Need to Change the Date

Hi Everyone,

Is it okay if we change the date for July's book club meeting? I will be up in Stehekin working and will not be back on the ferry in time to prepare dinner.

Let me know what will work.

Since I'm not sure how often people check this, I will call everyone as well. :)

Thanks, Barbara

Walnut Torte with Mocha Icing

Here's the recipe for the dessert we enjoyed at Chris':

Walnut Torte
1 c. ground walnuts (you can substitute almonds or pecans. According to "Joy of Cooking", pecans will yield a richer, moister cake.)
2 T. flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
4 eggs
3/4 c. sugar

Preheat oven to 350*. Prepare an 8" springform pan or two 8" layer pans. (Note: do not grease the sides of the pans. I lined my springform pan with parchment paper for easier removal.) Seperate the eggs. Beat the egg yolks until they are a light, creamy color (approx. 3 minutes). Add the flour and the baking powder. Gradually add the sugar and beat until creamy. In a seperate bowl, beat the egg whites until peaks are stiff but not dry. (Note: as per "Joy", you may add one more egg white for a lighter cake.) Fold the ground nuts and the egg whites into the batter. (You may add the nuts to the batter, but I find this make the batter stiff and harder to fold the egg whites into it.) Pour into prepared pans and bake springform approx. 30 minutes and layer pans approx. 20 minutes. Let cool in pan(s). (The cake will sink while cooling.) Remove and top with Mocha Icing or your favorite.

Mocha Icing
1 c. whipping cream
1 t. instant coffee
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1/3 c. sugar

Beat cream until you have stiff peaks. Add remaining ingredients and beat to combine.

Reading some other good books: The Girls from Ames (audio tape); Feminine Mystique; The Woman's Room...with the current selection and Claudia's coming up, plenty of gender reading!!

Thank you Nancy!

I loved our dinner at Nancy's. The chicken curry, lentils, chapatis were delicious, as are all our meals together. But even more, I enjoy our conversations. I still have a few pages in Three Cups of Tea to finish, but I am so impressed with Greg Mortenson, and his work - humbling and inspiring to realize that one motivated person can make so much of a difference.

We are now reading The Women, by T.C. Boyle. I would be interested in hearing reactions to the book as we go along, if anyone would like to comment here. Sometimes, a thought can be expressed in writing even more easily than in spoken words.

We decided to meet at Chris's house on Monday, May 24 at 6:00 PM..

(If anyone has the ratings for the recently read books that don't have ratings attached, let me know and I can add them. Thanks! )

I'll See You at Nancy's

I have finished reading Chris's book "Tender at the Bone" by Ruth Reichl. This is a fun memoire - interesting stories and recipes too. I enjoyed reading this book and am sure some of you might enjoy it also. I will bring it along with me to Nancy's on Wednesday. If you are interested in reading this book, I'm sure Chris will be glad to loan it to you.

I'm looking forward to our discussion of "Three Cups of Tea". It's quite a story about an amazing individual. I also finished "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein, which I really enjoyed. It was insightful, very funny and at times sad - a sweet story full of the best lessons of life. Who knew one could learn so much from a dog!

Soooo Sorry!

I am so behind on writing this post...!! (and I am behind in my reading). Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 21 at Nancy's , at 6:00 PM. I just checked out a copy of Three Cups of Tea to Geri, who is back from his long respite from our winter. I hope that all of you are doing well, and that you have a wonderful weekend. It is supposed to be in the 70's . Not too conducive to reading, unless you have a hammock! I will try to settle down and make good progress.

For those of you who might like to attend the book discussion of The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein, we are having an open meeting at the Entiat Library on Thursday, April 15 at 7:00 with Pizza and Pop. He will be speaking at an event the following Thursday, the 22nd at 7:00 at the NCRL Distribution Center in Wenatchee.

NEXT MEETING WILL BE MARCH 10TH

Thank you, Debbie, for a wonderful evening and a delicious dinner! It was good to get together and see everyone. We enjoyed having Debbie's father, Wayne, join us for our meal. It was especially good to see Chris, who is now back on her schedule after her knee surgery. She looks good and is getting around very well, which is great to see.

We enjoyed a lively and favorable discussion about Barbara's selection - "Peace Like a River". Esther has communicated with the author on his blogsite and will be sending him some comments and questions that came up during our discussion. Overall, we rated the book a vary favorable 4.85.

A few of us also brought our Christmas exchange books to share, now that we have finished reading them. Feel free to bring any books you may want to share to our next gathering.

Our next book was selected by Debbie and is "Beyond the Sky and Earth" by Jamie Zeppa. This is a book she originally found at the Peshastin book sale. Our get together and discussion for this book will be on March 10th at Claudia's home. Plan on arriving around 5:30 or whenever you can make it.

Enjoy reading and looking forward to seeing you in March!