Several years ago, I decided to cook a recipe that matched the setting of each book I read. I then would share the book on Facebook (in an album specially created for these reviews). In 2020, I decided to transition that album to a blog. This past summer, I decided to transition that blog to this website. Saying all that, these are the books I read before my original blog’s creation in 2020. I hope you find a book you will love!
George Washington’s Secret Six and Butterscotch Pecan Pie– per my Colonial Williamsburg cookbook: “The pecan tree…fascinated Thomas Jefferson…In time, he planted hundreds of pecan trees and was generous in giving nuts to his friends. On March 25,1775, George Washington planted at Mount Vernon pecans that Jefferson had sent him. Three of the trees are still growing on the banks of the Potomac.”
Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates – Pain Tunisien (bread) and Moroccan Red Lentil soup– “…Americans at home were in turmoil over the election of the nation’s third president. After a bitter contest that threatened unity of the new nation, Thomas Jefferson had beaten his friend John Adams…deeply disappointed and angry at his former companion, Adams did not attend the inauguration…for more than a dozen years, the nation’s policy under both Presidents Washington and Adams had been to avoid resorting to military force. But Jefferson would soon learn that time had run out.”
Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose and milk bread… if anyone is going through any trial (who isn’t, right?), this is a must read. Incredibly inspiring book of a New Guinea missionary who was a Japanese POW during WW2. I loved Unbroken but this was so much better. Through all the trials, she was continually reminded of God’s sovereignty and His perfect will for everything. As she and her newlywed husband were separated to two different camps, little did she know that would be the last time she would ever see him. She states ” I truly believe Romans 8:28 ‘All things work together for good.’ We don’t find it difficult to repeat the verse and say we believe it when ALL things are going well. But when we find ourselves going through deep waters, confronted by trials we don’t understand, can we then say ‘I believe that ALL things work together for good?’” Every trial and event she experienced was orchestrated by our powerful God, using her to witness to many in that camp, even the ruthless Japanese commander who later became a Christian. And if you have never read Peace Child, read that one after this one. It takes place in about the same area as where she and her husband ministered. I have a link in comments about the Richardson’s work 50 years later.
My Life in France… Yesterday I was at home with Mattie (flu) and got a wild idea to try and make macarons from my new French pastry cookbook. My macarons aren’t pretty but I consider this a success since I’ve heard horror stories from people who tried to make them (gotta get my ganache thicker). I haven’t finished Julia Child’s book yet but it is so good. Bon appetit!
Flavor: VANILLA
Alexander Hamilton and pecan waffles – “It was lawful to protest a law. But it wasn’t lawful to disregard one that had been enacted according to the Constitution. “- Alexander Hamilton… pecan waffles from my The Williamsburg Cookbook… One thing I realized reading this book and learning more specifics is the similarity between this time period and present day politics. Man’s depravity hasn’t changed; just the modes of communication. Libel, slander, use of indiscretion as a source to bring down a political foe, blackmail… just a few similarities from back then to present day. It’s sad but amazing (but not surprising) on how power corrupts.
“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?”
James Madison, Federalist No. 51, February 8, 1788
Wurmbrand: Tortured For Christ…Romanian flatbread– excellent book! Before Christmas, I read Evidence Not Seen about missionaries who were Japanese POWS during WWII. In that book, you know the enemy (country) and there is an end in site once said enemy (Japan) is defeated in the war. However, what if the enemy is an ideology that can’t be easily defeated? Specifically COMMUNISM! I can’t imagine being imprisoned just because of my faith and never knowing what the future holds. And to realize how many people came to know Christ just because of their (husband and wife) imprisonment (with no bitterness over the circumstances they faced). As “fussy” and “grouchy” and “complainy” (just created that word) as I have been these past few days (ok, weeks), reflecting on this story has put all these rather trivial events and situations in perspective
Lost in the Amazon- Peruvian Scalloped Potatoes (made from potatoes from our garden)… found this book at Goodwill and really liked it. I thought it was just a good book to read that really enabled you to envision what it is like in the rainforest (I was getting frustrated with them when it started to rain…again). I read some bad reviews on Goodreads where some said he mentioned “God” a lot and it’s a “religious” book. Apparently, those readers don’t realize that Christians try to view events in life through a Christian perspective…and if you are lost in the Amazon for over a week without food and shelter, I’m pretty sure that would be a very sanctifying moment as it was with him. Now to try and find his photo book at Goodwill. oh…FYI…I learned Peru is home of the potato!
