Hot Cheesy Bean Dip

Here is the recipe for the bean dip I brought that night. I doubled it to fill up the crockpot a bit more, but here is the single recipe.

16 oz. can refried beans
1 c. salsa (I used a combo of red and green)
2 c. grated cheese (a combo of monterey jack and cheddar)
1 c. sour cream
3 oz. cream cheese, cubed
1 Tbs. chili powder

Pour all ingredients into a crockpot. Heat on high for 2 hours. Stir occasionally.
{Or I imagine you could heat it up in an 8x8 pan on 325 or 350, but I would cover it with foil so it doesn't dry out. However, it might be difficult to keep warm.)

**NOTE: I used fat-free beans, lowfat sour cream, and 1/3 less fat cream cheese. I thought it tasted great even with the "less fat" products. Just FYI.

A Town Like Alice

We had a great time (once again) at book club. Here are a few photos of what all of you women who were sick missed. We hope you are all well next month -- we missed you!

Sadly it was Catherine's last book club before her move. Here she is with Christie.

Christie, Amber & Kara enjoying the goodies.

Heidi, Britney & the cutest book clubber

Kara brought the best cupcakes! 3 kinds in fact. My favorite were the lime cupcakes with raspberry frosting. I hope the recipes will be posted soon.

Britney brought her wonderful veggie pizza and a super delicious bean dip. I didn't get a photo of the dip but that doesn't mean you don't have to post the recipe Britney!

We also had the best homemade bread and honey butter. Christie you are a remarkable baker.

Shaua contributed these lovely veggies and homemade hummus but ended up being too sick to come. There also was a chocolate cake but I didn't get a picture of that either -- but I will post the recipe.

Again we hada great time and missed those of you who weren't there.

***Remember you should be reading The Road for next month!

Here's the New Plan

Amber Cramer has been very kind and agreed to have book club at her house tomorrow night. Hooray for Amber. We'll see you all there at 7:00 tomorrow.

Change of Plans

There's a change of plans for Thursday nights book club girls. Traci's family is feeling under the weather so we are working out a different meeting place. Stay tuned and check back tonight for the new plan and please pass this message on. See you all soon.

Town Like Alice

I hope everybody is enjoying this book. I was thinking about book club this week and wondering if the person hosting would like some help (Traci, are you there?) . Since I know a bit about Australia and the uh, so-called cuisine, I thought I could sort of co-host since I never have a turn. I could make Shepherd's Pie or Trifle or something of that sort. Sorry, I don't roast lamb so you won't be getting that one... Anyway, just a thought.

I love, love, love, this book so when Christie told me that Nancy Turner was going to be reading at the Provo Library I marked my calendar. Shauna, Christie & I went. Christie gives a great run down below.

We had a great time. After she spoke she signed our books and we took a picture with her. It's so funny before blogging I never would have done that but we all wanted to put it on the book club blog -- how very nerdy of us! Well, we look even nerdier in the picture below!!!

I laughed so hard when I saw this picture! We seriously look like we are standing 6 feet behind her! It looks like we snuck up and just took the picture when she wasn't looking -- well, I guess she is smiling, so that looks like she knew her picture is being taken. But it does look like she didn't know we were in it!

Book Club Trio Meets Famous Author

Shauna, Heidi, and Christie met Nancy Turner, author of These Is My Words, at the Provo City Library Saturday. She was funny and the artichoke dip was yummy!

Shauna's favorite quote from Turner's keynote address was something her fiction writing teacher had told her. "There is truth in fiction that is truer than facts."

It turns out that Turner didn't even take a college class until her own children were enrolled. She graduated with a triple major (music, art, and creative writing) without ever taking the required algebra or entrance exams!

Her first writing assignment in college ended up being the first chapter of These Is My Words. She never met her great grandma, Sarah Prine, but when her grandma read her book, she said it was as if Turner had known her.

She told the story of getting her book published. Editor: It's good, but too long. Publisher: It's good, but you need to explain things more. Second Editor: It good, but it's too long... After shortening it and lengthening it several times, she ended up printing pretty much her original novel.

When asked if she's sold the rights for a movie, she said she sent a copy of her book to Robert Redford, but he hadn't gotten back to her yet, so if we see him, we should ask him about it. She said Mel Gibson was going to do it, but then the next day he went into rehab.

Heidi will be posting the photo taken after Turner's book signing. Note Christie sporting her official Book Club sweater.

