make enough for them.  Made ice cream too + then discovered we had no more snow to freeze it with.  Clary + Paul both felt bad tonight - they said from my cooking.  Gosh, wonder what I did.  Doc was in bed today with malaria.  - Annette, January 1942

 

In 1942, Annie was living in Enshih, China.  Clary, my grandfather, managed the business of running the church, while Annie and the other missionary wives tended to the orphanage (mostly girls), taught English, played music for church services, and whatever else needed doing.  Not only is she in completely foreign territory, but she is also a relatively new wife.  She wants to please her husband by making meals he likes, but she also has limited ingredients and minimal equipment.  Whether 'the guys' were teasing her or not, she still took the criticism seriously.  Ice cream was always a real treat for them.  Then, a casual reference to their friend with malaria.  Most everyone they knew suffered from the disease at some point.  

With war all around her, sometimes the entries were simple.  Desire for good food, a little treat, wishes for good health.  All things we think about daily.