Never Caught and Johnny Cakes… Every true Southern has cornmeal at home. I’ve heard of Johnny Cakes but didn’t realize it’s the same thing as hoecakes (supposedly baked on hoes). We have always baked our cornbread; hoecakes is basically frying cornbread. It was known that George Washington loved eating hoecakes for breakfast, with butter and honey. I can’t eat cornbread without Blackburn’s syrup. So I guess you can say POTUS1 and I are technically related by one common variable- food! I was going to make Mount Vernon’s recipe but it called for rising overnight or for 8 hours. I thought about combining ingredients last night but didn’t know if self-rising flour would work in the recipe so opted for a different one.
Now for the book… I really liked this book. It combines all aspects together so you could see the “big picture.” I also loved how the real interview with Ona Staines is shared at the end. A picture is shown (of the newspaper) where her story was told. I love seeing the actual piece because I then know it’s real! I also think just coming back from DC and Mount Vernon really helped me visualize everything, especially when it said William Lee was buried in a slave cemetery on the estate. We just saw where research/excavations are being done on the estate, locating burial sites (picture in comments). It’s real! It’s not just a story in a history textbook. Anyhoo…don’t want to say too much since it’s an upcoming book club book!
In the Heart of the Sea and Nantucket Corn Pudding…. Since starting my classes at Belhaven, I haven’t read much (well, reading but not for pleasure). I love this movie and became fascinated with the whaling industry after watching the movie. I created an economics movie lesson for my students and accidentally ordered the book instead of the movie. I started the book but just didn’t have time to finish until now. I love the book! I’m even more fascinated at this industry and what these men gave up to get a product the world wanted. Out of 21 years in the industry, Owen Chase spent around 5 years at home (not once being home for the birth of his children). Each excursion was approximately 3 years long. Can you imagine being the wife of a whaleman? And without the communication we have today? Not knowing if your husband was dead or alive? Wow! How they processed the whale after the kill was just as fascinating (not for those who are easily disgusted). An 8 inch thick, 4 ft x 4 ft piece of blubber weighed 400 pounds!!! If you didn’t know, this story is the inspiration behind Melville’s Moby Dick. The sinking of the ship and the survival of the few who survived is very interesting, especially how they were able to calculate latitude and longitude in 1821. I’m glad I accidentally ordered the book because I’ve realized the author has written some other interesting books! Now to finish The King’s General (Daphne du Maurier) before my next class begins Monday.
