All's well that ends well..

As I mentioned on the 4th, I hosted my first Book Club meeting this past Saturday and to say the least, it was an utter disaster! I created the Book Club in late April and thought it would be a fun way to get together and learn more about my closest friends and family and even meet new friends. I had done lots of research on how to orchestrate a Book Club and how many members is ideal. I originally thought I wouldn't have enough people to have a healthy club but quickly found out by all of the upbeat and excited e-mails that I might have too many! Today I have 15 book club members, all over northern California & one in L.A.

Finally the week came for the Book Club meeting and the e-mails started to trickle in about how a couple of the members couldn't make it or flat out had made other plans. I thought with a few people absent, the meeting would go better then planned and wouldn't last too long.

Before the meeting, E and I did a lot of planning, grocery shopping, and cleaning to accommodate everyone. E was just as excited as I was because he was going disc golfing and cigar shopping with the men. After much agony, I decided to make a raspberry lemonade, angel tea, scones, and a potato peel pie... of course!

As I found out, the meeting quickly turned into a small gathering. Only 3 out of 15 people showed up to the meeting! In my mad scramble to find someone to eat all of the food prepared, I called my parents and asked if they would like to join, expecting a quick no but was delighted to hear a yes!

In the end, I'm glad people canceled last minute and made other plans because I had a great time with just my parents and best friend. I wouldn't have invited my parents if people didn't cancel last minute. My parents especially enjoyed my friends, to which I was more than delighted to hear! My mother also enjoyed our BBQ sauce so much, she went and purchased some the very next day.

Here are some valuable things I learned this past weekend:

1. You don't need a lot of people to have a good time
2. I still need to work on my patience
3. Don't buy so much food!!

Anyway, here are my recipes that I made for the Book Club, I hope you enjoy!

Dad's Lavish Raspberry Lemonade
recipe from my father

3 (12 oz.) cans each frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
3 packages (10 oz.) each frozen sweetened respberries, partically thawed
6 tablespoons sugar
3 liters club soda, chilled
ice cubes

In a blender, combine lemonade concentrate, raspberries and sugar. Cover and process until blended. Strain to remove seeds.

In a pitcher, combine raspberry mixture, club soda and ice cubes; mix well.
Serve immediately





Angel Tea
recipe from Epicurious

1 cup sugar syrup
1 pint lemon juice
1 quart strong green tea
2 quarts white grape juice
1 block ice
2 quarts chilled club soda

Combine all ingredients except soda, and refrigerate for an hour or two. Pour over ice in a punch bowl and add the soda. Serve in 4-ounce punch glasses.

(My new pitcher I bought at the Pampered Chef party!)

Potato Peel Pie

2 cups raw, grated potato skins (I added some of the white part to keep the texture somewhat tender), use mashed potatoes for filling
1/3 cup grated onion
1 egg, beaten
3 Tbs flour
beetroot
sour cream (optional)
chives (optional)
butter (optional)
garlic (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a small pie plate. Mix grated potato peels with egg, onion and flour. Press the mixture into the pie plate and up the sides to form a crust. Bake crust for 20-25 minutes.

While the crust is baking, cook potatoes, drain and mash. You can add your favorite mashed potato flavorings here i.e. garlic, onion, milk, butter, salt, etc. Fill crust with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with beetroot. Bake in oven at lower temperature of 375 for 10 minutes or until browned.

** I would only suggest that you make this during a World War and rationing!**