FCM Bookclub: Wild

Our meeting to discuss the book Wild by Cheryl Stand was hosted by Jamie at her parents beautiful Syrup Creek home.  We were delighted to have Jamie's mother, Kris, join us for dinner and the discussion. To start the evening Abbie took us on a Wild-esque tour of the dirt roads of Elmore County! She said she knew where she was going! Well, she did not.  After dirt roads, spotty (at best) cellular service, some cows and a late arrival (45 minutes!!) we were ready for a stiff drink and had a better appreciation for Cheryl's journey (even though we were in a car, our feet did not hurt, and we had eaten plenty of food that day)! Ok, it was not really the same at all.

Kris served Champagne cocktails with raspberries from her own garden!

Sticking with a Fall theme rather than the awful food documented in the book Jamie served a pumpkin crème sauce over stuffed ravioli.  A fresh green salad with vinaigrette and hot rolls rounded out the meal.  A decadent cheesecake was for dessert…Thanks to Jamie’s hunk of a dad, Mike Taylor!

Poppy made a new friend!

Thank you ladies for the wonderful time! We missed Katie this meeting but don’t worry she is BACK for the next two! Go see the movie Wild staring Reese Witherspoon openeing December 5th. Next up is Abbie hosting a brunch for What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.

Margaritas and Chili Verde

Every fall Abbie has one request for her birthday dinner, Josh's delicious Chili Verde. To make this dinner even better the tomatillos were harvested that day from our garden.

Garlic from My Dad's Garlic in Rupert, ID

Sugar Skull Shot Glasses with fresh flowers.

Skylar & Josh's newly painted deck with beautiful new lights.

Even though it was the end of October it was a beautiful evening. We decorated with paper flags and our new lighting (Thanks mom!) made it the perfect setting. 

Goldie in her dress from Mexico

Of course the drink of the evening was the classic margarita and in our opinion you can't beat the recipe from Rick Bayless. He knows how to make a good margarita! Here is a link to the recipe. It is simple, easy and delicious. 

Toppings

The chili verde was topped with homemade Mexican sour cream, flour tortillas, cilantro, and lime.

When I asked Josh if I could share his recipe he laughed. So I guess you won't get the exact recipe but this one is pretty similar -Margarita Carmona's Chili Verde

Happy Birthday Abbie! 

Hollow City Book Club

Cindy hosted October's book club meeting.  We read the second installment of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. These are very entertaining books with wonderful vintage photographs entwined in the story. 

Cindy does a fabulous job decorating for Halloween!

It was an unseasonably warm evening in late October so we held our annual hot dog roast!

The Menu

·         Pumpkin deviled eggs

·         Spinach dip

·         Pure Angus hot dogs roasted over the fire

·         Maple baked beans

·         Pumpkin spiced cheesecake and coffee

The Cocktail: A Pink Grapefruit Margarita

• 4 cups red grapefruit juice *Only not from concentrate please!
• 1 cup white tequila *make sure it is 100% agave
• ½ cup Orange liqueur *we recommend Patron’s Citronge
• ¼ cup fresh squeezed lime juice

Mix and chill for a couple of hours. For a rimmer mix 2 tablespoons raw sugar, 2 teaspoons chile powder, and 2 teaspoons kosher salt. Rub the rim of the glasses with lime wedges and rim with the sugar mixture.  A side note we doubled this recipe and none went to waste!

Abbie Never Quite Gets It

Thanks for making the journey Katie! Next month’s gathering will be hosted by Abbie.  Let’s hope she picks better than she did with her last few books...or all the books she has picked so far!

Book Club: Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

“A few years back, when I finally got smart enough to go to a therapist, she asked me how I had held things together all these years.

It didn't take long to come up with an answer. 'That's easy. I belong to a book club” 

― Lorna Landvik, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

What's more fitting for our book club than a novel about a book club. Skylar's book selection was Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. The book couldn't have been more fitting because like the women in the book, our book club has become so much more than just a gathering to discuss whether we like a book or not. It is a night away to share our troubles, catch up with friends and just enjoy good company. 

The cocktail of the evening was a refreshing cucumber mint gimlet made with fresh mint and cucumbers from Skylar's garden. 

Cucumber Mint Gimlet *makes 4

1 cup of good gin or vodka

3/4- 1 Cup fresh lime juice (about 5 limes)

5 Tsp light agave nectar or simple syrup

1 medium sized, cucumber diced

Large handful of mint leaves

Muddle cucumber, mint and agave or simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add a few ice cubes to a cocktail shaker followed by lime juice and alcohol of choice. Shake ingredients and strain over iced. Garnish with mint and cucumbers. 

Katie knows how important book club is so she makes the long (5 hour drive) to be there. 

On the menu for the evening were pasta skewers with grape tomatoes, sugar snap peas and a dill-mustard sauce, mozzarella, cantaloupe, and jamon bites, a harvest salad with kale, apples and a apple cider vinaigrette and the main course was chicken pesto sandwiches.  

Can't forget about dessert- Vanilla ice cream with salted caramel sauce and a vanilla wafer. 

This book was liked by all of the members. A great story of strong friendship, love, and all the ups and downs of life. 

Eleanor & Park

Katie selected Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell based on a recommendation by our good friend Glen Tulloch. This was a story that we enjoyed and made us reflect on those we may have known through our lives that had to make the best with what they were given and our own teenage loves.

Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe 

Chips and Spinach Dip

Mint Margaritas were a big hit!

Spinach Sliders

Summer weather calls for a variety of lighter fare.  Skylar served the spinach sliders with a garlic aioli (You can find a similar recipe here . Just make the patties smaller and served them on slider buns) and Cindy made her wonderful spinach dip in honor of Katie.

Jamie and Cindy

Skylar, Always an Amazing Host

Poppy, The Youngest Book Club Member

Eleanor and Park was Katie's pick but summer time is so busy we could not find a time to all meet before Katie had to have her house all packed up. Katie hosted Skylar and Abbie and served an amazing ahi mango dish. Bonus points for the beautiful presentation.

We wish Katie all the luck in the world with her new adventure in Washington. We can do this because we know she will be a regular return visitor to Idaho! Up next, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons which is about a book club!