Spain Recipes

Bruschetta

Bruschetta core ingredients:
Fresh mozzarella, cubed
Fresh or sun dried tomatoes, chopped
Virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Fresh basil, chopped or shredded
Artisan bread, lightly brushed with olive oil and broiled on both sides

Optional mix-ins:
Artichoke hearts
Olives
Crisp cucumber, sliced
Crushed garlic
Fresh rosemary, fresh oregano, or fresh thyme
Herbed soft cheese (to spread on already toasted bread slices before topping with mixture).

Notes: Blend of sauce is approximately 4 parts vinegar:1 part oil, or to taste. Fresh herbs are highly recommended and are added to taste. Basil is most traditional but others may be substituted. Garlic can be toasted on the bread and infused olive oils work really well with this recipe. Another option is to put the toppings/sauce on the toasted bread and put it back in the oven until cheese is bubbly.


Pear Hors D'oeuvres

I just used what I had and didn't measure anything, but here are the estimates:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
1/8 tsp pepper
a couple pears, peeled and sliced
french baguette, sliced

stir together ingredients for spread onto bread and top with pears.

Tortilla Espanola

(To make it look prettier, we should have made it in smaller batches, and then you'd cut it like a pie). Once again, I didn't use a recipe, so here are the estimates:

5-6 potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 eggs
an onion, chopped
garlic to taste
salt to taste
lot o' olive oil!

Saute the onion with garlic in olive oil, set aside

Fry potatoes in olive oil until done, but not browned. Blot on paper towels. Crack eggs and beat. Add salt, garlic and onions. Add potatoes and cook in pan until brown on bottom. Flip and cook 'til brown on bottom and done through the middle.

Leche Frita
http://www.spain-recipes.com/leche-frita.html (Thanks to Chefi Hawley)

I really enjoyed preparing this food and sharing it with you. Thanks for coming and lifting my spirits! I'm grateful to get together with such wonderful people!

Fun was had by all!

We had a great time last night and missed all of you that couldn't come.

The food was fantastic. The company was even better! I had a great time and I think everyone else did too!

(I didn't get a great photo of the food b/c by the time I took it, we had devoured most of it. Hopefully Christie will put hers on.)
Here are a few of the highlights.

Brenda, Britney, Christie, (& Liam)

Amber, Kara, and Shauna
(p.s. I love your sweater Kara!)
Enjoying some of the delectable pear goodies!

And now for the clincher....

Wait for it.....


Wait for it....


Wait for it......


Ta duh!

It was love at first bite for Rebecca and Heidi!

Seriously folks, all of the food was terrific, but especially those little morsels of pear deliciousness. Myles even made us a second batch. (Ooooh,...and dessert! I don't know the name of them, but the custard bites and hot chocolate--YUM!!!)

Truth be told, we missed talking with those of you that didn't come, but we weren't really missing you while we were eating -- more for us, less that we had to share. :)
Oh, and I think everyone that read the book liked it! :) It was fun to talk about!
Thanks again for hosting Christie! It was a great night!

Book Club Tonight
At Christie's Home
7:00

Shadow of the Wind will be reviewed by Rebecca

See you there!

Sausage & Lentil Soup

This is one of those recipes I play with a little. Sometimes I use chicken stock instead of or as part of the water. Sometimes I just throw in "Italian Seasoning" instead of the other spices. I have also added fresh parsley at the end and I like that too. This recipe makes the same size pot we had at book club (serves about 10) so you may want to cut in in half for your family. It tastes really good with crunchy bread and some Romano cheese on top.

1 lb Sweet Italian sausage
1 large onion chopped
1 stalk celery (chopped fine)
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 cup carrot (chopped fine)
1 16 oz pkg dried lentils
8 cups water
6 tsp chicken bullion
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried basil
1 tsp salt -- or to taste
1/2 tsp pepper -- or to taste

Rinse lentils and set aside.

Brown the sausage in your stock pot -- remove. Add the onion celery and carrot and sauté until tender -- as the veggies "sweat" scrape off the good brown bit of sausage off the bottom.

Add the sausage back into the pot with the water, lentils and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and then reduce and simmer for about 45 min.

Serve and enjoy!

Here are a few photos of the shindig...


My camera just did not take good photo's of the food - Robyn I hope you did better!

Chantel (YEAH!), Amber, Shauna, Kara & Robyn

Mariana, Brenda (Liam) & Christie

Britney & Bethany

The group

Aren't they so beautiful in purple?

This is during the white elephant portion of the party -- just after Christie tucked her "delicates" back into the bag. I was laughing too hard -- so I missed the shot of her blushing. But I do love Chantel in this picture!

Ahhhh the coveted McDonald's chair

The sign on the tree reads "loser" -- enough said

And finally...it looks like Kara had a little too much to "wassail".