“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!”
—Matt
Remember the Raisin
I remember getting those little red boxes of raisins as special treats when going on road trips. I would have much rather gotten M&Ms or some other candy, but raisins were better than nothing, I guess.
When we moved overseas, I learned that dried fruit had a more prominent role in many recipes than I felt comfortable with. We had been invited to a family’s home for a special formal meal, and she was making her family favorite dish. I tried my best to disguise my “scared, surprised” face with a “pleasantly surprised” face as the hostess lifted the cover on the hot main serving platter – it was prune chicken.
One dish my sons would never swallow were pocket sandwich that they were served that were filled with fish and raisins. In traveling around America when back, I have learned that people now add dried fruit to tossed salads, but bacon bits do taste much better.
While traveling towards Indiana when back in the States and looking for a stop, we saw a National Historic Site in Monroe, MI. It was the site of the River Raisin Massacre. It was a terrible battle that happened in the much-forgotten War of 1812. Four hundred and ten people were killed, nearly 100 wounded and 547 captured in the worst battle for the Americans of that war. A war cry to mobilize and motivate the American troops was, “Remember the Raisin!”
The War of 1812 was just four years before Indiana was founded. One important politician and soldier who died at River Raisin was John Allen. Three states (Michigan, Ohio and Indiana) decided to honor him by naming a county after him.
For those living in “John Allen’s County” and who largely have no idea where the name Allen came from, “Remember the Raisin,” just don’t mix them in recipes, and eat M&Ms and bacon bits if you have that option.
Something similar ever happen to you? Contact me and let me hear your story!
mattsmishaps@gmail.com Matt’s Mishaps, PO BOX 114, Grabill, IN 46741
