Tonight it was my first time hosting our book club!
Preparatory PB&J quesadilla as an afternoon snack (I was trying to think of something other than cereal, yogurt and fruit to have since I have that nearly everyday for a snack! This was good but didn’t keep me as full as a dairy snack would).
I had fun playing hostess and getting things all set up before the group arrived
Matt kindly made pizzas for us all and I was in charge of cutting the cheese – heh heh. I normally do it by hand, but there was so much I enlisted the help of my Cuisinart. MAGICAL I tell you. The power of a motor..
Matt made four pizzas – two veg, one pepperoni and one pear + goat cheese. They were delicious!! And I was starving and ate four slices.
We also made a big salad from our garden greens – with nuts and goat cheese
And the others brought snacks, fruit and brownies! [And wine, sniff]
First plate – plus 3 more pizzas!
On the agenda, Ahab’s Wife, which is my favorite book. I loved it because it’s a poetic adventure set by and on the ocean about a strong female character and her life’s trials. It’s beautifully written and thought provoking. Others didn’t like it as much because it was slow to get into, a bit boring at times and the characters were a little flat. A good discussion though!
Alice made these spicy brownies for dessert. They have quite the kick but all the chocolate you love!
Just finished washing all the dishes and cleaning all the corners of the kitchen and porch.
Time to start a new book: The Midwife’s Confession!
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
So is the book Ahab’s Wife in any way related to Moby Dick?
Yes, it’s the story of Ahab’s Wife! Moby Dick is in the plot
Ok I figured but wasn’t sure
I tried to read Moby Dick a few months ago and really wanted to like it but I just could NOT get into it. Verrry slow.
I’d like to read it too just because I’ve read this twice, but I hear it’s really long… I don’t think I’d like it
It is one of the best American novels ever written, hands down, and hilarious too, which no one ever seems to talk about.
I was struck by the humor when first reading Moby Dick as well! Ishmael is quite wry at times. I know that last sentence sounded really pretentious, but I couldn’t think of a better way to put it! Sorry! While it can seem slow compared to many of todays popular novels, I am a sucker for beautiful prose, and Melville was a master of description. Which is why it has become such a classic. “nur!” at myself. I am just going to stop talking about things everyone knows already before someone tells me to shut it. I just get excited about literature! Also, for someone who reads a lot, I am, obviously, not a good writer myself.
a tortilla with nut butter is my favorite afternoon snack! & that pizza looks absolutely delicious!
Hahah I want to join a book club! For both the food and the books!
Would love to be in your book club- if only for the food! ….I’ll sniffle with you with the whole no wine thing.
Sniff.
OoOoOoO book club!! I’ve never been in a book club before! Now that I am done my nutrition schooling AND house renos I might just have to participate in one!
PS that pizza looks incredible! I’m on the hunt for the perfect pizza dough though!
May I ask how you found a book club? Thru meet-ups or is this book club includes all your friends already?
One of my friends was already in it and she invited me to join in
what i wouldn’t do for some of that pizza!!
glad you enjoyed the book, will have to add it to my list!
I LOVED that book too!!! So glad to hear you liked it.
The spicy brownies sound really interesting. Any chance of getting the recipe from Alice?
I will ask ..
Ooo, I’m hoping for a Kindle soon, so I love hearing about some new titles, been a bit flat on good reads as of late! All the food looked DELISH and I have never thought about using a food processor to cut cheese…brilliant!
PB&J quesadilla? Why haven’t I ever thought of that hahahah!
What a great hostess!! That food looks amazing!
Waah, I totally aspire to be part of a book club. I’m an English teacher who yearns to talk fun books with adults. I loved Midwife’s Confession and was on a Diane Chamberlain kick for a while. Now I’m reading “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” which is loosely based off the Columbine shootings. I’m in need of something lighter I think
pear and goat cheese?! I could eat that! I may have to try making my own version! Was there any sauce or just a little olive oil?
A little honey!
I’ve heard such good things about that book. It’s on my list!
