January's Pick/ Shanghai Girls

By Lisa See




1937 Shanghai, the Paris of Asia, is home to 21 year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister , May. They have financial security and material comforts thanks to their father's prosperous rickshaw business. The sisters are sought after by "beautiful-girl" artists to pose for posters and calendars depicting all modern conveniences, such as powdered baby formula and luxury items like filtered cigarettes and pearl creams. They think of themselves as modern young women, dressing in the latest Western styles, going to clubs, parties and shopping.

But Shanghai in 1937 is also the home to gangsters and gamblers, artists and warlords, patriots and revolutionaries. Women may not bind their feet any longer, but the old ways are still honored along with ancestors. The girls think they are modern women, waving off authority and tradition, carefree and beautiful but their world comes to a halt when their father tells them he has gambled away their fortune along with the rickshaw business. In order for him to pay his debts to the Chinese gangs from which he has borrowed and save their lives, he has sold the girls as wives to young men from California who have traveled along with their powerful father to find Chinese brides.

While Pearl and May are still reeling from this bombshell, real Japanese bombs begin falling on their beloved homeland and the beautiful city of Shanghai. These events set Pearl and May on the beginning of a journey that will last a lifetime. Fleeing through the Chinese countryside, experiencing the brutality of Japanese soldiers first-hand, and surviving a sea voyage to land on the shores of America. In Los Angeles, they begin the next leg of their journey. Getting through immigration and quarantine, trying to find love with the strangers they have been forced to marry, the lure of Hollywood and trying to become true and loyal Americans. They fight against discrimination, Communist witch hunts and being hemmed in by Chinatown's old world ways and rules.

Through it all, through marriage, motherhood, and even death, Pearl and May are each others strongest supporters and champions. Fights and betrayals, normal amongst most siblings, cannot break the bond of the sisters. Even when their hair is white, to quote May, "they will still have their sister love."

TRADITIONAL ALMOND COOKIES

Ingredients
1 cup shortening (Crisco)* 3/4 cup sugar* 2 eggs* 1 tbsp almond extract* 2-1/4 cups flour* 1/2 tsp baking soda* 1/4 tsp salt* 1/2 cup blanched almond halves* 1 egg beaten (for brushing top of cookies)

Prep
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream together the shortening and sugar. Beat in 2 eggs, one at a time, and mix well. Add the almond extract and mix.3. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. With a wooden spoon, gradually stir the flour mixture into the shortening. The dough should be fairly firm.4. Divide the dough in half and roll each into a log, about 1-1/2 inch in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for 4 hours.5. Cut the dough crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet. Top each cookie with an almond half. Brush cookies lightly with beaten egg.6. Bake for about 10 minutes, or until light golden brown.

from www.chineserecipes.itsallgud.com

January's Pick/The Case of the Missing Servant

By Tarquin Hall

Vish Puri is India's most private detective. Determined, particular, and very persistent, his portly figure and mustache bring to mind a Punjabi version of that famed Belgian detective, Monsieur Hercule Poirot.

In modern day Delhi, where call centers and high rise apartment blocks are rapidly taking over the ancient fabric of Indian life, Vish Puri's cases come mostly from screening prospective marriage partners a job that in the old days was reserved for aunties and family priests. But when a famed local lawyer is accused of murdering one of his servants, Puri is finally faced with the kind of case where he can put to use the detective skills that combine modern day technologies with the principles of detection established in in India more than two thousand years ago.

With his team of operatives, Tubelight, Facecream, and Flush and unwanted help from "Mummy-ji," Vish travels from Delhi to the remote mines of Jharkhand to solve the case.

The Case of the Missing Servant is a fun and interesting read. There is a glossary at the back of the book with Indian words and phrases that you will find interesting, especially finding out the meaning of some words that you hear frequently. Also, if you're even remotely a fan of Dame Christie's Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries (Mummy-ji knows her Delhi neighbors as well as Miss Marple know the residents of St. Mary Mead!) you'll enjoy this Indian mystery as well.

PALE GREEN, SPICY, MINT LASSI

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups plain yogurt

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

25 large fresh mint leaves

1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

1/ fresh hot green chile, coarsely chopped, do not remove seeds

1/3 teaspoon salt or to taste

1/4 teaspoon ground roasted cumin seeds (optional)

8 ice cubes

Prep

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Some ice pieces may remain. Garnish with mint leaves. Serves 2.

from Madhur Jaffrey's "Quick & Easy Indian Cooking"