Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Our Christmas Party





We had a great time - Thanks Brenda for hosting!




Brenda & Heidi



Brenda & Britney cooking up a storm in the kitchen.  The lettuce wraps were super tasty!



Britney & Shannon



Kara & Shauny



Christie, Mariana & Bethany




Here is a sampling of our spread.  There was so much good food!
I hope that recipes will follow soon!





















 Let the games begin!






 Who doesn't want an electrified fly swatter?





 Beans, Gas-X and air freshener - a perfect gift for Brenda! (And for Bethany who stole it from her!)





 In case you were wondering what Christie found hidden in her house 6 months ago and saved for the white elephant exchange --  it was money from a ward auction held 100 years ago!  Too funny!! The bills all had members of the former bishopric on them.  Britney tried to use them at Allen's.





 Ahhh and now we get to the Snuggie -- the most stolen item.








I hear that shannon used this festive serving set Christmas Eve.

I know I am so very tardy in this post - sorry!  But I had a great time and can't wait for a new year and new books!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Voting for New Books

Will we be voting in Feb.?

Has anyone read The Hunger Games? I've heard it's good. I noticed in the Goodreads newsletter today that its sequel, Catching Fire, won first pick for 2009.

Monday, January 4, 2010

January Twenty Ten Bookclub

(Shauna) I'm a bit behind "the times" I suppose but I thought
our bookclub night was still on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
Apparently not, it is now the 1st Thursday. Anyway, I planned on Thursday January 14th (which is the 2nd Thursday) and I'm hoping that will be okay with everyone???
If so, we will meet to discuss
'North and South' by Elizabeth Gaskell on January 14th, 7 p.m. @Shauna's house.
I think you all have been to my house but if you need directions
let me know. If anyone cares to RSVP here I'd really appreciate the
heads up so that I can plan for food. Just leave your name in the comments section.
Hope to see you for a little R and R

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Party!



RSVP for book club and let us know what you are bringing below... see you Thursday!
Brenda will be e-mailing her address & directions soon.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Menu details...

After much discussion and deliberation, I've decided that our evening will be utterly fabulous if we attend to some minor menu details first!

Our own Mrs. Watson has delighted us once with her Pear Crostini and has decided to bring that for us once again. I, your happy hostess, have chosen to go with more of a main dish/appetizer goodie that I know you will all love. P. F. Chang's uses my recipe for these scrumptious little darlings I like to call Lettuce Wraps!

So, that brings us to the rest of you ladies and what you may decide to bring...


I think we should try to bring 4 sweet treats and 4 or so savory treats to compliment our night. In the comments please reveal to us your plans for your unique addition to our menu. Keep an eye on what others are planning so we have a good variety...thanks ladies! See you all Thursday night!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Christmas Party...


Since Christie has displayed just how on-the-ball she is with the post below, I decided to provide a heads-up to let all you gals know that we plan to post a sign-up sheet by weekend so that we have an idea of what everyone plans to bring! (How was that for a run-on sentence?) Christie is bringing the yumdiddlyicious pear delight she served when she hosted last. Looking forward to lots of good eats and conversation! Plus some even better laughs when we open our "white elephant" gifts! Love to you ladies...can't wait to see you all!

Christmas Par-tay Food

Just to help coordinate with the food menu, I was thinking about making the pears hors d'oevres with the blue cheese and walnuts that I made last time I hosted.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Myles Meyer

It looks like we have a new author to invite to our next discussion, ladies. In honor of New Moon coming out this weekend, BYU sponsored a "try to write as cheesy as Stephanie Meyers" contest. With over 150 entries, there were 3 winners, 1 honorable mention and 3 fav. lines.

For date night, Myles and I came up with a submission. His last line was one of the 3 favorites!

The moment our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat like a drunk drummer. I relished the shivers sent down my spine, like atoms of mercury racing for the thermometer’s bulb. His chilling rendition of “Ice, Ice, baby” had pierced me with its frigid beauty. His song froze on his lips; silence reigned. My mind was spinning like Disney on Ice. How would he react to my daring intrusion into his hidden world? But when, at last, I heard him whisper my name, his effervescent charm melted my trepidation like the spring thaw after a cruel winter.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Recipes a comin...

Ok ladies... I know I am slow... but persistent ;)

So here are the recipes from our Nov. Bookclub:

Hot Dip (This was the mushroom dip... maybe it should be called Hot Mushroom Dip)

3 slices bacon
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into
cubes
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions:
1.
Place bacon slices in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry until crisp. Remove bacon, crumble and set aside. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings.
2.
Add mushrooms, onion and garlic to the bacon drippings, and cook over medium heat, stirring, until tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
3.
Sprinkle the flour, salt, and pepper over the top, and stir to blend. Mix in cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Reduce heat to low, and stir until cream cheese is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the sour cream and bacon. Serve warm.
Personally, this was my favorite new recipe. I am thinking of taking it to Thanksgiving Dinner...


Penne with Chicken and Pesto

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves -
cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup pesto
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
1.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2.
Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken and garlic until chicken is almost cooked. Reduce heat and stir in salt, pepper, cream, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in cooked pasta.

I think this was good, but it's subtle flavors seemed overwhelmed by the strong flavors in the other dishes.

White Chocolate Fruit Tart

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
FILLING:
1 (10 ounce) package vanilla or white chips,
melted and cooled
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,
softened
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks,
undrained
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
2 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
GLAZE:
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions:
1.
In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour; mix well. Press into an ungreased 11-in. tart pan with removable bottom or 12-in. pizza pan with sides. Bake at 300 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
2.
For filling, in a small mixing bowl, beat melted chips and cream. Add cream cheese and beat until smooth. Spread over crust. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Drain pineapple, reserving 1/2 cup juice; set juice aside. Arrange the pineapple, strawberries, oranges and kiwi over filling.
3.
For glaze, in a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in lemon juice and reserved pineapple juice until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool; brush over fruit. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.
I did not do the glaze on the fruit tart as many of the reviews suggested not using it. As a side note, I found all three of these recipes from AllRecipes.com.

You girls are the best! Enjoy!

Friday, November 6, 2009

November Book Club

Last night was another great book club. This time hosted by Bethany. We had delicious food and great conversation. From what I could tell everyone really liked the book -- so we recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Here are a few photos from the night...

Bethany, Shannon & Krsitie

Just look at how beautiful this salad is!

Hopefully Bethany will post the recipe for this spread before the holiday party season begins, it was sooo good!

Bethany also made this delicious pasta for us. We ate and ate & talked and talked -- in other words a perfect night.


Mariana & Shauna
(wait is that a woman in white behind them?)

Kara, Heidi & Shannon

I was too busy eating my dessert to take a picture of it. But here is a picture of the tart Mariana made with the last bit of ingredients. Don't you love the happy face! This is another recipe I am anxiously awaiting.



Britney, Robyn & Shauny

Mariana was feeling left out of the pink scarf club.
Mariana, Brenda & Kristie

Christy & Bethany

We had a great time and are looking forward to the Christmas Party. I for one can't wait to see just what white elephant gift Christy has been holding on to for 6 months!

Thursday, November 5, 2009



Merry Christmas !
Yes, it's that much anticipated time of year when we get a break from all our great reading to concentrate on all our great eating!!!

Book Club Christmas Party
December 10, 2009
Brenda's house
(I'll email my address & phone number)

Bring your tummy's growlin and your eye's twinklin and we'll share in some festive holiday goodies and good company!
Don't forget your "white elephant" gift.)

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Woman in White




Don't forget book club tomorrow night!!