Shiro report

This month's book was Shiro: Wit, Wisdom and Recipes from a Sushi Pioneer by Shiro Kashiba, a local chef and personality.

We all very much enjoyed his wonderful attitude, determination to do his best, and all the hard work he put into learning and mastering his craft. 

There wasn't a ton to discuss about this book, except Shiro's life and the beautiful book design.  If you didn't get a chance to read it, you should at least take a peek...it is gorgeous! 

We are still talking about trying to do a dinner out at his restaurant.  Bring your calendar to the next meeting, and we will try to pick a date.

Our meal was just delightful!

Julie D. - tuna poke and rice crackers


Laura H. - smoked salmon and cheese and crackers




 Katie W. - Manila clams Steamed with Sake  (How did I not get a photo of this treat?!?)


Katie S. - Handmade sushi rolls



Heather McN. - sushi rice in tofu packets


 

Dawn R. - Asparagus with Sesame Miso

Emily - delightful candy sushi and some ice cream mochi.

Vanessa  brought some more yummy Japanese treats:

Next month we are taking it easy and reading a kids book, Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher.   Think French, silly, and tasty!

We are also taking up a collection to thank the church for letting us use their wonderful dining hall and kitchen for our group, so please bring some cash to chip in!

Pioneer Woman report

This month's book was The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - A Love Story by Ree Drummond (not her cookbook, which one member read instead ;)

This book had a pretty mixed reaction from the group.  Some found it a bit on the fluffy side, others where enchanted by her blissful naivete.  There was a bit of speculation from those who had watched her show about where all the money came from that afforded her such a fancy ranch...as the book made it sound like the ranch barely broke even each year.  But her father was a doctor, and she has certainly made an industry out of being the Pioneer Woman!  One part of the book that really seemed to annoy the ladies was her obsession with what other people thought of her, and her insistence that there was no sex before the wedding.  We felt this was doubtful for a variety of reason.  She had already lived with a man for 4 years, so it was highly unlikely she was a virgin.  With all the hot "make-out sessions" they had, it is hard to imagine a couple of mature(ish) adults holding back.  The best bets we had was that she was just trying to look good for her Christian readers and relatives, or maybe he wanted to wait.  But you can tell our book group has been together quite a while now...this conversation got pretty rowdy!

A few of us had gotten her cookbook from the library The pioneer woman cooks : food from my frontier, and found it quite enjoyable. It has terrific step by step photos for each recipe and lots of delicious things we all wanted to try cooking.  Our only complaint was that they were all designed to feed people who have been working their butts off on a ranch all day, and were soaked in butter, cheese, and all kinds of other high-calorie goodness.

Here is what everyone made: 

Katie W - Tagliarini Quattro Formaggi (Four Cheese Pasta)

Emily - Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce 

 

Katie S -  Drip Beef

 

Laura H. - homemade pizza 

 

Dawn R. - Brie Stuffed Mushrooms 

 

Debby S. cilantro slaw 

 Julie - Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

Next month we are discussing

Shiro : wit, wisdom & recipes from a sushi pioneer : a memoir

by local sushi chef Shiro Kashiba.  All of Sno-Isle's copies are checked out, but you can find this used on the Internet for under $7 (including shipping), and KCLS has 9 copies available, too.

We will also be planning an outing to go to Shiro's restaurant in downtown Seattle sometime in July.  Details to follow!

The Lacuna report

Hello everyone!   I didn't have time to read the book this month, so Heather was kind enough to write up our notes:

"Hello literature lovers, here is May's book club report...It seemed to come up quickly this time, I guess because the first was a Wednesday. The subject was "The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver a fascinating mix of historical fiction and pure fiction. The book proved daunting to most, only a few women got through the whole thing, (politics can be kinda boring it seems) although some vowed to finish the novel.

The time frame spans 1929-1951, with the story taking place in Mexico and America. It shed light on the McCarthy hearings and what was going on with the imagined communism threat, a shanty town that sprung up around the white house in Washington dubbed "Hooversville" during the great depression, the intimate workings of  the marriage between Diego Rivero and the love of his life Frida, and the time Leon Trotsky lived with them. World War II figures into the tale, as well as the unusual lingo of the 40's. and America's art treasures of the time. Transcripts, letters, book reviews and first and second person accounts all intertwine to fascinate the stubborn reader who vows to wade through all 507 pages. An excellent and interesting read, and the Mexican food was to die for! "

 Laura - guacamole and chips



Heather M. - Chicken Enchilada Casserole, just like mom used to make!









