October Outing...

We had a couple of birthdays this month.  Susan celebrated her "Golden" birthday and Diane...well she's just happy to wake up in the morning. What better time to plan a cultural event.

Although Anne is away travelling the world and Wendy was working the Boardroom...6 of us made it to Everything Wine's 2nd Annual Food & Wine Festival. We got to sample wines from all over the globe paired with local seasonal culinary delights. It was a fun and filling evening!

Thank you Philippa for offering to host our next meeting and choosing our next book "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford.

Season 14...

Hard to believe it will be 14 years in January!  Our kids are no longer in diapers although perhaps "we" are heading in that direction.  :)   Yikes!

To get Season 14 under way...which picture do you think best depicts our group???  Please comment to cast your vote.

Number 1:

Number 2:

Number 3:

We Skyped with Michael Christie

Last night our book club Skyped with the author of this month's selection "The Beggar's Garden" Michael Christie.

What a treat!  He was down to earth and welcomed questions from our "very smart" group.  :)   Didn't hurt that he is absolutely adorable!


Thanks Michael for joining us and thanks again to Wendy for arranging!

Meet the Author Night

We will be Skyping with author Michael Christie at our upcoming book club meeting.

Wendy's pick for this month "The Beggar's Garden" was the winner of the City of Vancouver Book Award.

Thank you Wendy for organizing the Skype session!

Absolutely To.Die.For Desserts

Thanks to Wendy for introducing us all to two deeeeelicious taste treats! She was kind enough to share the recipes with us (see below).

Rolo Cookies

 2 ½ cups (590 mL) Flour

¾ cup (180 mL) Cocoa

1 teaspoon (5 mL) Baking soda

1 cup (240 mL) White sugar

1 cup (240 mL) Brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup (240 mL) Butter, softened

2 teaspoons (10 mL) Vanilla

2 Eggs

70 to 75 Rolo Candies (7-8 packages)

Combine flour, cocoa and baking soda.

In a separate bowl, beat sugar & butter and add vanilla & eggs.

Stir in flour /cocoa mixture. Chill dough for 1 hour.

Shape about 1 ½ teaspoons (7 mL) of dough around a Rolo, making sure it is completely covered. 

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and chill for 1 hour.

Bake 7 to 8 minutes at 375°F (190°C).

Cool on wire rack.

(Makes 75 cookies)

Optional: when cool, drizzle with melted white chocolate and garnish with a nut.

Cream Cheese Stuffed Strawberries

8 oz cream cheese (I used the light, spreadable version)

3 or 4 Tbsp icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top.