The Cat's Table

This month we read The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, which while not being the greatest in the food descriptions and totally lacked recipes, nevertheless was a interesting read.

 Only Rachel's had read many of Ondaatje's books, and she felt this may be one of his weakest.  While everyone in the group found the setting very interesting, and the trouble the kids got into pretty amusing. the plot was slow to develop, and generally unsatisfying.  It was unclear if he was leaving so many lose ends and unknowns in the story to illustrate how children know so little of what is going on around them and how memory and imagination fill in the rest, or if he is just actually piecing together his own childhood memories and doesn't have real answers to give.  While many folks were left with uncertainty about reading more by this author, most of us could agree that we would like to take a long journey by boat like this one.  One of the most disappointing passages was probably the secret dinner down in the hold.  While the setting and characters took on an air of magic in this scene, the food was sadly neglected.  Descriptive as this book could be in places, it simply was not drool worthy.

Happily, we still were able to piece together a lovely feast, loosely based on the regions featured in the book.

Heather McN.

 Harvey’s Bristol Cream sherry to stimulate our appetites, 

 lovely green vegetables, and rice.

 
Dawn 
simple veggie curry



 

 

Jennifer T. 

naan bread

 


Julie D. 
couscous with chicken

 

Katie S. –  Bademiya's Justly Famous Bombay Chile + Cilantro Chicken with Cilantro Sauce

Katie W.
cucumber mint tea sandwiches 
and tea

 

Laura H. 

spinach, pear and walnut salad 

with raspberry vinaigrette

 
 

Madeline 

fruit sculpture

 
 
Rachel R
Sri Lankan Coconut Cake

Sonja K-G – Cherry Cordial Cupcakes with condensed milk

Much thanks to Katie S. for making a sign for us to put on the door, so Al-anon folks won't have to be embarrassed about going to the wrong location any more!

Next month, on Wednesday March 5th, we will be discussing The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.  (takes place in Paris, with some Japanese cooking!) at Madeline's house (due to our regular location celebrating Lent with community dinners).  If you need her address, please contact me, or someone else who was at the last meeting.  She does not wish to post it online.

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat

This month we had a lively discussion and "funeral dinner" for The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore. 

Our gold star club (for finishing the book before the meeting) included: Jennifer, Julie, and Katie.  Heather gets a silver star for bringing pork chops.  ;)

First impressions of the book?

• Confused! Had to make chart of characters. 
• This book is going to be a lot of fun to read :) 
• Pleased that we are reading a book with all-you-can-eat in the title in January when everyone is on diet. 
• Thought there would be more dinner food. :( 

What did you like about it?

• Liked how you got to know everyone well. 
• Loved ghost of the mom, and Eleanor Roosevelt. 
• Liked the one liners. 
• Odette and James. 
• Personalities of churches 
• Ending is fantastic. 
• When Odette frees Barbara Jean from "stepdad" - boxing in underwear 

Favorite line: She opened the wedding book and said, “I went to Madame Minnie and told her about the problems I was having over at First Baptist about the wedding. Can you believe that after all I’ve done for them they refused to let me release doves inside the chapel? I explained to them that the doves were from Boston and were sophisticated and all, and that these doves would just as soon die of embarrassment as make a mess. But they wouldn’t listen.

Was there anything you disliked?

• A little formulaic in parts. 
• Richmond suddenly changing his ways. Would have preferred for Richmond to leave the picture entirely. 
• Wish Barbara Jean's story hadn't been so extreme, and it was too tidy. 

Which part of the book made you drool?  Ham and pork chops!

Our feast was worthy of a funeral (although it was only a one ham affair):


Dawn – Deviled Eggs



Heather McN – roasted potatoes and pork chops, jello salad








Jennifer T. - roasted chicken




 Julie D. – roasted Brussels sprouts




Katie S. – Sicilian Collard Greens with Pine Nuts and Raisins


Madeline - Ham




Barbara W. – donuts!




For Wednesday February 12, 2014 we are reading The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, which takes place on a ocean liner!  I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with for this.

Don't Kill the Birthday Girl!