In Cold Blood (no recipe)… first, considering the delicate situation presented in this book, I felt that cooking a Kansas recipe would not be right. Second, I loved this book! Not the sadness of the events, but the writing! Wow! The writing! I’ve always been “intrigued” (can’t really think of the right word to use) with court cases and the stories they tell. And I can understand Capote’s obsession with this case. Third, the many emotions I felt throughout the book! I do wish to discuss this with someone (maybe I can convince a student to read it before May). I do think I will pose some questions to my Government students and get their thoughts since we discuss SCOTUS court cases each day. And I will do what I do each day…stand between the two groups (placed on each side of the room) to hear viewpoints from both sides because I, myself, can so easily see both sides. So much I want to say but so hard to express…
Spearhead and In the Garden of the Beast with Cottage Pie. First, I did not read two books in a few days but read these two a few months ago and didn’t have time to cook something. Second, both books take place in Germany during WW2. Adam Makos is my favorite nonfiction war/history author. My grandmother was a young German girl during WW2 so I feel like I read her story with many of his books! In the Garden of the Beasts is about the US Ambassador in Berlin during Hitler’s rise to power. It is good but “meaty” so I finished it by audio book. I am also an eBay history nerd. I tend to buy historical artifacts that are cheap. the Ambassador’s published diary of his time was rather expensive but did find the original newspaper published one for $7! I haven’t read it yet but will this summer. Third, cottage pie and Germany? Well, I had some hamburger meat and really wanted to make another pie crust with a duck egg (seriously, using a duck egg for a pie crust is AMAZING…look at that consistency in the cut!). I researched recipes that combined those two things. I came across a German recipe (bierocks) that included cabbage but I had no cabbage. Then I found a similar Eastern European one made with phyllo dough (burek). I found a French meat pie but it didn’t include any veggies (all meat didn’t look appetizing). So decided on cottage pie…no, not shepherds pie! I learned last year that cottage pie is made with hamburger meat and shepherds pie is made out of lamb. So after this long analysis of good recipes, you can see that we all have similar versions but each with a different twist depending on the geography and culture of the region. I mean, food does make us who we are and tells many stories! If you don’t believe me, just request sweet tea up north!
My Grandfather’s Son by Clarence Thomas and Georgia Peach Cake (but made with blueberries)… I normally do not read memoirs (unless I had to with book club ) but I bought this one for two reasons: 1) got it for $2 at a Cincinnati book store and 2) any story that tells of an impoverished kid in the segregated South (Georgia) who becomes a Supreme Court Justice is worth the read and this was definitely worth the read! I think regardless if you are a fan of his opinions, you should read this book if you are interested in his confirmation ordeal. Yea, you may get a little agitated with him but I think it’s neat to see how a person’s life experiences shapes his/her beliefs. He was raised by his grandparents who instilled a strong work ethic and one of self-reliance which is why he strongly believed that government policies to help the poor only entrapped them and made them more dependent on aid. He was strong in civil rights but not doing it through welfare policies. I think the most interesting part was the Anita Hill ordeal. He strayed from the church for many years but that issue brought him closer to the Lord and strengthened his faith and prayer life. During that time, he began to see how politicians and the media would sacrifice a person’s reputation with pure lies just for political motive. This book was written in 2007. He hoped his situation would be the last but sadly, 12 years later, the Kavanaugh confirmation process only reiterated that nothing has changed (FYI…if you want to debate that issue, keep scrolling and don’t bother…I’m not here to debate). I used to believe that persecution is only what missionaries go through in other countries. However, persecution is happening here against anyone who stands on values or principles (he was repeatedly called “Uncle Tom” for disagreeing with certain policies). I’ll end with my favorite part of his testimony that I thought was powerful: “how would any member on this committee, or any person in this room, or any person in this country like sleaze said about him or her in this fashion, with this dirt dredged up, and this gossip and these lies displayed in this manner? How would any person like it? The Supreme Court is not worth it. No job is worth it. I am not here for that. I am here for my name, my family, my life, and my integrity. I think something is dreadfully wrong with this country, when any person, any person in this free country, would be subjected to this. This is not a closed room. There was an FBI investigation. This is not an opportunity to talk about difficult matters privately or in a closed environment. This is a circus. It is a national disgrace. And from my standpoint, as a black American, as far as I am concerned, it is a high tech lynching for uppity blacks who in anyway deign to think for themselves, to do for themselves, to have different ideas, and it is a message that, unless you kowtow to an old order, this is what will happen to you, you will be lynched, destroyed, caricatured by a committee of the United States Senate rather than hung from a tree.”
He quoted the day he was confirmed: “I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me…Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30
I think just reading through how he persevered through his ordeal was great encouragement to me we when I experience trials in the workplace (or in life). I’ll end on one last note…his grandmother always told him to always leave home in clean underwear in case he got hit by a car. My mom told me the same thing growing up (“in case there is an accident and you have to go to the hospital”) which I now tell my girls. Southerners, what can I say?!
