September 25, 1943 One Year in New Haven, Seeing Sully, The Apartment, The Black Dress and Cashew Chicken

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I usually write on Friday night, but last night we ate dinner down town and then went to a play.  The Jewish boy we like so well is quitting his job at the plant and is going to do a little teaching in his father's school so we took him last night.  We ate in a Chinese restaurant,  I know you would like the food.  It's really good.

Tomorrow we are going to Sully's for dinner.  It's too bad Kenneth isn't still at New London because we have to go through there.  We hear that he is in England and Ben is in South Africa.  Sully was rejected again because of his heart and he's teaching school.  We haven't seen him in a long time but had a letter last week.  He came to the store to see me the day I had the toothache but didn't have time to come to the house.

We found an apartment at last and will move next Friday.  Our address is 227 Crown St., Apt. 31.  It is in an apartment house and right in the middle of town--only about two blocks from my work.  The woman that is head of the boy's department at Malleys lives there, and she told me about it.  She helped me get it.  You haven't any idea what a job it is to find any kind of a place to live.  You almost have to have a political pull.  It is three rooms and a little entrance hall.  There are two nice closets.  The refrigerator, gas stove and heat are furnished, so we have to buy some furniture.  We had to sign a year's lease, but that didn't matter.  We have a private entrance and door bell so it will be lots nicer than what we have. We felt so lucky at finding it.

I bought a new black dress.  It's real nice--rather plain with a high neck, three quarter sleeves and a few sequins on the waist.  I have been buying my dresses at a sample shop and the clothes are made very nice and are a little cheaper.  I gave $10.95 for my dress and the seams are pinked and it has a zipper placket.

We finally got "The Robe" at the library but I can't find time to read at all.

No, B hasn't changed jobs--the other man did.

I wish I was there to help you churn so I could have a big slab of bread and butter.  We'll let you know as soon as we find out about Christmas vacation."

                     Oodles of love,
                                                   
                         B & Bonnie

Favorite Cashew Chicken

Mix & let marinate at least 30 minutes:  2 chicken breasts, cut in 1" strips, 2 T soy sauce, 2 T sherry, 2 tsp. cornstarch and 1/8 tsp. pepper.  Heat on high heat 2 T oil in wok.  Add 2 stalks celery, sliced thin.  Stir fry 1-1/2 min.  Add 1/2 c. sliced bamboo shoots, 1/2 c. sliced water chestnuts and 1/4 lb. snow peas.  Stir fry 2 min. (keep crunchy)  Remove from pan--keep warm.  Add 2 T oil to wok & heat.  Add 1/8 tsp. garlic powder and 2 green onions, chopped.  Stir fry 30 seconds.  Add chicken and marinade.  Stir fry about 5 min. till chicken is done.  Add 1 c. cashews.  Mix in vegetables.  Serve with rice.