Three Cups of Tea

June 2008, Hosted by Heather


The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard. This is the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

MENU

Chicken Curry by Heather Banchi’s Mom

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast per person (8)
¼ butter or margarine
21oz. chicken broth

For Curry Sauce-
¼ cup butter or margarine
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 cup chopped onion
2 to 3 teaspoons curry powder
1 cup chopped, pared tart apple
¼ cup all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons grated lime peel
2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ cup chopped chutney

1. Wash chicken; dry well on paper towels.
2. In ¼ cup hot butter in large skillet, over medium heat, brown chicken, 4 pieces at a time, 5 minutes per side. Using tongs, remove chicken as it is browned.
3. Return chicken to skillet; Add half of chicken broth; bring to boiling. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, 20 minutes, or just until tender. Remove chicken pieces; keep warm.
4. Measure liquid in skillet; add remaining chicken broth and enough water to make 3 cups; reserve.
5. Make Curry Sauce: In ¼ cup hot butter in same skillet, sauté garlic, onion, curry powder, and apple until onion is tender – 5 minutes. Remove from hear. Stir in flour, cardamom, ginger, salt, and pepper, mix well.
6. Gradually stir in reserved 3 cups liquid and the lime peel and juice. Bring to boiling, stirring occasionally.
7. Stir in chutney; add chicken. Cover, and hear gently just to boiling, to reheat chicken- about 5 minutes
8. Meanwhile, make Saffron Rice. Turn out rice into center of round platter. Arrange chicken breasts over rice; spoon sauce over chicken. Garnish with slices of lime. Serve with curry accompaniments.
9. Good accompaniments are chopped green pepper, chutney, salted peanuts, flaked coconut, raisins, kumquats, sliced green onions, chopped unpaired cucumbers, pineapple chunks. Serve with saffron rice.

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

April 2008, hosted by Kimberly

The menu for the evening was:
Cheese, Onion and Bread Souffle
Grilled bbq chicken
Green salad with shredded carrots
Dark chocolate cheesecake with whipped cream and raspberries
Decaf coffee

The souffle, made with stale bread, and the coffee were inspired by the book. "The Nolans practically lived on that stale bread and what amazing things Katie could make from it!..." The cheesecake was a nod to the novel's setting of Brooklyn, New York.

Cheese, Onion, and Bread Souffle
(Recipe from Real Simple Magazine)
Yield: 6 to 8 servings

2 tbsp butter, plus more for the dish 10 slices (approx 10 oz) stale soft white or sourdough bread, crusts removed and torn into 1/2 inch pieces
2 cups hot milk
1 small onion, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
4 eggs separated
7 oz swiss cheese grated
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 2 to 2-1/2 quart souffle or baking dish and set aside. Place the bread in a shallow bowl and pour milk over it. Set aside until liquid is absorbed. Meanwhile, melt the 2 tbsp of butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Mash the bread with your hands or a spoon and stir in the onions. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, cheese, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Pour the mixture over the bread, stirring until well combined. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then gently fold them into the bread mixture in 3 additions. Transfer to the baking dish and bake in oven until golden and firm, 45 to 50 minutes.


Deep Dark Chocolate Cheesecake
(Recipe from epicurious.com)
Yield: 12 servings

Crust
24 chocolate wafer cookies (from 9 oz pkg)
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling
1 9.7-oz bar high quality 70% Cocoa Bittersweet Chocolate, chopped
4 8-oz packages cream cheese, room temperature
1-1/4 cups plus 2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 large eggs

Topping
3/4 cup whipping cream
6 oz high quality 70% Cocoa bittersweet chocolate
1 tbsp sugar

For Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9-inch diameter springform pan with 3" high sides. Blend cookies in processor until finely ground (or crush in ziploc bag with a rolling pin as I had to do). Blend in sugar. Add melted butter and process until well blended. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom (not sides) of prepared pan. Bake until just set, about 5 minutes. Cool while preparing filling. Maintain oven temperature.

For Filling:
Stir chopped chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from over water; cool chocolate until lukewarm but still pourable. Blend cream cheese, sugar, and cocoa powder in processor until smooth. Blend in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in lukewarm chocolate. Pour filling over crust; smooth top. Bake until center is just set and just appears dry, about 1 hr. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife around sides of cake to loosen. Chill overnight.

For Topping:
Stir cream, 6 oz chocolate, and sugar in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Pour over center of cheesecake, spreading to within 1/2 inch of edge and filling any cracks. Chill until topping is set, about 1 hr.

Release pan sides. Transfer cheesecake to platter. Let stand 2 hours at room temperature before serving. I added raspberries and whipped cream to balance out the richness of the chocolate a little bit.

What is the What by Dave Eggers

Hosted by Anne, discussion led by Christie.

Recipes from Anne:
This is the original recipe for the falafel. I don’t know what broken beans are, so I just used chickpeas. I also didn’t use the full amount of herbs and left out the green onion (I thought one small onion was enough.)

