Book Club- The Girls

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Welcome to book club!  The book we read last month was The Girls by Emma Cline.  While this book was gripping like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train, I did not enjoy it nearly as much.  The writing was good, but I felt like the characters fell flat and I found myself disappointed when I finished the book.

It’s the story or a girl who ends up in a cult and switches back and forth between the late 60s when she was a teenager and then present day as an adult.  I didn’t really like any of the characters and didn’t care about what happened to the protagonist. I also wished she had evolved more throughout the book.  Some of the ladies said they wished the book was darker and I’m not sure I agree, but at least it would have made more sense or been more interesting.

We all agreed that it’s an easy read, what some might call a “beach read” so in that respect it wasn’t hard to get through it.

Book rating: Engaging but would not recommend (5/10)

 

There was not much food mentioned in the book and the stuff that was did not sound appetizing.  I used that as an excuse to serve a bunch of snacks and try out some recipes on the ladies. Here’s what we had:

• Homemade whole wheat bread
• apple slices
• crackers
• brie
• Blue Cheese and Apple dip
• Turkey Salad (recipe below)
• Cranberry Orange macarons (I’ll be sharing this recipe in the near future)

 

The wine I chose to share was 14 Hands Run Wild 2016 Juicy Red Blend.  I found this at my local grocery store for just $10 and wanted to give it a whirl.  I’ve had one of 14 Hands other red blends, Hot to Trot, several times and liked it so I figured this one was a safe bet.

“Juicy” is definitely a good way to describe this blend.  While it’s not very complex in flavor it does have a lush and slightly sweet taste.  Sally from book club called it “very drinkable” and I have to agree.  I would drink it again and I think it’s a great option to bring to a party or have on hand for when people come over.  Because it’s fairly mild in flavor I think it’s good to share with anyone and would pair well with many foods.  I’d like to try it with a juicy hamburger or a tomato soup.

Wine rating: Would drink again and recommend to anyone who drinks wine (8/10)

Those of you that read this book, what did you think?  Next month we’ll be reading The God of Small Things. Don’t forget, you can also follow what books we’re reading on my Book Club Pinterest board.

 

 

Turkey Salad

Every year my dad makes turkey salad with some of the leftovers from Thanksgiving.  It’s great on toasted bread for lunch or just with crackers as a tasty snack.  Over the years I’ve made my own versions with various ingredients and have finally come up with my ideal recipe.  It seemed like the perfect thing to share with the book club ladies because it’s easy to make and easy to munch on while chatting. 🙂

I love this salad for its simplicity.  The hardest part is all the chopping! Put the turkey in a large bowl, along with the apple, green onions, celery seeds and Miracle Whip.  I recommend a crunchy apple for this salad.  I used Opal because that’s what we had but pretty much any variety but Golden or Red Delicious (does anyone eat these?) would be great. I know some people are opposed to Miracle Whip, but it’s the way to go for this salad.  It is sweet and has a zip that balances the savory turkey and sweet apple.

Mix it all together until the Miracle Whip is coating everything and the apple is evenly distributed.  Start with a cup of the Miracle Whip and then add more if you need it.  Add salt to your liking.

Serve with crackers or toast and keep the rest covered in the fridge.  It will last about three days.

 

 

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