Berry Fruit Salad with Mint Sugar pg 118

Terrie Sanford made this delicious fruit dish for our monthly Historical League meeting. It was so refreshing with the minty taste lingering in my mouth.
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint
6 tablespoons sugar
3 cups sliced strawberries
3 cups blackberries
3 cups blueberries
Pulse the mint and sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Sprinkle over the strawberries, blackberries and blueberries in a large bowl and toss gently to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Terrie commented it was easy to make but can be very expensive if the berries are not in season.

Kudos to April Riggins and Mary Pearce for the lovely Easter display on the buffet table. Note the tatting on the recipe card that Mary made. Love to see a lost art still in use.

FUSE: Refugee Photographic Exhibit opens April 16

We had our usual Historical League meeting today and Dr Welsh gave us a a special sneak preview into this exhibit. Eliza Gregory has an amazing eye when it comes to photography - Great insight into the lives of refugees. Their background can be heard if you use your cell phone and dial the number. It's a great way to have "sight and sound".

Newswire/ -- FUSE: Portraits of Refugee Households in
Metropolitan Phoenix opens at the Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago
Park on April 16.  This "sight and sound" exhibit runs through July 19.  It
features 30 large photographic portraits by Eliza Gregory of refugee families
from Liberia, Hungary, Bosnia, Burundi, Burma, Sudan, Congo and Somalia.  Many
photographs are accompanied by an audio "portrait" where refugee families
describe their lives and experiences.  The audio portraits were produced by
Rose Love Chou.

Metropolitan Phoenix is a major refugee resettlement area. Approximately
44,000 refugees have come to Phoenix since 1980 and the city's refugee
population grows by more than 2,000 new arrivals each year.  "This is an
important exhibition for us and for Arizona because it shows how the world has
changed.  Arizona has always been a place for people to come and find new
lives.  Today, people are coming from Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Europe.
At the Arizona Historical Society Museum, it is our purpose to document and
discuss recent history that affects us all," said Peter Welsh, Executive
Director, Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park.

The exhibit is produced in association with COAR, Community Outreach and
Advocacy for Refugees, a program that works with resettled refugees to help
them rebuild their lives.  The program was founded in 2002 by Sambo Dul, who
was a Cambodian refugee and an undergraduate at Arizona State University. "I
was five years old when my family made the 8,000 mile journey from the refugee
camp on the Thai-Cambodian border to Phoenix, Arizona. Upon arrival, we
struggled to adjust to a new life in a strange land," said Dul who is
currently a law student at New York University.

FUSE will be on exhibit at the Museum through July 19, 2009.  "This project is
born of a curiosity about people," said photographer Eliza Gregory.  "I wanted
to meet resettled refugees in Phoenix; and learn about who they are, where
they come from, and what life is like for them now."

The Arizona Historical Society Museum at Papago Park is located at 1300 N.
College Avenue, Tempe. It is open Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and
Sunday from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. This exhibit has been made possible, in part, by
the Historical League, Inc. and the Central Chapter of the Arizona Historical
Society.

Tour of Phoenix Children's Museum

Wish I had grand children to take to this place. What fun. I wanted to climb with the kids, plant flowers, slide, chase the air machine scarves and ride the tricycle/segway. The Historical League had a tour in March with guide Kathie Hughes sharing so much information and history. The museum started with an idea from two Phoenix families vacationing. "Why doesn't Phoenix have a Children's Museum like San Diego?" The historic Monroe school was available and so it began...All the exhibits are educational and thoroughly researched for the appropriate age levels. Open since June 2008, 250,000 guests have gone through it.
The noodle forest (9,000 pool noodles) is mine and Jeannie Fletcher's favorite (and also most of the children) although the grocery store is a close second. Betsy Davis holds a plastic carrot that was so real she commented, "looks like the carrot from the bottom of the crisper drawer."
Delores Tomasek is removing the heart and liver from Mr Stuffy as she learns about anatomy.
Marlyse Brock, Betsy Davis, Nancy Evans and Janie Burke enjoy the giggle box covered with Jackson Pollack artwork in the dining area. It was a fun filled, informative tour and one I would love to take again...just need that grandchild.

Tea at Phoenix Museum of History

The Phoenix Museum of History held a tea as a fund raiser and several members of the Historical League were there to help support it. Looks like this event was lots of fun. I was out of town but just got these photos. The hats were a lovely Victorian touch and the men serving in tuxedos was an added bonus. Sorry I missed it but we can share the fun with these photos. Mary Parker and Jeannine Moyle pose for the camera. AHS Museum Director Dr Peter Walsh is surrounded by (L to R) Nancy Evans, Jeannine Moyle (wearing hat), Dee Steen and Ruth Ann Hogan (also wearing hat). Ruth Ann and John Jacquemart admire the second prize winning decorated table. The fourth photo shows Jeannine Moyle, Frank Barrios (very elegant in tux), Phoenix Museum of History Director Vicki Berger, Vicki's husband, Roger, and Wesley Mittelsleadt.

Tasting Chocolate in a Heavenly Bar pg 162

Are you a Chocoholic? Craving something very indulgent with a hint of salt? Then this recipe is for you. Margaret Baker made these delicious bars for our February League meeting and they were devoured. Take a look at the ingredients and you will understand.


Chocolate Peanut Treats
2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups (12 oz) butterscotch chips
1 jar (18 oz) creamy peanut butter
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 can (5 oz) evaporated milk
1/4 cup vanilla pudding and pie filling mix
2 packages (1 lb) confectioners sugar
1 lb salted peanuts

Combine the chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a double boiler over simmering water. Cook until blended, stirring frequently. Add the peanut butter and stir until smooth. Spread half the chocolate chip mixture in a greased 10 X 15 inch baking pan. Chill until firm. (Isn't this easy)
Bring the butter, evaporated milk and pudding mix to a boil in a saucepan. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and beat in the confectioners sugar until smooth. Spread over the chilled layer. Stir the peanuts into the remaining chocolate chip mixture and spread over the prepared layers. (Now you can lick the spoon) Chill until firm and cut into 2 inch squares. Makes 20 pieces. Yummmmm.

Presidents Advisory Board Brainstorms

What could be better than getting all the Past Presidents, Historymaker Gala Chairs, Executive Board and Museum Board Members together to learn about the latest Museum happenings and discuss it's future? Thanks to our current President, Jeannine Moyle, we met at Desert Ridge Marriott at 9 am, March 9. It was more like a reunion and so good to see familiar faces. Life changes and many League members are not as active as they once were but they are still very interested and have great ideas about the Museum and the League. Highlighted topics were Historymakers Gala, Children's Holiday Party, Membership, Finances, Centennial Celebrations, Cookbook and Old Ned Newsletter.

Pam Stevenson opened with a video she had produced promoting a century of Arizona. Wonderful photos and narrative. Dr Peter Welsh spoke about Museum happenings and the possibilities of a merger with Phoenix Museum of History. Great things could happen as a result of that.

We talked for hours, broke into smaller groups, paused for lunch and still kept discussing the future. There was a lot of energy in that room. I am looking forward to hearing about all the things that could be....even with the budget crunch, life with the Historical League looks good.

Annual Spring Party

Joan Galloway was very generous in offering her lovely home for the Christmas League meeting and she has done it again with the Spring Party. What a perfect setting for a Fun and Fiesta evening. Contact Nancy Evans or Dianne Linthicum for details. Saturday, April 25 at 6 pm. $55 per person.