TAMAYYA- Green Hamburgers
Green hamburgers are healthy vegetable patties packed with fresh greens and dried beans. The Tamaaya, or Falafel as it is called in the Middle East and Sudan, is stuffed into pockets of bread along with salad, foul, fried eggplant, potatoes, tahina salad or just by itself. This sandwich may be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Bought at the Tamaaya Stand, it is wrapped in paper and eaten as one walks down the street.
Ingredients
• 2 cups broken beans (foul madshoosh)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup finely chopped dill
• 1 cup finely chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion (1 small onion)
• 2 tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 1/2 - 2 tsp salt, or to taste
• 1/2 tsp pepper, or to taste
• 1 tsp dry coriander powder
• chili powder (optional)
• sesame seeds
• oil for frying
Method
1. Place the beans in a large bowl of water and rinse several times until the water is clear. Fill the bowl with at least 6 cups of water, cover and allow them to soak for 2 to 3 days.
2. Wash the greens and dry well, this makes them easier to chop. Remove the tough parts of the stem and then finely chop the leaves and the remaining delicate stems. Measure the greens after they are chopped, but do not pack them down into the cup.
3. Wash the green onions and chop both the white onion part and the green stem.
4. Chop the onion and garlic.
5. Drain the beans and grind very fine. If you are grinding the beans in a food processor, turn the machine on empty and slowly drop through the tube onto the moving blade. Place the beans in a bowl and set aside.
6. Add the greens, onions and garlic to the processor, blend well.
7. Add the mashed beans to the processor and process until the mixture looks green.
8. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the spices and baking soda, mix everything until well blended.
9. Cover the bowl and let sit for at least 30 minutes. The longer the better so the flavors blend. If you do not cook all the batter, cover and store in the refrigerator.
10. Heat a medium saute pan, when hot add 1/2 inch of oil and heat until it is hot, lower the heat slightly.
11. To shape the patties, take a large soup spoon and fill the bowl of the spoon with some of the batter, pressing it firmly into the spoon. Sprinkle the top with sesame seeds and then push it off the spoon into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until it has turned brown. Turn the patties over and cook again 2 to 3 minutes or until brown. Remove from the oil to a paper towel to drain.
12. Don't let the oil get too hot or the crust will get too crisp or if the oil cools down too much, the patties will soak up too much oil.


Peanut and Squash Soup
1 ½ tsp olive oil
4 cups cubed butternut squash
1 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp minced garlic
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp ground coriander
4 cups chicken broth
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp tomato paste
½ tsp crushed red pepper
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium high heat
Add squash and next five ingredients (through coriander)
Saute 5 minutes or until onion is tender
Add broth, peanut butter, tomato paste, and pepper, stirring to combine
Bring to a boil
Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes or until squash is tender
Sprinkle with cilantro


CREME CARAMELA- Sudanese Caramel Custard
8 eggs
1 quart milk
1 cup sugar – divided
1 oz butter, melted
1 Tbs vanilla extract

Beat eggs, milk and ½ cup sugar until frothy.
Add butter and vanilla extract.
In 1 ½ quart star shaped aluminum cake pan, melt ½ cup sugar and burn to caramel stage (I just used a round layer cake pan, and cheated with store-bought caramel) .
Rotate pan to spread caramel all around sides.
Pour egg mixture into cake pan (using the layer cake pan, I didn’t use the full amount of the custard to fill the pan).
Cover the pan with aluminum foil that has been buttered on the underside
Place pan in a water bath.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, test with a knife, when it comes out clean the custard is done.
Chill completely.
Turn out onto a platter.


Book related add ons:
Some links I found about the book and related topics:

http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/
http://www.valentinoachakdeng.org/readers_guide.php


Eggers Blends Fact, Fiction of Sudanese 'Lost Boys'
(9 minute interview with Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng on NPR's All Things Considered 11/1/2006. Spoiler Alert: there's a bit of a spoiler at the end of this interview. If you want to avoid it, stop listening when Eggers stops talking, before the interviewer does her conclusion.)

John Garang: A Conversation on Sudan
(37 min Interview with Scott Simon on Weekend Edition 2/12/2005)

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

November 2007, Hosted by Cat

It was a Southern meal inspired by the Southern setting of Carson McCullers' The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

"Supper", as we Southerners call it, included:

Black Eyed Peas*
Uncle Ben's Long Grain Converted Rice (the brand is specific, it's what we always used growing up in Georgia)*
Collard Greens*
Homemade Mac n' Cheese*
Potato Rolls - store bought Martin's
a big green greek salad from Mona Lisa Pasta (the only non-Southern part of the meal)
Two kinds of Breyers ice cream - Peach and Butter Pecan, classic Southern flavors


* Notes and recipes:
Black Eyed Peas
For a true Southern experience, it's best to start with dried black eyed peas, which is what I did for our supper. Using dried beans of any kind is time intensive, but it's a very low maintenance affair. Follow the package directions, being sure to sort and rinse the peas well. You can either soak the peas overnight, or if you have at least two hours of prep time, you can use the Quick Cook method (bring to a boil for 1-2 minutes and then let soak off the heat for 1 hour before simmering for 20-30 minutes) for same day preparation. True Southerners will flavor black eyed peas with a ham hock or bacon, but in the Nuovo-Southern/Veg Friendly style, adding some nice olive oil and salt and pepper is all you need.