The Other Wes Moore…No dish for this book and I haven’t finished yet but wanted to share… I came across this book at Barnes and Noble. I’ve never heard of it but it seemed interesting. Well, it is interesting and heartbreaking at the same time. I was reading it at the pool when a lady told me it was on JPS reading list. Kudos to JPS! I think, regardless of some language, all high schoolers should read this book. About the book… This book really helped me understand why kids make the choices they make. You may be like myself when I wonder WHY a child shot another person when it’s obvious you will get caught and charged. Or WHY that child couldn’t see the benefits of at least graduating high school…or WHY this and WHY that. I knew I wanted to be a teacher since 4th grade. When others desired to be Robin Williams character in Dead Poets Society, jumping on tables and saying “oh captain, my captain,” I wanted to be Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds. I wanted to be the person to go into inner city schools. However, as I began my college work and methods courses, I realized I was no Michelle Pfeiffer, I was no retired marine who had the will to experience those challenges. Just a few years ago, I wanted to teach all AP classes, thinking that would bring me happiness. However, after reading Reading With Patrick, I realized that maybe it’s not AP I wanted to teach but the kids that truly need more guidance and one on one… my “Michelle Pfeiffer” was slowly emerging. This past year was my “mid-life teaching career crisis” where I truly questioned my purpose in education. To say it was a rough year is an understatement. Although this book is not really focusing on education, I think it gives a great insight into the backgrounds and challenges students deal with as they enter our classrooms. It also reminded me why I entered this field. After 24 years since the release of Dangerous Minds (a movie I watched over and over and over), maybe my “Michelle Pfeiffer” is there but has been hidden all these years
Homemade rolls and George Washington’s Liberty Key. I bought this book while at Mount Vernon this past summer. I’ve been obsessed with the Bastille key since seeing it last year at Mount Vernon. First, I made bread because the key is from France and the primary food staple during this time period was bread. Second, this book isn’t one you would sit down and read but more flip through and get the main points (hence his highlights and bold print). This book is an excellent source, though, for anyone interested in the relationship between Washington and Lafayette, France/U.S., and French Revolution. Of course, the basis of the book is the story of how the main key to the Bastille reaches GW after its storming in 1789. My Mount Vernon friends will love this book due to timelines, snippets of Washington / Lafayette letters, and so much more. Now to figure out what to use for my upcoming unit on French Revolution.
Up From Slavery and cornbread… First, I chose cornbread because he mentioned pork fat, black eyed peas, and cornbread. There wasn’t much creativity in recipe selection since we basically eat everything he mentioned in the book. Second, I have never heard of his autobiography but glad a friend suggested it to me. There are many things I could talk about but I will discuss the one thing I agreed with him the most: there is value/integrity/pride in work. The Tuskegee students started their days at 5:00am and ended at 9:30pm. They learned, constructed, gardened…all to show value and purpose in work more than anything else. This is what we are losing today. Our labor force participation rate has decreased from around 67% to 62% over the past 10-15 years. This may not mean anything to you but it should. Baby boomers are hitting retirement and we have fewer people paying into social security. We have an increasing number of people choosing not to work for “not good” reasons. Economist have their opinions. I have mine. But that’s for another day’s discussion. Chuck Colson and Jack Eckerd co-wrote a book YEARS ago called Why America Doesn’t Work. One thing I clearly remember is the discussion at how the Nazis degraded the Jews in concentration camps by making them haul dirt from one side to the other- back and forth and back and forth. This broke the people because there was no meaning and value in what they were doing. Booker T. Washington strongly believed in the value of work…
Trapped in Hitler’s Hell and Cinnamon Babka… I know what Seinfeld fans are thinking: BABKA! Remember the dilemma when Jerry and Elaine went to buy a chocolate babka for a party but they were out so they settled for cinnamon babka? This is also the same episode where Jerry ate the black and white cookie that broke his vomit streak. Well, I have never had babka before but this recipe was AMAZING!!!! Like “we can’t get enough and I will be making the chocolate version soon” AMAZING! I will post the recipe below. On to the book… this book was left with a stack of “freebies” in the teacher workroom. I grabbed this one not knowing much about the story. Well, her story is amazing. As you can tell, I am stuck in my German WWII perspective genre; however, this one is from a Jewish girl who becomes a Christian and whose faith upholds her during this time. Of course, I am thinking to myself the entire time I am reading it, if this girl can survive near starvation and death and have a Christ-centered attitude the entire time, even saying “we should forgive the Nazis,” how can I, whose own trials are nothing compared to hers, not have the same attitude? Here are a few quotes from the book:
1) “Mother and I continued to thank God every day for our glorious freedom. By the rest of the world’s standards we were pitifully persecuted and deprived; by German standards, we were wonderfully free and wealthy.”
