FCM Book Club: Did Someone Say Charleston...

Against the sumptuous backdrop of Charleston, South Carolina, South of Broad gathers a unique group of sinners and saints and we mean the characters in the book and not the members of book club...however the description could fit for both. 

This month's book club was hosted by the lovely Jamie McDaniel. She prepared a delightful meal of shrimp, crab cakes, bruschetta,  benne wafers, and cucumber sandwiches. All going along with the theme of the book. She also made a delicious dessert with strawberries and rhubarb.  

Regardless of some of the rumors, we all take book club very seriously and spend a better part of the time we have together discussing the book. 

There was so much to discuss in South of Broad it took  several rounds of drinks and two bottles of wine to get through it all. 

FCM Book club Members

Recipes from May's Book club

Bruschetta

8 Roma (plum) tomatoes
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/4 tspn salt

2 cloves minced garlic

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 tspn freshly ground black pepper

Jamie's notes: This is the recipe I followed, but I told you I don't measure things ever, so I know I added way more balsamic and olive oil, cause I love it, and I used sea salt. 

Strawberry Rhubarb Fool

1 pint strawberries, sliced

2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

4 tablespoons orange juice
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound rhubarb, washed and sliced in 1/2 inch pieces, about 4 cups

Preparation:

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine rhubarb with orange juice and sugar. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes. Cover and continue cooking for 5 minutes longer, until the rhubarb mixture is very soft. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.

Beat cream in an ice cold bowl until it begins to thicken. Beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and continue to beat until soft peaks form. Layer some of the rhubarb mixture and some sliced strawberries, then a layer of whipped cream, repeating until the fruit and cream are used. This will make about 4 servings, depending on the size of your dessert dishes. 

2012 Bucket List: Cheese & Wine....What more could you need?

If you haven't had the opportunity to have Ballard's Golden Greek Grilling Cheese you are missing out. It is so good that it deserved its own celebration. Golden Greek has to be one of the most unique and tastiest cheeses...and it is LOCAL(if you live in Idaho)!

Golden Greek is easy to find and is perfect for an appetizer as a main dish, which is what we did. All you do is put it in a skillet for a few minutes on each side until it starts to turn a golden brown color. The amazing thing about this cheese is that it doesn't melt. We served it with a variety of different fruits but it can also be served on a sandwich or hamburger. 


If you need a second and third opinion these two ladies are sure to back us up. 

Thanks for coming over Katie!

We are working our way through all of the things we wanted to do in 2012 and at the top of this list was a cheese and wine get together! We can mark that one off even though I am sure we will have to revisit it since it was such fun!