April 2012

Book: Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

Hostess Comments: I was channeling Staci with the table decorations. I don't think I have decorated more for any other meal, Thanksgivings included! Glad that so many could make it today, but missed those who were not with us.

A Tiara for each Princess

It was hard to find pink stuff for the table at my house, but exciting
when another thing fit the theme.

A few of the Princesses

Our best Princess pose, with none looking in the same direction.

Queens already, don't you think?

Lunch included soup, veggies and bread, with fruit and fondue for dessert. As you can see from the recipes, I get the best ides from my friends.

Pasta Fagioli (Jennifer Browning)
1 12oz can V-81 lb. ground beef1 can great northern beans1 small onion1 can kidney beans, keep liquid1 large carrot, julienned2 cans diced tomatoes3 stalks celery2 cloves garlic1 15oz can tomato sauce½ t pepper1 T Worcestershire sauce1 t salt1 t oregano1 t basil½ t thymedash cayenne pepper2 c water
Cook vegetables in everything for 45 minutes.
Cook separately 1 c salad macaroni and add right before serving.


Chocolate Fondue (Nancy Bolduc)

1 1/3 c light corn syrup
1 c heavy cream
4 c chocolate chips
1 T vanilla

Mix syrup and cream and bring to boil. Remove from heat and add chips and vanilla Mix until smooth.

February 2012

Book: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

 

Hostess Comment: I love hosting book club! Mostly because I love choosing books that lead to incredible discussions. I also love to plan our tablescape. No quilting this year - just an almost burlap table cloth and late lasagna.

 

 

 

 

Menu:

• Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-ups
• Wedge Salad
• Rolls
• Raspberry Delight

Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll-ups
Makes 8 roll-ups

• 3 cups chopped cooked chicken
• 16 oz Ricotta cheese
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
• lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Classico Sundried Tomato Alfredo (It's a pretty thick sauce, so I usually thin it down with cream. I ran out of time and didn't do that today - your heart thanks me!). 

In medium bowl combine chicken, cheeses, milk & pepper.
Spread ~1/2 cup mixture on each lasagna noodle. 
Roll jelly-roll fashion
In a 9x13 baking dish, spread 1/2 of spaghetti sauce. 
Arrange lasagna rolls, seam side down, in sauce in baking dish.
Top with remaining sauce.
Cover.
Bake at 375 for 30 min or until hot & bubbly.

 

 

Wedge Salad (Added 4/19/12 because Alena asked for it... ;) )
This recipe is for 4 wedges

• 1/2 c balsamic vinegar
• 1/8 c honey
• 1/4 t sea salt (I used the same amount of kosher salt - I don't know if sea salt and kosher salt are equally measured)
• 6 - 8 strips bacon - fried and crumbled
• 1 tomato
• 1/4 red onion - thinly sliced
• 1 head iceberg lettuce - quartered
• Ranch dressing
• Blue cheese crumbles

Combine vinegar, honey, and salt in a small sauce pan. Simmer and reduce to a thick syrup.

Arrange wedges and top (in this order) with ranch dressing, tomato, red onion, bacon, and drizzle with the balsamic glaze. Top with blue cheese. 



Raspberry Delight

• 15 graham crackers
• 1 cube butter
• 1/2 c milk
• 1/2 pack marshmallows
• 1 package raspberries (thawed) (if they aren't thawed - mix them in with the hot milk & marshmallows - they'll be thawed in a jiffy)
• 1/2 c walnuts
• 1/2 pint whip cream, beat and sweetened

Grease 9x13 pan with butter (or spray with butter flavored cooking spray). Crumble graham crackers. Melt butter and mix with graham crackers. Pat into pan. Melt and cool milk and marshmallows. Combine with raspberries, walnuts, and whip cream. Pour mixture over graham cracker crust. Sprinkle with crushed graham crackers. Chill overnight.

 

  

 

April 2011

Book: The Help by Kathryn Stockett