“The Lady”, the movie, is to be released in the USA April 13, 2012. It is already out in other parts of the world. It is the story Aung San Suu Kyi and her husband Michael Aris.
I can hardly wait!!!

Aung San Suu Kyi spent over 20 years in house arrest off and on in a house on University Avenue Road overlooking Inya Lake in Rangoon, Burma. We lived on the same street just down the road. Much earlier, of course. When the coup came in 1962 and Burma was overtaken by military dictatorship we lived next door to the former president. His son was shot in a struggle during the coup. We heard the gunshots without knowing what was happening.

Burma has had hard times since that fateful evening. It went from being one of the richest nations in Asia to one of the poorest. Now the elections are in April, Suu is out of house arrest and up for election. Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State, has been on an official visit – first time in 50 years such a thing has happened. Things are starting to look up. Let’s hope it continues and all of Suu’s sacrifices finally pay off!

I was born in Rangoon, Burma. That was before it was called Myanmar. My mother knew Aung San Suu Kyi’s mother when they worked together on an International Cookbook. Her mother donated her favorite entertaining menu and recipes.

“Burmese Meal for Guests
Mrs. Aung San has this Burmese menu for her company luncheons and dinners, because these are the dishes she has found her friends and guests like most. Like many distinguished women with very public careers, she finds delight in domestic arts and skills.

White Pumpkin Broth
Fish Lethoke salad
Prawn Curry
Balachuang
Chicken Curry
Mixed Vegetables
Fried White Gourd
Coconut Rice
Sago Sweet”

The cookbook was published in 1954 and has lots of fabulous ads in it.

Coconut Rice

Serves 8

Ingredients
5 cups rice
3 coconuts
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
1/3 tsp salt
2 onions

Grate the flesh of 3 coconuts. Pour some hot water and squeeze the milk through thin muslin. Repeat till all the milk is extracted. Wash rice thoroughly. Put rice into pot. Add this milk until it stands ¾ inch above the rice. Peel, quarter and wash the onions. Add to the rice, oil, sugar, salt and onions. Stir till well mixed. Cook till the milk is evaporated and the rice tender.

Today you could probably just buy coconut milk, eh?