The Book: Unbroken; The Bite: Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist!

The Book!
At the end of this month on December 25th, the movie "Unbroken" will be released in theaters nationwide. The film, produced and directed by Angelina Jolie, was adapted from the book, Unbroken, the biography of the life of Louie Zamperini and how he persevered and survived against incredible odds. The book was written by author Laura Hillenbrand and published by Random House (November 16, 2010).

Unbroken: "#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award

On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared. It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard. So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War.

The lieutenant’s name was Louis Zamperini. In boyhood, he’d been a cunning and incorrigible delinquent, breaking into houses, brawling, and fleeing his home to ride the rails. As a teenager, he had channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics and within sight of the four-minute mile. But when war had come, the athlete had become an airman, embarking on a journey that led to his doomed flight, a tiny raft, and a drift into the unknown.

Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, a foundering raft, thirst and

Now with a new cover

starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

In her long-awaited new book, Laura Hillenbrand writes with the same rich and vivid narrative voice she displayed in Seabiscuit. Telling an unforgettable story of a man’s journey into extremity, Unbroken is a testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit."

Book Stats:
Genre - Adult, Non-Fiction
Page Count - 473
Target Age Group -
Theme(s) - Military, Historical, Biography, Inspirational

The Bite! 

Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist!

The drink, Orangeade, has been around since the 19th Century and usually consists of a mixture of orange juice, sweetener, and water. Original versions of the drink were carbonated. I got the idea to make Orangeade as it was a drink that Louie Zamperini ("Unbroken") drank while participating in the Olympic Trials. I also added a twist to the original drink as I wanted to add carbonation with a hint of the tropical flavor, mango. To make that possible, I added one 17 oz bottle of Sparkling Orange Mango flavored water. So step back in time to make this super simple drink; it will be a winner with the kids! Here is a pictorial step by step guide to making your own. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist:

8 Oranges (roughly 2 cups of juice)

1 Lemon
1 cup White Sugar
1 plus 5 cups of Water

Fresh Mint Leaves
 1 to 2 - 17 oz bottles Sparkling Orange Mango Flavored Water
2 to 3 cups Ice

Add 1 cup of sugar to a pot. 

Add 1 cup of water to the sugar. 

Stir on medium high heat until sugar dissolves.

Once sugar dissolves, stir in a few mint leaves.
Set aside and let cool. 

While syrup is cooling, slice oranges in half. 

Using a juicer, juice oranges. 

...and lemon. 

The 8 oranges and 1 lemon should produce roughly 2 cups of juice. 

Once syrup has cooled, remove mint leaves. 

Through a strainer, add juice to the cooled syrup.

Squeeze out any juice still left in the pulp.

Add 5 cups of cold water to the juice mixture. 

Stir to incorporate all ingredients. 

Add about 2 to 3 cups of ice. 

Pour into a pitcher for serving.
Viola! Orangeade! 

I opted to add a 17 oz bottle of Sparkling Orange Mango flavored water (or opt to add 2 bottles for more fizz, or to suit your taste). Turned out great! Just the right amount of fizz and tropical taste for my liking. 

Voila!
Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist! 

Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist!

Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist!

Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist!

Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist!

Orangeade with a Sparkling Mango Twist!

*****

Wondering what to do with the leftover orange peels? Try boiling them in a pot of water with a dash of cinnamon. This homemade air freshener recipe will make your home smell wonderfully fresh!

Place leftover orange peels in a pot of water. Add a dash of cinnamon and bring to a boil.  

Allow peels to boil and fragrance home (about 15 to 20 minutes).

The Book: Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography; The Bite: Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

The Book!
Released just this week, the autobiography of Laura Ingalls Wilder finally found a publisher to tell the tale of the author's pioneering life as she actually experienced it. I haven't had the opportunity to read the book, but if it is as fascinating as her novels I grew up with, I am pretty sure this book will surely please! The made-for-adult book, "Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography" was written by author Laura Ingalls Wilder supposedly back in 1930, but has only recently found a publisher, South Dakota State Historical Society, and is being released this week (actually, November 17, 2014). Wow, talk about a huge time span...eighty-four years!

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography: "Pioneer Girl follows the Ingalls family's journey through Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, back to Minnesota, and on to Dakota Territory sixteen years of travels, unforgettable experiences, and the everyday people who became immortal through Wilder's fiction. Using additional manuscripts, letters, photographs, newspapers, and other sources, award-winning Wilder biographer Pamela Smith Hill adds valuable context and leads readers through Wilder's growth as a writer. Do you think you know Laura? Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography will re-introduce you to the woman who defined the pioneer experience for millions."

Book Stats:
Genre - Adult, Non-fiction
Page Count - 316
Target Age Group -
Theme(s) - Pioneer life, Autobiography, Historical

The Bite! 

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

I found this recipe online and thought I'd try it since I was fascinated with the fact that this biscuit recipe calls for both active dry yeast and buttermilk. Normally, I would reserve using yeast for breads such as yeast rolls, not biscuits; so I was curious as to how these would turn out. Boy oh boy this biscuit recipe was definitely a keeper! Not a lot of fuss with this super simple recipe! Here is a pictorial step by step guide to making your own. Enjoy!

Ingredients for Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits:

2-1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour 

1 pkg Active Dry Yeast (dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water with a pinch of sugar)
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 to 1-1/2 tsp Salt

1-1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
6 Tbsp Butter Flavored Crisco Shortening
1 cup Buttermilk

Buttermilk Recipes if you don't have any on-hand:
Using Milk and Lemon Juice - 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp lemon juice (let stand for 5-10 min. before use)

Using Milk and Vinegar - 1 cup milk + 1 Tbsp white vinegar (let stand 5-10 min. before use)
Using Milk and Cream of Tartar - 1 cup milk + 1-3/4 tsp Cream of Tartar (let stand 5-10 min. before use)

Using Yogurt - 3/4 cup yogurt + 1/4 cup water
Using Sour Cream - 3/4 cup sour cream + 1/4 cup water

Add a pinch of sugar to one package of active dry yeast.

Add 1/4 cup warm water to the yeast. Set aside for a few minutes.

Yeast will dissolve and resemble the above picture.

In a large bowl; add the 2-1/2 cups of flour.

Add all the dry ingredients to the flour; mix/swift well.

Use Butter-Flavored Crisco Baking Sticks instead of butter.
(although butter can be used, but with slightly different results)

Cut shortening into dry ingredients.

Shortening should be cut into dry ingredients until it resembles small bits. Do not over mix.

Add in dissolved yeast.

...and the cup of buttermilk. Add a little buttermilk at a time to make sure batter doesn't become too sticky.

After the ingredients are mixed well, your batter should look similar to the picture above.

Use parchment paper or oil-sprayed tin foil.
Then spoon round-shaped balls onto pan.

Ready for the oven.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Ovens may vary in temperature so make sure to check on your biscuits while baking.

Ready when tops are golden.

Melt butter. You could also add a pinch of salt to the butter.

Butter the tops and serve immediately.

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits!

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)

Yummy Buttermilk Yeast Biscuits paired with my "Magic Sauce"!
(Magic Sauce recipe will be provided in next week's post)