Sing You Home

Remember how I’m in a book club?  Well last night was our gathering about the book “Sing You Home” by Jodi Picoult.  (I was unable to attend the gathering after we read Jay-Z’s autobiography.)

First of all, I love Jodi Picoult’s books.  She’s a brilliant writer.  I think my absolute favorite book of hers is “Nineteen Minutes.”  But the most popular is probably “My Sister’s Keeper” that was made into a major motion picture.  Her books pull me in and I feel as though I’m there experiencing what the characters experience.  This particular book, “Sing You Home” could be described in one word as “controversial.”  But I liked that about this book.  I thought some of it dragged on, but I really wanted to know what happened so I kept reading.  This book made me question my personal beliefs about certain issues (gay rights/adoption/what makes a family).  It’s a “sad” book but not near as tear-jerking as some of her other books.

So I gotta be honest – we only really talk about the book for 10 minutes at book club.  But last night was just what I needed – I sometime forget how important “girl nights” are – just sitting around with a glass of wine, chatting and laughing about whatever random topics arise.

And there’s always food at book club.  Duh.  Well, wine comes first, then the food.

I had my mind set on making Mexican Cherry Tomato Salad but I didn’t really read the whole recipe (novice mistake) and well, it was a little more involved than I had time for, so I ended up throwing the recipe away and just doing what I wanted.

Here’s what you do for my “quickie” version:
Halve 1 pint of grape tomatoes.  Sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  While that’s hanging out, drain and rinse one can of black beans and one can of corn.  Add to the tomatoes.  Dice up some red onion to taste (about 1/4-1/2 of the onion) and add it to the mix.  Add in some cilantro (about 1/4 cup) and some pepper.  Also add about 1/2 the juice of a lemon, 1/2 tablespoon of cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon EVOO.  Cover and let it chill until you’re ready to serve.  Right before serving, add in about 1/2 a cup of grated pepper-jack cheese and some freshly cracked black pepper.  Done and done.

This salad was served with baked chips and Zesty Guac Tortillaz.  Holy addicting.  These guac chips are crazy delicious.

This was an impulse buy that I don’t regret.  5 out of 5 stars.  A little spicy kick and a lovely crunch.

And I also made a sweet treat!  I know, it’s not Sunday.  But the book club girls are worth it.

Lemon Bars! 

I was very sad I couldn’t eat this sweet treat.  You see, Lemon Bars are one of my all-time favorite treats.  I love the tang and the sweetness of the lemon and sugar.  I must say that the crust of these bars got high marks.  Very flaky and light.  A winning recipe if you ask me – well, it’d be more winning if I could indulge.

Instead of a lemon bar I had an extra 1/2 glass wine.  I know – on a Wednesday night.  I like to live on the edge.  (wink wink)

I wonder what we’ll read next….

p.s. I read three books in St. Thomas – THREE!!!  South of Broad (this was suggested by Big Guy who read it during a previous flight – it kept my interest but it wasn’t the most fascinating book ever), My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler (hilarious – that’s all I can say – oh and that I finished it in one afternoon) and finally Night Road (loved this book, couldn’t put it down, love Kristin Hannah – Firefly Lane is also a fabulous book of hers).