FCM Book Club: Where'd You Go Bernadette?

Jamie was a wonderful host to our discussion of the book Where’d You Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple. We loved the book and her meal!


A Seasonal Ale Perfect for the Antarctic Setting

Delicious Stuffed Mushrooms

Bacon Wrapped Chicken and Greens with Basil Infused Vinaigrette

The main dish was fabulous! A chicken breast pounded flat and stuffed with whipped chive cream cheese, wrapped in bacon and broiled in the oven. Find a similar recipe here. If you can not find whipped cream cheese make your own like Jamie did with her electric mixer. The salad  was topped with a dressing that included a basil infused extra virgin olive oil. Just remember to use fresh greens not bagged when serving a light dressing. Jamie served a warm apple crumb cake for dessert. We could not help but have two servings!

Blue Curaçao Liqueur Gives a Glacial Color

The cocktail of the evening was a Cry Baby Blues which you make by combining:

·         4 1/2 oz strawberry guava juice

·         1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur

·         1 oz triple distilled vodka of your choice

Shake in a cocktail shaker.

The Ladies...Poppy too.

Thanks to our good friend, Glen Tulloch, for the recommendation! We could all use a little of Bernadette’s spirit......Glen's too. 

Cocktail Friday: A Little Irish Luck, Homemade Baileys Irish Cream

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, we decided to make homemade Irish Cream. It is incredibly simple to make and once you have had the homemade version you will never buy it again. Several recipes said you can replace the whiskey with vodka if you prefer but we decided to stick with Irish whiskey.

In about 5 minutes you will have your own bottle of homemade Irish Cream. Start with your favorite Irish Whiskey, add in some cream, sweetened condensed milk, instant coffee, chocolate, and vanilla. Blend for a few minutes and you are done! Serve over ice or splash a little in your coffee. 

Homemade Baileys Irish Cream

1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

2 Teaspoons Instant Coffee

2 1/2 Tablespoons Chocolate Syrup

14 oz Sweeten Condensed Milk

1 2/3 Irish Whiskey

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Bean paste (you can also use good extract)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and serve over ice or in coffee!

Cindy's cute St. Patty's Day decorations.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

FCM Book Club: The Shack

Where has the first part of 2014 gone?! Katie hosted a meeting for The Shack by William P. Young in December!! The book, with it’s strong religious themes, made for a very interesting discussion. We definitely learned new things about each other which is what book club is all about.

The menu Katie served was creative and delicious. We started out the evening with fresh cranberry margaritas and an appetizer of cherry tomato crostini with whipped feta.

Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta

Dinner consisted of a creamy chicken pasta and garden salad.  The highlight of the evening was when Katie brought out her blow torch and put the finishing touch on pumpkin soufflés.



Pumpkin Soufflés



Cindy's Christmas Sweater







Jamie and Poppy



Always an enjoyable evening! Read The Shack!

It is a book you will not soon forget.