For December we read Don't Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life by Sandra Beasley, a memoir about growing up with severe food allergies and how her family coped (and sometimes didn't), and how hard it can be to live in a world where food is dangerous and many people don't take allergies seriously.

It wasn't a particularly foodie book, but it certainly made those of us present very grateful for our lack of food allergies.  It is easy to take for granted the freedom to eat pretty much whatever you like, and this book certainly makes you appreciate that.

Much of our discussion focused around how people respond to food allergies.  Many people are perceived as being irrational to the point of being irritating or troublemakers, when from their perspective they are just trying to save the lives of their children.  This was reflected in the group itself.  One member was maddened by her sister-in-law's insistence on searching other people's cupboards for peanut containing products. Another had nearly lost a nephew numerous times to his nut allergy, and had witness firsthand unrelenting cruel responses from parents who went so far as to bully his mother on Facebook about her efforts to keep her child safe.  This is a very sensitive issue that seems to get more complicated all the time.  Hopefully science will make strides in resolving it soon!

For dinner we had a light supper, followed by a pretty extravagant (and high allergen) cookie exchange. 

Dawn made gumbo and Lemon Pecan Shortbread cookies.

Madeline brought gingerbread boys and girls, sugar cookies with purple sprinkles and pizzelle. 

Katie W. brought prosciutto wrapped asparagus and (maybe peanut butter cookies?)

Heather M. brought Double Chocolate Mint cookies (I think).





Julie brought fried rice and sugar cookies, decorated by her kiddos!

Rachel brought double ginger cookies.

And for the life of me I can't remember who brought these cookies.  Help!

Hoping all of you had a wonderful holiday season and your cookies found good homes!

Our next group meeting is Wednesday January 8, 2014 when we will be discussing The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore.  There might be a few copies still at the Mountlake Terrace Library, or it is available

Don't forget, we are on Facebook, too! 

Gingersnap

This month we shared Patricia Reilly Giff's Gingersnap, a kids' historical fiction that took place during World War Two.  Most of the food was either very simple soups (which Madeline did a lovely job replicating both a basic meat one and a fruit dessert one), or baked goods made with rationed supplies.  Karen's mock apple pie made with Ritz crackers captured this perfectly!  And Katie S. brought a snack right out of the book...hot dogs and (homemade) orange soda!

It was refreshing to do a quick read, and this was a book none of us had read before, so that was nice too.  Our first impressions of the book were that it was very likable, sweet, feel good, a bit sad (but not a weeper) and very imaginative.

It was the details that really endeared the book too us, such as the almost-authentic-Ming vase, that suffered such tragic consequences.  Other heartwarming bits:  Jayna thinking it was perfectly reasonable to travel with a turtle; and how Elise and her bestie were connected by the book that fell on the ground, and became part of Jayna's heritage.

 What we were less impressed by was though Jayna was no doubt forced to mature some in her years in foster care, there were times she sounded much too adult in her narration.  And we weren't too wild about the ghost/voice...too undefined, unresolved, and not at all scary ;)

As usual, our potluck was a huge success!

 

Barbara W. - brownies and wine

 

 

Dawn – leftover-to be split pea soup, gingersnaps

Heather McN – Mashed potatoes and pumpkin apple pie 

 

  Julie D. – My Mother In Law's Salad = greens, endive and brussel spout salad and rolls 

 

 Karen T. – mock apple pie (with ritz crackers!) 

 

Katie S. –  homemade orange soda and hotdogs and mustard 

 

Katie W. - Baked Potato Soup w/ bacon, sour cream, and cheddar cheese 

Laura H. –  Lentil soup 

Madeline -  Mini Meatloafs and stone soup, stone girls, and Welcome Home Soup 

 

Sonja K-G – Pumpkin Dump Cake + breadsticks

 


 
Also attending, two newbies:  Katie's cousin Emily, and Heather's roommate Nikita.

Next month we will be reading  "Don't Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life" by Sandra Beasley, and doing a holiday cookie exchange!  There are two copies of the book being held behind the Mountlake Terrace Library desk for bookgroup members.  Looks to be a quick read, so perfect for the busy holiday season!

We will be meeting at 6:30 on Wednesday December 11, 2013.

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/foodiebookgroup/