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!
Andrea says
So is the book Ahab’s Wife in any way related to Moby Dick?
KathEats says
Yes, it’s the story of Ahab’s Wife! Moby Dick is in the plot
Andrea says
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.
KathEats says
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
TC says
It is one of the best American novels ever written, hands down, and hilarious too, which no one ever seems to talk about.
K says
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.
Julianna @ Julianna Bananna says
a tortilla with nut butter is my favorite afternoon snack! & that pizza looks absolutely delicious!
Sana says
Hahah I want to join a book club! For both the food and the books!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Would love to be in your book club- if only for the food! ….I’ll sniffle with you with the whole no wine thing.
KathEats says
Sniff.
Katie @ Real Food Katie's Way says
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!
Lea @ Healthy Coconut says
May I ask how you found a book club? Thru meet-ups or is this book club includes all your friends already?
KathEats says
One of my friends was already in it and she invited me to join in
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
what i wouldn’t do for some of that pizza!!
glad you enjoyed the book, will have to add it to my list!
Elyse says
I LOVED that book too!!! So glad to hear you liked it. 🙂
Greg says
The spicy brownies sound really interesting. Any chance of getting the recipe from Alice?
KathEats says
I will ask ..
Lindsay says
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!
Lexi @ You, Me, & A World to See says
PB&J quesadilla? Why haven’t I ever thought of that hahahah!
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
What a great hostess!! That food looks amazing!
Sarah (I Dream of Beets) says
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 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
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?
KathEats says
A little honey!
Cait's Plate says
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?? 😉
Jen says
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?
KathEats says
Yeah, they should be there… Weird!
Annette @FitnessPerks says
FUN! I love book clubs. I would love ’em more if they served that pizza more often though…hehe 😉
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
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!
Catalina @ Cake with Love says
Love all that pizza! You guys should sell some, and open an inline store so I can order frozen pizza!!!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
spicy brownies…I have had spicy hot chocolate (with cayenne added) but never brownies…interesting twist!
Gotta love power tools for kitchen tasks!
j3nn says
That sounds like a lot of fun! You put out an awesome spread. Hostess with the mostest pizza. 🙂
Amanda M says
Does that cafe say sperm on it? Or do I just have a dirty mind?
KathEats says
Sperm whale oil! I was trying to get in the whaling spirit 🙂 good eye!
Kendall says
Your pizzas always look so good! I’m thinking of making some for dinner tomorrow, can’t wait!!
Danica @ It's Progression says
I loved The Midwife’s Confession! Diane Chamberlain is a great author.
Chelsea @ Designs on Dinner says
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.
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
I call my book club “food club”
Khushboo says
I would love to join a book group although I think a spread like that would appeal to me more than the book itself ;)!
Rori says
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!
KathEats says
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.
Simply Life says
that is a great spread for book club!
Hillary says
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!
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
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!
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning says
I think I’d have to read the book just to have an excuse to come over for the salad and pizza!
Molly @ RDexposed says
Mmm I’m doing a goat cheese and pear combination tonight. Would love to try it on a pizza!
Karen says
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.)
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
How fun to have a book club! 🙂 All of the food looks great!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
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.
Amanda @flecksofgreen says
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.
KathEats says
It was hummus – not sure what flavor though
Erin says
food processors, ftw. I’m in love with mine!
Emily says
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. 🙂
KathEats says
Cool, thanks!
Angel7 says
A pear & goat cheese pizza sounds interesting and good!
I love chocolate with a bit of kick to it!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Johanna B says
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.
Michael Tavallaei DDS says
always wanted to start a book club.
Maria Carolina says
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? 😛
KathEats says
He did half pepperjack and half cheddar! It was whole wheat with Great Harvest four