The Past, The Present, and The Controversial

Lucky for James Frey (since he is a regular RBTW reader ;) the writer of this blog loves Million Little Pieces, even if Oprah did rip him a new one on National Television. Weither it's all lies or the truth or partly truth-full, some of us just love this book. For some reason every Book Club this book seems to come up...not sure why? Personally I think it's because it's that good. I would recommend this book to anyone, still to this day. Take that Sigs Big O.

How is everyone coming along with Oscar Wao?

Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend, relax, rest, rejuvenate and READ!

Friendship

I would like to take a moment to discuss the love our Book Club has for each other. Whether we meet as college friends, coworkers, grade school friends, or through Book Club, we can all agree we've all found some great new friendships. Even if we don't always agree on Million Little Pieces certain topics, we can agree on this one thing.


This picture really captures a moment with some BC love. ;)

Sorry if this post is lesbian-ish (not that there is anything wrong with that).

Friday Pop Quiz #3

This time a quote...name the BC member that said this in the year 2000.

Police Officer: "How much had you had to drink that night?"
BC member: "About 8 or 9 glasses of wine, around three-fourths of a box."

Recipes from May BC

Salsa-Baked Goat Cheese

1/4 cup pine nuts or coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 4-ounce log goat cheese (there are flavored goat cheeses available, some of which can be good with the salsa, but think about the flavor combination before making your purchase)
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup Roasted Jalapeño-Tomato Salsa (use Frontera Double Roasted Salsa at Whole Foods/Jewel)
A tablespoon or so chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread out the nuts on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven until lightly browned and very fragrant, 7 or 8 minutes (the pine nuts will brown quicker than either of the others). Remove and slide them off into a medium-size bowl.
2. Add the cheeses to the bowl and combine thoroughly with the nuts. Scoop it in the center of a baking dish (I like to use a decorative 9-inch pie pan) and form it into a 5-inch-diameter disk. Spoon the salsa over and around the cheese. Place the dish in the oven and bake until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle on the cilantro and set it out for your guests to enjoy as a dip or a spread.

Mini Taco Bites

1 pkg wonton wrappers
1 lb 80/20 ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
½ c salsa
¾ c shredded cheese
1 T chopped cilantro
2 T sour cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Press wonton wrappers into mini-muffin cups and bake for about 6 mins (check frequently)…you want them to begin to crisp but not too brown.

Cook beef in skillet until browned. Drain off fat. Stir in taco seasoning mix, salsa, and ½ c cheese. Spoon beef mixture into wonton cups. Top with another sprinkling of cheese. Bake about 8 minutes more or until tips of wonton are brown and crispy. Garnish with cilantro a dollop of sour cream.

Thanks Jamie!!

Cubs "Game Day"

We have discussed doing a Wrigley fake Game Day.

There aren't many Saturday home games.

Our best bets are:

July 17 12:05p
July 24 12:05p
August 7 12:05p
August 21 3:30p

Thoughts? Let's pick a date, so we can all save the date.

Seis de Mayo

Thanks for a great May Book Club Jamie!! The food was awesome and the addition of Maragiritas really added something special. It all really came together with the late surprise of Jalapeno Popper Dip. Delish!

This month the romance novel book received good reviews. Everyone was reluctant to come out and say "I loved this book." But I think some of us did, it was a good turn-of-the century sexual obsession, madness, and murder Soap Opera type book. If that is what you needed this month then that is what you got. Definitely a good beach summer read, although you may not want your Grandma or tween niece reading it over your shoulder, some parts get a little steamy. Reading on the el or bus did become embarrassing, or for some faint-worthy.

Looks like the Hostess had fun...

Topics of conversation included surgery and all things medical, weddings, crazies on the el, day drinking, hair removal (shocker!), boyfriends (again-shocker!), The Hills, bartering for liquor prices, Modern Family, drinking at work, Olivia from The City, and cheese.

We also discussed the numerous amount of "Group Coupons" websites that are out there now-a-days...Groupons, Two Bucks, Living Social, You Swoop and Foxling. Whew- that's a lot of coupons!

Favorite Quotes:

"She is broo-zook."

"She was giving birth to a VAMPIRE baby!" (in defense of why you would faint on the el reading Twilight.)

"So you were sitting on the ground?" "No the platform." "Ok so the ground."

"Nice to know you can drink over half a handle of pre-mix margs and be functional the next day!" (actual post-BC but it's good to know)

What a fun night! Some of us should read up on party etiquette, if you are the first to arrive maybe you shouldn't be the last to leave. Oops.