OCTOBER 14TH TOUR PLANNED

Join the League for the first tour of the season when we visit the Arizona Mining and Minerals Museum. The museum houses a collection of more than 3,000 gemstones, rocks, minerals and numerous exhibits which highlight the mining industry that helped build Arizona. It traces its origins back to the first Arizona Fair held in November of 1884. Under the direction of the Arizona Historical Society since July, it will soon be transformed into the Arizona Centennial Museum spotlighting Arizona’s five C’s. This is your opportunity to see the “before.” We will view a short video, see exhibits and hear a talk by a museum staff member. The gift shop features mineral specimens and jewelry. Located at 1502 W. Washington in downtown Phoenix, we plan on meeting at 10:30 a.m. Join us for lunch afterwards at Tom’s Tavern, a Phoenix favorite since 1929. Comment to this blog for reservations.

Ben F. Williams, Jr. Storyteller/ October guest speaker

League meetings have wonderful, informative guest speakers as well as delicious luncheons, especially when the recipe is from Tastes & Treasures cookbook. Don't miss October 4 meeting with Ben F. Williams, Jr.

Ben–a fifth-generation Arizonan whose father and grandfather owned ranches in Arizona, Sonora and Chihuahua–retired from the practice of law after 50 years and took up writing about the Old West. He is a regular contributor to the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper, and has published articles in Range magazine and Precision Shooting magazine. Ben is a former City Attorney of Tombstone and four-term Mayor of Douglas (1980-1988).

Taking life on both sides of the border as his canvas, Ben has brought his stories to book form. His first two books–Tales of My Southwest and More Tales of My Southwest–convey the ups and downs of life along the ranching and mining frontiers of the Mexican border from the 1800s to the present day.

Ben’s new book, Pancho Villa : A Lifetime of Vengeance , began as a short story. Ben says once he started delving into the research and realized how many times Pancho Villa had crossed his family’s path during the Mexican revolutions, the simple short story grew into a book.


Bruce J. Dinges, Editor, Journal of Arizona History/Arizona Historical Society comments, "Storytelling may be an endangered art form in our information age, and that’s a shame. Attorney and former Douglas mayor Ben F. Williams, Jr. reminds us of the old-fashioned charm of a good story, well told . . . Williams captures the small moments – childhood pranks and human foibles – that bring smiles of recognition because they say something universal about the human condition."

Madelines

The Arizona Inn has served hundreds of visitors to Tucson since it was built by Isabella Greenway in 1930. This recipe for delicious cookies is found on page 109 of Tastes & Treasures. The cookie molds give it this distinctive shape.
A more detailed history of The Arizona Inn and AZ Congresswoman, Isabella Greenway, is documented in the book An Enterprising Woman by Kristie Miller. Miss Greenway was a long time friend of Eleanor Roosevelt corresponding with over 200 letters between them. For a good story of early Arizona, pick up this book.

Save the Date - Historymakers Gala

Details: http://www.historicalleague.org/historymakers.htm

Golf Tournament

NEW FALL FUNDRAISER
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH

MEMBERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE INVITED
FOR A HISTORICAL LEAGUE'S
GOLF OUTING AND SOCIAL
11:00AM FOR REGISTRATION,CHIPPING & PUTTING FUN
12:30PM SHOTGUN START
5:30PM SOCIAL HOUR IN THE CLUB HOUSE RESTAURANT
FORMAT: FOUR PERSON TEAMS, CASUAL/FUN (SIGN UP AS A TEAM OR WE WILL PUT TOGETHER YOUR FOURSOME)

$150 FOR GOLF AND HOSTED SOCIAL HOUR:
COCKTAILS, WINE, DRAFT BEER & SODA
+ HORS D'OEUVRES
$30 FOR SOCIAL HOUR ONLY

REGISTRATION FOR BOTH EVENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HISTORICAL LEAGUE'S WEBSITE:
WWW.HISTORICALLEAGUE.ORG/GOLF.HTM

** PLEASE HELP US AND SIGN UP EARLY**

Crunchy French Toast with Maple Syrup

For a fabulous breakfast treat try this recipe from Camelback Inn found on
page 66 of Tastes & Treasures.

Crunchy French Toast with Maple Syrup
1/2 vanilla bean, or 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6(1-inch) slices white bread
2-3 cups cornflakes, crushed
6 tablespoons butter
confectioners' sugar
6 ounces (or more) maple syrup
Split the vanilla bean into halves and scrape the seeds into a medium bowl. Whisk in the eggs, milk and cinnamon. Add the bread and let soak for 1 minute per side. Press each piece of soaked bread into the cornflakes to coat. You may make ahead 1 day in advance up to this point. Wrap i plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat until the foam subsides. Add the coated bread and cook on each side until brown. Cut each piece into halves and arrange on serving plates. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and drizzle with the maple syrup. Serve immediately.
Serves 6

So Many Ways to Make Spinach Salad

Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing pg 70 Tastes & Treasures is a favorite of mine.

Here's a new twist with barley.
Spinach Barley Salad with Gorgonzola and Toasted Walnuts
4 cups quick-cooking pearl barley
3 tablespoon sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 ounce gorgonzola cheese, finely crumbled (about ¼ cup)
6 cups baby spinach leaves, shredded
¼ cup sliced red onion
2 tablespoon toasted chopped walnuts

Cook barley according to package instructions. Meanwhile, whisk together vinegar and mustard. Whisk in oil until well blended, then whisk cheese into mixture.
Put cooked barley in a serving bowl. Add remaining ingredients, plus salt and pepper to taste, then toss gently. Stir in vinaigrette; cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to mix.
Note: Quick cooking pearled barley cooks faster than regular barley. Any soft, crumbly cheese such as feta, blue or goat cheese is good also.