Patriot Ball Puppy Basket

Update on the Puppy Basket we put together for the Patriot Ball, the fundraiser dinner for Temecula Preparatory School. It sold for $220. Thank you to all who participated. The school and I appreciate your generosity.

Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard

It was unanimous, this Book Club Meeting was by far the best food yet. The way people arrived and how the food came out of the oven, it turned out to be a course meal...we ate and talked and laughed from 7:30 to 9:30. The phrase by the end of the night was "fetch me a bucket!" We started with escargot (everyone was brave and sampled at least one), then we had Mushroom Turnovers and some amazing herbed brie and baguette, a fresh palate cleansing Tabouleh salad with fresh squeezed grapefruit dressing, Chicken and Pepper Stew served over roasted red potatoes, Honey Rosemary Pork ribs, then we had homemade Coconut Macaroons, a spiced apple turnover, yougurt cake and individual molten chocolate lava cakes with plenty of French wine. It was a night to remember.

The book was okay. The recipes in the book were amazing. It was interesting to note the differences in French and American culture. Once again, a great evening out with the ladies!

January Book Club Meeting

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

To start the year off with a bang we chose one of the books from the Book Exchange in December. It turned out to be a good choice. I personally like Margaret Atwood's writing style and thought the book was thought provoking and just controversial enough to prompt a good discussion. In The Year of the Flood we are introduced to two former members of an ecologically aware organization, called God’s Gardeners, that melds science and religion. The Gardners preach non-violence, resourcefulness and respect for all living things, but are dismissed by others as a “greenie cult.” Toby is a longtime member-turned-health spa worker, and Ren is a young exotic dancer. The “Waterless Flood”–a deadly plague foretold by the Gardners–has arrived, destroying most of the human life. Toby, Ren and other survivors must find each other in the aftermath of this disaster, and Atwood takes us along as they explore their present and remember their pasts.

As always, the meeting was a blast. We had great food, including some "secret burgers" and spent the evening laughing so hard we almost sent Lori into labor!