2014 Book List

2014 Burlington Book Club List

GREAT BOOKS – SELECTED:
Jill
Beach Strip by Reynolds, John Lawrence – February 13 th

Moira
Let The Great World Spin by McCann, Colum – April 3rd

Jane
Life After Life by Atkinson, Kate – May 15th

Karen
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt – June 26th

Laura
The Orenda by Boyden, Joseph – Sept 18th

Bev
One Summer: America, 1927 by Bryson, Bill – October 30th

Josee
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Munro, Alice – December 11th

Jeanne
Falling Backwards: A Memoir by Arden, Jann – January 22nd

Erin
The Red Queen by Margaret Drabble – March 26th, 2015 ( note change )

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Laura’s Book – December 5th 2013

Joe and Kate Ruttledge have come to Ireland from London in search of a different life. In passages of beauty and truth, the drama of a year in their lives and those of the memorable characters that move about them unfolds through the action, the rituals of work, religious observances and play. We are introduced, with deceptive simplicity, to a complete representation of existence – an enclosed world has been transformed into an Everywhere.

imageand the dinner, simple and delicious!!

baguette and cheeses, wine of course:)

Roasted chicken with carrots, turnip and mashed potato and then carrot cake and coffee with Irish Cream, for those with any room left!

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omg pralines

Thanks Jane!image

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Texas Pralines

Original recipe makes 56 pralines nonstick cooking spray 2 cups white sugar 2 cups light corn syrup 1 pound butter 2 cups heavy cream 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 8 cups pecans – I used 6 because that is what I had Directions Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil. Coat with nonstick cooking spray. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and corn syrup. Heat to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Gradually stir in cream. Return to heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until temperature reaches 242 degrees F (116 degrees C). Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and pecans. Drop by spoonful onto prepared pans. Cool completely, then wrap with plastic.

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Texas Caviar with Avocado

  • Original recipe makes 32 servings
  • 2 (15.5 ounce) cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped jalapeno peppers
  • 8 fluid ounces Italian dressing
  • cayenne pepper to taste
  • 2 avocados – peeled, pitted, and chopped

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, mix black-eyed peas, tomatoes, sweet onion, jalapeno peppers, Italian dressing, and cayenne pepper. Stir in the avocados just before serving.

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Boudreaux’s Zydeco Stomp Gumbo

From All Recipes

Original recipe makes 10 serving
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – chopped
  • 1/2 pound pork sausage links, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 3 quarts chicken broth
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottlebeer
  • 6 stalks celery, diced
  • 4 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
  • 1 sweet onion, sliced
  • 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, with liquid
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh red chile peppers
  • 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup Cajun seasoning
  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

Directions

  1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat, and cook chicken until no longer pink and juices run clear. Stir in sausage, and cook until evenly browned. Drain chicken and sausage, and set aside.
  2. In a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, blend olive oil and flour to create a roux. Stir constantly until browned and bubbly. Mix in garlic, and cook about 1 minute.
  3. Gradually stir chicken broth and beer into the roux mixture. Bring to a boil, and mix in celery, tomatoes, sweet onion, diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, red chile peppers, parsley, and Cajun seasoning. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 40 minutes, stirring often.
  4. Mix chicken, sausage, and shrimp into the broth mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, about 20 minutes.

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Let’s Pretend this Never Happened – Jenny Lawson

Lots of discussions and opinions about this book and the impact of social media on our society, literature, children, politics and cook books.  As always, wonderful night with wonderful friends.

Menu included Texan caviar, Boudreaux Zydeco Stomp Gumbo and Texan pralines.

 

Image

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“Wild” by Cheryl Strayed

imageimageWonderful night at Moira’s with the usual wide ranging discussion about loss and finding yourself and whether we would like Cheryl in person and shingles and making big moves physically and mentally all complemented by a California inspired menu and a S’mores cake.

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Jill’s rhubarb and apple crisp

I found this recipe online, googling rhubarb and apple crisp, and it’s from the heart and stroke foundation, so should be healthy.
Rhubarb Apple Crisp. 6 servings. (as we were 8 I adjusted the margerine and flour, the rest I kept the same.)
Ingredients-filling
150 ml (2/3 cup) granulated sugar
50 ml (1/4 cup) all purpose flour
5 ml (1teasp) grated lemon rind
I L (4 cups) fresh or frozen (thawed) rhubarb cut into 1 cm (1/2″) pieces.(I used fresh)
1 L (4 cups) sliced granny smith apples.
 (this recipe didn’t ask for a specific type apple, but others had mentioned granny smith’s so I went with them)
Ingredients-topping
175 ml (3/4 cup) quick cooking rolled oats (not instant)
75 ml (1/3 cup) packed brown sugar
50 ml (3 tbsp) whole wheat flour (I used 3/4 cup, 3 tbsp didn’t seem enough)
5 ml (1 tsp) cinnamon
25 ml (2 tbsp) non-hydrogenated soft margerine, melted
(I used 4 tbsp, 2 didn’t seem to be enough)
Directions. Filling.
1. In bowl, combine sugar,flour and lemon rind; mix well.
2. Add rhubarb and apples, stir to mix.
3. spoon into 2 L (8 cup) baking dish.
Directions Topping.
1.In bowl, combine rolled oats, sugar, flour and cinnamon.
2. Add melted margerine and stir to mix; sprinkle over filling.
3. Bake in 190C (375F) for 40-50 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is brown.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
(I froze mine and reheated in oven when I had the meats cooking..it seemed to freeze well.)
 Enjoy.
Take care,
Jill.

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Matterhorn – Karen Lomas – with fixed video link

imageA wonderful book and discussion. Fantastic atmospheric night with fantastic pho and vietnamese lettuce wraps all served in a very realistic mess tent pitched in Karen’s beautiful backyard.

John lomas created a short video of our evening (thanks to Erin and Jane for the pictures). Check it out. Turn on your speakers too!

Matterhorn Bookclub YouTube

Karen Lomas

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