Three Weissmans of Westport

The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine was selected by Abbie.  She hoped it would be a light and fun read at a difficult time.  It was a bit more serious then she had wished. Set in Connecticut it is a story of a mother and her two adult daughters and their struggles both separately and with each other.  People liked it and it was a good conversation starter. The lesson learned was not to take even a moment with the ones you love for granted.

The Cocktail

For the cocktail we took a recipe for a Connecticut Bullfrog and modified it for our friends who do not care for gin. We named it after the central location of the novel.

The Westport

Makes one if using a one ounce shot glass

·       2 parts vodka

·       1 part white rum

·       1 part fresh squeezed lemon juice

·       1 part maple syrup

In the interest of serving a group we mixed one cup vodka with one fourth cup of the other ingredients in a pitcher and shook in a cocktail shaker to chill.  Strain and serve.

The Appetizers 

What is the best accessory to a cocktail these days? Roasted garbanzo beans! These are crunchy snacks that are actually good for you and people LOVE them. To make:

·      Prepare a one pound bag of garbanzo beans according to directions.  This means starting 1 to two days ahead to allow for soaking and then boiling.

·      Drain the beans in a colander until most of the moisture is gone

·      Toss the beans with two to three table spoons of olive oil

·      Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with kosher salt or seasoning of your choice

·      Bake at 350° for approximately 45 minutes.  Stirring every 15 minutes.  The cooking time varies.  You want them crispy not burned!

If you do not have time to cook the beans from scratch canned beans will work too.  Just drain really well.

The Meal

The menu for the evening featured Red Curry Sloppy Joes. These were featured in our favorite magazine, Sunset. These work really well for entertaining because you can make the slaw the night before, it is actually better when it sits for several hours or more.  Also, you can cook the meat mixture ahead and let it simmer on low.  Double the recipe though.  They are that good!

When all else fails Talenti gelato and sparkling Cava are a perfect way to end the night. Our favorite flavors are the Caribbean Coconut and Sea Salt Caramel but we are not picky!

Hosting next is Skylar with All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.