Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan is an incredible story of the young women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, who unwittingly played a crucial role in one of the most significant moments in US history.
At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was home to 75,000 residents, consuming more electricity than New York City. But to most of the world, the town did not exist. Thousands of civilians—many of them young women from small towns across the South—were recruited to this secret city, enticed by solid wages and the promise of war-ending work. Kept very much in the dark, few would ever guess the true nature of the tasks they performed each day in the hulking factories in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. That is, until the end of the war—when Oak Ridge’s secret was revealed.
Drawing on the voices of the women who lived it—women who are now in their eighties and nineties—The Girls of Atomic City rescues a remarkable, forgotten chapter of American history from obscurity. Denise Kiernan captures the spirit of the times through these women: their pluck, their desire to contribute, and their enduring courage. Combining the grand-scale human drama of The Worst Hard Time with the intimate biography and often troubling science of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Girls of Atomic City is a lasting and important addition to our country’s history. (Overview courtesy of Barnes & Noble)
Here's the menu for a wonderful evening as we discussed Girls of Atomic City . . .
At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was home to 75,000 residents, consuming more electricity than New York City. But to most of the world, the town did not exist. Thousands of civilians—many of them young women from small towns across the South—were recruited to this secret city, enticed by solid wages and the promise of war-ending work. Kept very much in the dark, few would ever guess the true nature of the tasks they performed each day in the hulking factories in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. That is, until the end of the war—when Oak Ridge’s secret was revealed.
Drawing on the voices of the women who lived it—women who are now in their eighties and nineties—The Girls of Atomic City rescues a remarkable, forgotten chapter of American history from obscurity. Denise Kiernan captures the spirit of the times through these women: their pluck, their desire to contribute, and their enduring courage. Combining the grand-scale human drama of The Worst Hard Time with the intimate biography and often troubling science of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, The Girls of Atomic City is a lasting and important addition to our country’s history. (Overview courtesy of Barnes & Noble)
Here's the menu for a wonderful evening as we discussed Girls of Atomic City . . .
APPETIZER
Mixed Veggies with Dip
Select variety of seasonal
vegetables that also have a variety of colors.
For example:
Baby
carrots, mini multi-colored sweet peppers, snap peas, cucumbers, and zucchini
Dip: select
salad dressing of choice, I used Lighthouse Mild Thai Peanut dressing
MAIN COURSE
"Homemade" Chicken Noodle Soup
1 whole chicken
4 cups of chicken broth
Water
1 package of Bear Creek Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
Baby Carrots
Cook the whole chicken in a soup pot with the broth on low heat, after bringing it to a boil, for as long as you can. Add water to keep the chicken covered. When the chicken starts falling apart, remove the chicken pieces and let cool. Keep the broth simmering while you add the soup mix. If desired, add more sliced carrots as the mix does not have enough for my taste! Debone the chicken and place the meat back into the soup pot. Keep soup warm until ready to serve. I guess it's really "Semi-homemade" Chicken Noodle Soup! Enjoy!
MAIN COURSE
"Homemade" Chicken Noodle Soup
4 cups of chicken broth
Water
1 package of Bear Creek Chicken Noodle Soup Mix
Baby Carrots
Cook the whole chicken in a soup pot with the broth on low heat, after bringing it to a boil, for as long as you can. Add water to keep the chicken covered. When the chicken starts falling apart, remove the chicken pieces and let cool. Keep the broth simmering while you add the soup mix. If desired, add more sliced carrots as the mix does not have enough for my taste! Debone the chicken and place the meat back into the soup pot. Keep soup warm until ready to serve. I guess it's really "Semi-homemade" Chicken Noodle Soup! Enjoy!
Biscuits
2 ¼ cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon sugar
1/3 cup shortening or
butter
2/3 cup milk
1 egg
Sift together dry
ingredients. Using a fork, cut shortening
into mixture until there are coarse crumbs.
Add milk, then add egg. Mix with
fork until dough follows fork around the bowl.
Knead dough on floured board 5-6 times.
Make dough patties about 2” in diameter, place on ungreased baking sheet
about ¾ inch apart. Bake in hot oven
(450 degrees) for 10-12 minutes.
Makes 16 medium biscuits, serve warm.
DESSERT
Mixed Berry Jello Salad
1 (6 oz) box strawberry jello
2 cups boiling water
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 (22 oz) jar Oregon Triple Berry fruit Filling (Kroger)
4-6 oz softened cream cheese
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Fresh strawberries and blueberries for garnish
Mixed Berry Jello Salad
1 (6 oz) box strawberry jello
2 cups boiling water
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 (22 oz) jar Oregon Triple Berry fruit Filling (Kroger)
4-6 oz softened cream cheese
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Fresh strawberries and blueberries for garnish
Mix together the box of jello and boiling water in a large bowl. Stir until all jello is dissolved.
Mix in can of pineapple and fruit filling (I used about ¾ of the filling) until combined.
Pour jello mixture into a 8X8 dish and refrigerate until set (about 4-5 hours).
Mix together cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, vanilla and spices. Beat until smooth. Place a spoonful of cream on each serving and garnish with the fresh berries.
Mix in can of pineapple and fruit filling (I used about ¾ of the filling) until combined.
Pour jello mixture into a 8X8 dish and refrigerate until set (about 4-5 hours).
Mix together cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, vanilla and spices. Beat until smooth. Place a spoonful of cream on each serving and garnish with the fresh berries.