2) “As I listened to the ache in Mother’s voice for the believers’ fellowship and inspiration, I realized that she probably never would have grown so rapidly in her faith in Christ had it not been for the war and all its absurdities. God surely comforts the afflicted, but He also afflicts the comfortable; and Mother had been comfortable years earlier in her open-ended, believe-what-you-will religion.”
She ends the book with last two points…
3)Psalm 59: 16, 17 “But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.”
4) “But if incredibly evil do not respond to God, if they align themselves with the Evil One – God’s people do not need to fear. God delivers. And if He does not deliver, He sustains. And if He does not sustain, He receives us into His everlasting arms – for He is sovereign! God be praised.”
The Radium Girls and “New Jersey Style” potato salad (New Jersey is one setting in book): I came across this book while perusing the books at my school’s library. This book is a grand example of why I am an advocate of cross-curricula teaching. It has everything to engage students in a story that changed our lives – history, chemistry, government. There is no better way to bring relevance to a story (a time period in history) than connecting all the puzzle pieces together for students. I had texted my sister a chemistry question (degree in biochemistry). Through that one text, MT became fascinated with radium poisoning and read 16 chapters in one sitting. And little do my World History students know but they will be introduced to this story when we start our study on WWI. About the book… no greater gratitude should be given than to these women who suffered and died, but fought to the bitter end, to change work place conditions. I am an advocate of businesses and profit. A fundamental characteristic of our capitalist system is the desire to make profit. Yes, “profit” is not a bad word. If it was not for profit, we would not have our computers, smart phones, shoes, make up, etc. Without profit and opportunity, we would be living in Soviet-like times, standing in long lines to buy necessities, buying on black markets, driving identical cars, wearing identical shoes…you get the point. Because one person makes money does not make that person evil – that person saw a want (a demand) and created a product to satisfy that want. HOWEVER, I do not support a business (rather small or big) whose only desire is to profit at the expense of human life! I don’t want to give away too much about this book; however, these radium dial companies lied about the safety of a product at the expense of these women who worked in these factories. Can you imagine feeling unwell, losing teeth, pulling jaw bones out of your own mouth, holding hankies in your mouth to keep the putrid ooze from coming out? Seriously, this is what these women experienced, and even after “the dots were being connected” as to what was causing these symptoms, the companies denied any occupational hazard (disease). One husband stated that there were humane societies for dogs and cats but not for humans with souls. How true is that statement in certain aspects today, some 90 years later. It took years but these girls fought the system. Today, we enjoy safety measures because of this fight for justice and legal changes. We have OSHA because of their fight. And as Kate Moore, the author, stated, their story is worth remembering.
