Asian Pacific Culture Heritage Month (1)

May is Asian-Pacific Cultural Heritage Month, and I'd like to recommend various books and resources to learn more. This will be a running series all this month, spotlighting various Asian cultures. Each blog entry will highlight different aspects of different cultures. These aren't meant to be complete and exclusive lists.

Japanese:
The Classic Tradition of Haiku, Edited by Fabion Bowers
Typhoon! Typhoon! An Illustrated Haiku Sequence by Lucile Maxfield Bogue
A Cat, a Man and Two Women by Junichiro Tanizaki
Geisha by Liza Dalby
The Tale of Genji by Murisaki Shikibu
The Tale of Murasaki by Liza Dalby

Filipino:
The Guerilla is Like a Poet An Anthology of Filipino Poetry, edited by Robert Majzels
Filipino Martial Culture by Mark V. Wiley
Filipino Martial Arts (Cabales Serrada Escrima) by Mark V. Wiley

Vietnamese:
Ca Dao Vietnam, A Bilingual Anthology of Vietnamese Folk Poetry. Edited, Translated and Introduced by John Balaban

Chinese:
The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Introduction by Nigel Hawthorne
The Wisdom of Confucius, Edited by Ephiphanius Wilson
The Illustrated Tao De Ching by Stephen Hodge

Asian-American Experience:
The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker by Eric Liu
Making Waves: An Anthology of Writings By and About Asian American Women. Edited by the Asian Women United of California

More to come!

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2011

Recipes from Hubby's Grandmother's Recipe Box (2)

Today's recipe from Hubby's Grandmother's Recipe Box (directly from a handwritten card):

Scones:

2 c. sifted flour

4 tsp baking poweder

1 tsp. salt

4 tbsp shortening

3/4 c. milk

Beat all ingredients for 1 min. Throw on floured board and roll 1/2" thick. Cut with round cutter, bake on griddle until golden on both sides. 

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Recipes from Hubby's Grandmother's Recipe Box (1)

Hubs inherited the recipe box that holds his maternal grandmother's recipes. It's a simple green file box, crammed with handwritten recipes and ones cut out from magazines. The paper's yellowed with age, but still readable. It's fascinating to see some of the recipes from 50+ years ago...the more things change, the more they stay the same.

This week, I'm featuring some of those recipes, copied directly from the cards. This one is "Popovers"

Popovers

Blend 2 eggs, 1tsp salt, 1 c. sfted flour, 1 tbsp melted shortening 1 c.milk.

Beat until thoroughly blended. Pour into 8 custard cups about 1/3 full. Bake at 459 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn down to 350 degrees for 20 minutes longer.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Nguzo Saba: The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

Joyous Kwanzaa, or Habari Gani! (What's the News?)

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday that runs from December 26 to January 1. It was first celebrated in 1966 to celebrate pride in African heritage and culture. The phrase "matunde ya kwanza" means "the first fruits of the harvest" in Swahili. Households decorate their houses with kente (African cloth) and family members wear brightly colored kaftans (dresses), daishiki (suits) and kufi (caps). Offerings of drinks (libations) are shared from a common cup, and Kwanzaa ends with a large feast for all the participants.

The kinara (candleholder) holds seven candles, with each candle representing Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Three red candles are set on the left, a black candle in the middle, and three green candles on the right. It's similar to a Jewish menorah, lit for Hanukkah.

The seven principles are: Umoja (unity), Kuchichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Working Together as a Community), Ujamaa (Working Together Prosperously), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). Each day of the celebration is dedicated to one of these principles and how a person can contribute to the community at large.

Habari Gani! :-)



All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010