December Book Basket Party

 

For December, we are not choosing a book to read. December is a crazy busy month. But we want to still get together and talk about books. 

Last fall several of us attended a book basket party. It was so much fun and we decided we would like to do that for our December Book Club. Here are some examples of a book basket

Here is an example of a book basket. 

We would like everyone to bring a book basket to share. 

Get a copy of a favorite book of yours, that we haven't read in book club. 

Find a container to put the book and several little items that go along with the book. 

Here's another book basket of goodies. 

Another themed book basket. 

At the book basket party, we will each get an opportunity to give a teaser about our book and the items in the basket. After we have seen each of the baskets, we will each draw a number. We will then go in order of our numbers to pick a book basket. When it is your turn, you can choose a book basket from the table or you may 'steal' a basket from someone who already had their turn. A book basket may only be stolen twice. 

Our Book Basket Party will be on Tuesday December 16 at Debby's house at 7:30 pm. Get your book basket ready for the party. You may bring a treat to share also. See you at the party!

Eight Flavors Fun

Alecia lead a great discussion about the book Eight Flavors and also had some yummy foods for us to try with the flavors from the book. The book focused on black pepper, vanilla, curry powder, chili powder, soy sauce, garlic, MSG, and Sriracha. 

We started with garlic knots. 

Next we had lettuce wraps with soy sauce, garlic, and sriracha

At the end of the discussion, we had Black Pepper Brown Sugar Cookies - a recipe from the book; icing was optional.

We also had vanilla bean ice cream. 

Here's the recipe for the cookies

Black Pepper Brown Sugar Cookies

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to top the cookies

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon coriander

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

Zest of one orange

Juice of 1/2 an orange (about 1/4 cup)

2 large eggs

1. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients and spices.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add butter, sugar, and orange zest. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium high until light in color. Add the orange juice, and then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. 

3. With mixer on low, add the dry ingredients slowly. Stop and scrape the bowl, then continue mixing until combined. Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill at least 1 hour and as long as overnight.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a generously floured work surface and with a floured rolling pin, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Using a pepper grinder, crack fresh pepper over the surface of the dough and then gently press the pepper in with the rolling pin. 

5. Cut into desired shapes using a cookie cutter or knife. Bake on a cookie sheet 10-12 minutes, rotating the cookie sheet halfway through, until the cookies are brown around the edges. Allow to cool completely on wire racks. 

Here is a link to a video to watch the author making these cookies.