Hi Ladies - so sorry I didn't do minutes from the January book club meeting - it was awesome!! Mia made delicious homemade red sauce over pasta and crusty bread. Leighton and Stephanie brought evil-delicious brownies. Everything was DELICIOUS!!
The book was Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides and it got some pretty mixed reviews. People either loved it or hated it. I, for one, am always up for a book about a penis, no matter how tiny. The book discussion spurned all types of colorful side-discussions: anatomy and physiology of the hermaphrodite; how could this appendage possibly have been missed by a physician or a mother, for God's sake; Hoarders, the program on A&E, of which Ana, Mia's sister, pulled off a spot-on re-enactment of one toddler's clutter-loving mom.
We killed a few tasty bottles of wine and talked about the recipe for Mia's red sauce (below). It was a great evening down-southa-town!! Thanks for hosting, Mia!
Courtesy of Rachel Ray: Cherry Tomato Sauce (I know, I’m obsessed with it, but it goes on everything!)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
2 pints cherry tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped
Salt and pepper
½ quart chicken stock (2 cups)
1 cup basil leaves, torn
2 scallions, whites and greens, chopped
A chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, for shaving
Crusty bread, for dunking
Preparation
In a large, deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid or a Dutch oven, heat the EVOO, two turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Stir in the cherry tomatoes and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the tomatoes burst and a thick sauce forms, 7-8 minutes.
Add the chicken stock (add additional water if you prefer) and bring to a boil. Let simmer for a few more minutes. Remove from the heat and wilt in the basil; stir in the scallions.
** Mia’s addition: Add it to whatever floats your boat! Shave delicious parmesan and dunk bread in it, throw it over pasta or veggies or even chicken and turkey!
February's book was The Lucky One, by Nicholas Sparks. Lisa was our hostess and served mimosas, egg & sausage casserole, Sunday brought muffins with chocolate chips and frozen raspberries, and I brought coffee cake made with fresh raspberries. We visited about the book for a short bit, discussing how it wasn't like most of his other books - this one had a twist right at the very, very end - although it was almost exactly like one of his other books. So apparently he has a typical style, but varied it for two books, which are almost exactly alike. Silly Nicholas Sparks. Thank goodness you are easy to look at, or we'd have a serious problem with this literary misstep.
Also discussed: school supplies lists are intended to get the school year started, but need to be replenished throughout the school year. If you have a problem with this, please just don't donate. There is no need to send a snotty-ass email to the room parent relaying a freaking request. Shana's criminal boyfriend-wannabe; peewee baseball coaches tend to be obsessed with their craft; scrapbooking retreat weekend options. We kept it fairly clean this time (it WAS a morning meeting, after all). It was wonderful - thank you, Lisa!!
March's book is The Help by Kathryn Stockett - If you haven't started reading it, yet - you're missing out! It's a wonderful book!! I can't wait to get together and discuss this one.
Also, I wanted to send you a link to another book that looks interesting:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Scloot. We might want to consider talking about this one at a future meeting. Otherwise, it just looks like a great in-between-meetings read. Enjoy!
