May Book Club is Moving

May Book Club will still be at Rebecca's home -- but due to her class schedule we will be having it on Tuesday May 12th instead. She will send out an e-mail with directions for everyone.

Like Kara said "more time to finish the book!" (Papillon)

See you there!

Bookclub at Shauna's soup

Thanks everyone for enjoying the soup so much. It's been one of my favorites for a while.

When I lived in Guatemala, a friend of ours from Mexico came to do business in San Pedro about once every 6 months and we would bug her to cook for us everytime. I was always hungry while living there, the black beans and tortillas just didn't cut it all the time.

Here's my attempt at writing it down:
Juanita's chicken soup

1 lb. of chicken thighs (cut into 1" pieces)
2 large white onions (finely chopped)
4 (or more) garlic cloves (minced)
2 T. butter
1 T. Cinnamon
1/2 Cayenne pepper or to taste (if you aren't a super spicey person I would be careful with this ingredient, I toned it down for bookclub)
2 t. Cumin

Saute all of the above until onions are translucent (add garlic at the end) then add the following to the pan

4 C. chicken broth (you may need more)
juice from half a lime
1 t. salt or to taste (check chicken broth for sodium content)
1/2 t. black pepper
2 cans of garbonzo beans (I prefer S&W, it makes a difference)

I like to garnish it with different things such as ripe avacados, extra wedges of lime, chopped cilantro, julienne some radishes and/or carrots, finely chopped red onions, scallions, tortilla chips and maybe some queso fresca.

When Juanita made this she used the whole chicken and black beans. I've just made it more "Shauna" friendly. I don't really like to see the bones unless I have to and I think the garbonzo beans give it all a better texture but you can do as you like. Call me for any questions. Sorry it's taken me so long but I had to make it again and try to halfway measure it all out. Enjoy.

Book Club at My House

Come to book club at my house this Thursday at 7:00 for food, folks, and fun. I just finished A Prayer for Owen Meany this morning, and I'm excited to discuss it. If you wouldn't mind responding to let me know if you're coming, that would be nice for planning purposes. See you all soon!

A Prayer for Owen Meany

Don't forget book club is now the FIRST Thursday of each month.

You should be finishing...

We'll see you there!

Book Club @ Shauna's

Last night we all gathered at Shauna's for delicious food and a great discussion of The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I wanted to show you the new paperback cover with a shot from the upcoming movie. I really enjoyed discussing this book and I think every one liked the book. At least no one said they hated it. (I am really tempted not to use any punctuation in this post)

Of course the food was delicious as always. Shauna set a beautiful table and her signature mood lighting didn't allow the best pictures from my sad little camera. So I am sorry that the photos are a little fuzzy. Robyn you will have to take them next time.

I absolutely LOVED the soup. Now Shauna I know you said you don't have an "exact recipe" for the soup but you need to try and give us a recipe -- it was soooooo good. Thanks Amber for the nice touch with the ladle.

Yummy topping for the soup!

I should have gotten a shot of the cake on a plate with the wonderful buttermilk syrup on top. It was superb.

And now for everyones favorite part...

Britney, Liam & Brenda Sue

Shauna, Bethany & Stephanie

Bethany & Stephanie will be adding new book club members soon!

Christie, Kara & Amber

Rebecca, Robyn & Heidi

Thanks Shauna for hosting! We had a great time -- stayed to late and talked about some very interesting things!

See you all next month at Kara's. You should be reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It's a longer book so don't put it off.

*** Also we decided that we will now meet on the first Thursday of each month -- so we'll see you on April 2nd! ***

Surprise Cake

Here is the recipe for the chocolate cake I brought last month. It is super easy and I have to say that I love, love, love the topping.

1 chocolate cake mix, prepared as box directs
1 pkg cream cheese (8 oz)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup chocolate chips
dash of salt

Prepare the cake mix and pour the batter in a greased & floured 9x13 pan.

Cream together the cream cheese, sugar, egg & salt. Add the chocolate chips.

Drop the cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls onto the cake mix. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Topping
1 small box vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups milk
1 container Cool Whip ( 8 0z)

Mix the pudding and milk together then fold in Cool Whip. Spread on cake only when the cake is cool.

Big Ooops Part 2

OK Shauna needs some more help. Just to clarify the clarification...

Book Club WILL be on Thursday the 5th.
It ends up this day works out better for a few people.
So come to her house at 7:00 for some good food
and to discuss a good book!

Love your guts Shauna!

Big Oops

Heidi called to let me know I had the wrong date!
Sorry everyone!!! The date should read March 12th rather than the 6th!
This is why I need a secretary. Thanks Heidi for you help.
I hope this date's still okay.

Come on over to Shauna's

Book club is at my house this month
We've been reading 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy
We're meeting at 7:00 on Thursday, March 6th
Also, if you please, RSVP here on the commentary page so I know how much food to prepare
Can't wait to see you

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.