Those pizzas. Gah. They kill me every single time. SO SO good. Is Matt for catering hire??
I’ve never heard of that good – but I’d go for the food spread!
Is Foodbuzz still your sponsor? I don’t see the ads on the site anymore?
Yeah, they should be there… Weird!
FUN! I love book clubs. I would love ‘em more if they served that pizza more often though…hehe
My husband loves spicy chocolate cake. I bet he would love those brownies! Pizza is always perfect for a crowd. That looks like a delicious gathering!
Love all that pizza! You guys should sell some, and open an inline store so I can order frozen pizza!!!
spicy brownies…I have had spicy hot chocolate (with cayenne added) but never brownies…interesting twist!
Gotta love power tools for kitchen tasks!
That sounds like a lot of fun! You put out an awesome spread. Hostess with the mostest pizza.
Does that cafe say sperm on it? Or do I just have a dirty mind?
Sperm whale oil! I was trying to get in the whaling spirit
good eye!
Your pizzas always look so good! I’m thinking of making some for dinner tomorrow, can’t wait!!
I loved The Midwife’s Confession! Diane Chamberlain is a great author.
Ooh, glad I have another book recommendation. I just finished ‘The Wednesday Sisters,’ and I miss it already–it was such a delightful book to read that I didn’t want it to end.
I call my book club “food club”
I would love to join a book group although I think a spread like that would appeal to me more than the book itself
!
Kath, Have you heard about the “Things I am afraid to tell you” challenge that many bloggers have been posting? Freckles Chick sums it up pretty well here:
http://freckleschick.blogspot.com/2012/05/things-im-afraid-to-tell-you.html
Is this something you would consider doing for your readers? I know that I would enjoy a post like this from you. Have a great weekend!
I’ll have to think about what I’d say. There’s a fine line between sharing and too personal and I generally share everything that isn’t too personal! Hmmm.
that is a great spread for book club!
Ahab’s Wife is my best friend’s favorite book, too. She’s been pushing me to read it for years! Guess it really should get on the list already, huh?
Looks like a great night…especially Matt’s pizzas!
Joining a book club looks like fun! I basically read books and then pass them on to my friends/neighbours and my mother…we pass books between us all…perhaps getting together will be the next step! The pizza looks amazing as always!
I think I’d have to read the book just to have an excuse to come over for the salad and pizza!
Mmm I’m doing a goat cheese and pear combination tonight. Would love to try it on a pizza!
I bought the Diane Chamberlin book last year, but never felt the urge to crack it open as I am always turned off by the ‘chick-lit” ish cover – silly I know! Please keep us posted on your thoughts – I’m scouting for a winner. (I just finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed, a terrific memoir I recommend if you’re feeling like a well written, moving – and entirely relatable – nonfiction read.)
How fun to have a book club!
All of the food looks great!
Everything looks delicious! I couldn’t get through Moby Dick, so I don’t think I’d do well with Ahab’s Wife, although I’ve been surprised before by a book after starting it.
Yum! The pear and goat cheese pizza sounds heavenly! What kind of a dip is that for the tortilla chips? It almost looks like a cheesey hummus or a mashed sweet potato.
It was hummus – not sure what flavor though
food processors, ftw. I’m in love with mine!
If you’re interested in another birth-themed book (fiction), I recommend The Birth House by Ami McKay. It’s set on Canada’s East Coast and really beautifully written, enjoyable for all but especially if you are in birth mode.
Cool, thanks!
A pear & goat cheese pizza sounds interesting and good!
I love chocolate with a bit of kick to it!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
That is one good looking pizza. Pizza is one of things I miss most about having Celiac. The GF ones just aren’t the same.
always wanted to start a book club.
That pizza looks to-die-for! What kind of cheese does Matt use? I’ve heard the trick is to use half cheddar and half mozzarella or something like that? And were the crusts whole wheat, 50% or white? (Can you tell I love me a good pizza?
He did half pepperjack and half cheddar! It was whole wheat with Great Harvest four