Black Eyed Peas and Uncle Ben's long grain white rice are a classic Southern pairing. Be sure to add a few dollops of butter when you're a cooking the rice and serve the two items side by side on the plate so that they can mingle on your fork.


Collard Greens
For our book club supper, I used chopped frozen collards, which are the poor and lazy man's way, just like my parents did when I was growing up. They are fast and easy and require little preparation. Like with the Black Eyed Peas, adding ham hocks for flavor is the traditional way, and most Southerners would insist that you cook collards for a minimum of two hours, or all day if you have the time (although such a long cooking period isn't generally necessary with pre-cooked frozen collards).

I'm pretty sure I was well into my 20's before I ever saw fresh collard greens, but they are easier to handle than they seem. About a half a pound of pre-cleaned collards is about one serving. Wash well in a very large bowl, remove the thick center stems, stack the leaves on top of each other and then roll them up to make chopping easier. Add the chopped collards to a large pot with sufficient water to cover. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer. Flavor with olive oil or ham hocks, add salt and pepper. Slow cook for a long as you can, and add vinegar (I prefer balsamic now, but I'm sure that my parents probably use apple cider vinegar) as the finishing-touch flavor.


Macaroni and Cheese
Homemade is always best, but Kraft was the staple in my childhood home. For book club, I used my friend Valorie's recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 lb (= 8 oz = 2 cups) elbow macaroni
1/4 cup (4 Tbsp) butter
1 cup (1 small) onion - chopped
1/8 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3 cups milk
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Melt butter in a 4 quart saucepan over medium heat.
Add onion and saute until transparent. Stir in flour and salt.
Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add milk, stir to blend. Bring to a low, steady simmer.
Add uncooked elbow macaroni. Cover and continue to simmer gently for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Mixture will thicken as it is cooking.)
Remove from heat. Add cheese. Stir gently until cheese is melted.
Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

September 2007, hosted by Lara

Lily is haunted by memories-of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness. In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu ("women's writing"). Some girls were paired with laotongs, "old sames," in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become "old sames" at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.

Other book choices for the month:
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Menu
I had fun browsing the aisles of Charlottesville's Asian Market and Oriental Food Store for this month's meeting!
Here's the menu that I remember...

• rice crackers
• winter melon soup
• variety of steamed dumplings with sauces (sweet & sour, ginger soy)
• cold sesame noodles (OK, so this isn't what we had, but I can't find the noodle recipe I used, so I'm including this other Chinese favorite)
• lychee jelly snacks (a fond memory from my college roomate, whose family is Taiwanese)

Winter Melon Soup
1 cup winter melon, boiled until tender (I substituted cucumber)
2 cups chicken broth
handful Chinese dried black mushrooms
2 - 3 slices ginger
1/4 cup cooked ham, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 green onion, green part only, washed and cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces

1. Wash the winter melon, remove the green skin, seeds, and the pulp. Cut into 2-inch pieces. 2. Reconstitute the Chinese dried mushrooms by soaking in hot water for 20 - 30 minutes until softened. Squeeze out any excess water. 3. Add the chicken broth, mushrooms, ginger and cooked ham. Add seasonings as desired. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Add green onion for garnish. Serve hot.

Ginger Soy Sauce
1/2 C soy sauce
1/4 C water
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger

Combine all ingredients in saucepan and heat through.

Sweet & Sour Sauce
1 C water
3 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 C granulated sugar
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 C ketchup
dash hot sauce (optional)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 green bell pepper, or 1/2 red and 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into chunks

In a small bowl, mix 4 teaspoons of the water with the cornstarch. Set aside.
Bring the remainder of the water, the sugar, vinegar, ketchup, hot sauce and soy sauce to a boil, stirring a few times. Give the cornstarch and water mixture a quick re-stir and add to the sauce, stirring constantly. Add the bell pepper chunks. Heat through.

Cold Sesame Noodles
16 oz Chinese flour stick noodles
2-3 chicken breasts, boiled and diced (or cut into thin strips)
3-4 eggs (2 whole eggs and 2 whites only)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 large carrots, julienned
1-2 large cucumbers, julienned/shredded
2 cups snow peas
3-4 cups bean sprouts
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup boiling water
soy sauce
seasame oil
red wine vinegar

Boil the noodles until done, drain and set aside. Beat the eggs until just frothy. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, when oil is hot pour eggs into pan and let cook on medium heat until it is solid enough to flip. Flip the egg sheet and cook the other side for another 30 seconds or so. Remove the egg sheet and cut into thin strips (length like those of the julienned vegetables). Heat water to a boil and stir in a little at a time into the peanut butter until the peanut butter is a thick sauce. It may look all icky at first but keep stirring and it will become a darker paste. Keep adding until it's a lighter colored slightly soupy mixture. Add about 3 tbsp of soy sauce, 1-2 tbsp seasame oil and about 1-2 tbsp vinegar. Stir. Add more of whatever to taste. Serve cold noodles and top with vegetables, chicken and egg. Pour sauce over top and mix the noodles up to spread the sauce. Add a little chili oil to the peanut sauce for some kick.