Julie - roasted veggies





Katie S. - Mexican grilled corn and watermelon agua fresca




Debby S. - Angel Food Pineapple Cake (1 angel food cake mix, 1 20oz can crushed pineapple, bake for 30 min. in a lightly greased 9x13 on 350!)




  Our next book is The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, A Love Story by Ree Drummond about how a big city girl falls in love (and cooks for) a cowboy in Oklahoma.     What is not included in this is how she made her blog into a book into a media empire!  But you can see it all here and on her show!   If you haven't picked up the book yet, there are three copies still available through the library system...place your hold today (it is a pretty quick read).

Our meeting is Wednesday June 12th at 6:30pm, in our usual location.

Blood, Bones & Butter report

This month we returned to our cozy home in the basement of the church (thanks again to Heather for hosting at her home while this space was otherwise occupied!)

The book had mixed responses this month.  Some folks were really drawn to it, and I think others of us are finding chef autobiographies are starting to sound all the same ;)  Everyone was pretty appalled by the neglect and poor boundaries Gabrielle received as a teenager.

(I've misplaced my notes, but want to get this posted, so I'll come back and fill in more when I find them...please add in the comments if you have more you'd like to share with everyone who couldn't make it!)

Deborah S. - Made a wonderful Cheddar/Chille Bread, which we are encouraging her to submit for the Pillsbury bake-off!

Katie made super yummy eggs on biscuits (like the author used to eat on the stoop when she first moved to NYC) and delicious Rum-Raisin Sauce to go on ice cream.  So tasty!

In tribute to the family's giant yearly party, I made a variation on Lima Bean Salad. (Martha Stewart's recipe and photo...I appear to have forgotten to take my own!)


Laura brought the author's Braised Chicken Legs with Shallots and Vinegar.

Julie brought something tasty and baked that for the life of me I can't recall what it was called.  Spice cake maybe?

Heather brought delicious strawberries and cream:

I apologize for this being the worst report ever!  Next month I'll jump on it right away ;)

Next month's book is The Lacuna a novel by Barbara Kingsolver, who we read long ago with her nonfiction Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. The book takes place in Mexico, so plan for a fiesta!  Most of the books are checked out already, but the library does have 7 copies of the 19 hour long audiobook available...just enough time to listen to it before the meeting on Wednesday May 8th!

The Wilder Life report

This month we met at Heather's house and discussed The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure.

Only one person finished the book, though about half of the group seemed to be enjoying it alright.  The other half found it annoying.  Generally the split did seem to be between folks who felt passion for the Little House Books, and those who did not.  The author was clearly obsessed, and a children's book editor herself, which for those of us familiar with the series found reasonably interesting.

But admittedly, this definitely did not have the feel of a well plotted researched non-fiction book, but rather a blog that got published.  And frankly, as a group, we are getting a bit tired of this trend. Also, the lack of recipes was disappointing, (but easily explained by the fact the author used the Little House Cookbook, as some of us did).

Heather hosted and made a tasty variety of treats for our meal including meatloaf with spicy bbq sauce, smoked oysters and crackers, mashed potatoes, and a yummy cabbage dish.

Dawn cooked Almanzo Wilder's favorite Fried Apples N Onions.

 




Laura made biscuits and cranberry jelly from the Little House Cookbook.

 

Katie W. made delicious apple dumplings with ice cream (which I apparently did not photograph).




 

Katie S. made Ox Tails with Browned Flour Gravy  (Liza Lou loved the leftover bones...thanks Katie!)

Next month we will be back at the church, and discussing Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton.  Sno-Isle Libraries doesn't have a ton of copies.  There are two copies of it on cd available, two downloadable audiobooks, and seven copies of the downloadable ebook, but no paper copies free right now.  If you want to buy it, you can get one pretty cheap on half.com, too.

Looking forward to discussing this with you on Wednesday April 10, 2013 at 6:30pm!