Dutch Oven Bread and Things We Couldn’t Say by Diet Eman… first, this is not an authentic Dutch recipe. I didn’t realize until after making the dough that it was COOKED in a Dutch oven which I did not have (I know that should have been evident through title but…) Anyway, I never heard of this book until a friend gave it to me to read. I may be the only person to have never read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom but this book, too, is about the Dutch Resistance during WW2 and her faith during this time. Diet and the Ten Boom sisters were actually in the same concentration camp together. For years, Diet did not talk about her heroic efforts or tragic losses. She eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she died, last year, at the age of 99! Not quite 30 years ago, she was finally convinced to share her story. She stated even 40 years after the war ended, it was difficult to read the letters between her and her fiancé and her diary entries (included in the book). What finally convinced her to share her story was the fact that 20% of Americans deny the Holocaust ever happened. I end with my favorite quote by Diet: when told by a doctor the church may not mix with politics, her reply was when you are a Christian and profess that God is almighty, there is no single area of life from which you can eliminate God. Amen!
Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick and Virginia Spoon Bread... this is basically corn bread. However, it is made with cornmeal from GW’s gristmill so it is special cornbread. MT and I decided to notch up the Southern tradition and have some with milk. If you like historical nonfiction, you would like Philbrick’s books. This was his second one I read, and it didn’t disappoint. I chose one of Washington’s favorite recipes since he was the focal point, in the book, after the Battle of Bunker Hill. I’m going to try and sneak in some pleasure reading in between papers for my last two graduate classes so until next time (which may be end of April ).
Mississippi Mud by Edward Humes and, well, Mississippi Mud cake (duh)… the cake speaks for itself…so the book… Dixie Mafia, double murder, corruption in Biloxi, and ten years before justice is done. Summary in a nutshell. When you first see this 400 page book, you think you will never finish. However, the writer does an excellent job telling this criminal justice story. Of course, being quarantined and not wanting to do my graduate coursework makes for good reading time, too…I knew mob activity was big in New Orleans and assumed the MS coast, too. However, the “mafia” on the coast is not tied to the real mob. It’s just a network of criminal gang activity. Vincent and Margaret Sherry were murdered in 1987. Google that then read up. Long story, one of the main guys in this crime was mayor of Biloxi in 1993. I went on our 9th grade Biology trip to Biloxi in 1993. These murders and bringing everyone to justice was still going on during this time. That just sort of creeps me out. after reading this book, I understand why (and how) human trafficking is also so bad on the coast. This stuff didn’t go away after Hurricane Katrina (writer did say Katrina wiped out all the original vice places from this time period). Spoiler alert (but not really)…Pete Halat was released from prison and halfway house around 2013 (in Hattiesburg). I just watched a news interview he did in 2015. He still denies any connection. Sad. Just admit and repent. I guess he is a George Constanza fan that said, “Just remember, it’s not a lie if you believe it.” I’m not sure how anyone can support him after seeing all the evidence and hearing the testimonies. Mind-blowing. Even the “Godfather” of the Dixie Mafia apologized and felt remorse for his wrongdoing. If you like criminal justice books and have time to read (like all of us right now), then read this book. Or at least cook Mississippi Mud cake and watch some YouTube videos on this case (FBI files has one).
Killers of the Flower Moon and fry bread (Native American recipe…basically a fried biscuit)… 1) I’m a little behind on cooking a dish for each book read so I added two other books to this post and 2) I’ve literally have read four books in about 1 1/2 months and if you know me, that requires a standing ovation. Now to the book discussion…
Absolutely loved this book. It has government, history, and forensics all tied into a very sad time in U.S. history. So, so good…
As for the other two books…
Sing Unburied Sing (fiction): good book but not “pay $27” good…maybe “check out of the library” good.
Reading With Patrick… loved! I do wish, however, that a writer will focus on poverty/ education as a whole in our nation and where to go from here. This is the second book I’ve read that focused on the past explaining the present (which I get) but would love to read solutions on where to go from here. I emailed the author about her thoughts on this but never heard back. It did affirm, however, the importance of trying to move that student an inch closer to a goal even it it means that student retaking a test a hundred times. What’s more important? A “one time, that’s all” fit that will ultimately not benefit the student (and possibly not graduate) or bending the “rules” knowing that diploma will do more for that child’s life? (And btw… not social promotion but giving the student a chance to redo stuff…teaching study skills, tutorial, etc.)
