November Meeting

Discussion

Micah: I thought it was very interesting how she kept her family going by writing her little things. It must have been that time period but I didn't find her little slogans very funny but what I did find funny was how many different, fake names she'd come up with. Including her own name with every initial from the alphabet. I got a little chuckle out of that. But I did appreciate that she was willing to do those things to help in such a poor situation.

Becca: I listened to the book on my long drives to and from Orem and liked it very much. When I first got it and read the teaser, I didn't know "Defiance" was the town in which they lived. My mind kept trying to grasp the context of the title, and I kept leaning towards "Defiance" meaning she defied her dismal circumstances and survived her difficult situation with ingenuity while maintaining her dignity. Even now that I know the "Prize" was winning the contests and "Defiance" the town, the title still holds the original connotation for me--- The prize of defying difficult odds.

Ann: I listened to it too and quite enjoyed it but right at the end when the narrator was describing her mom's wedding the boys were loud and I didn't quite hear everything. Was there some significance to the circumstances of her wedding/dress color that foreshadowed her future or gave insight to her personality?

Karen: I thought this was a very uplifting and encouraging book. I've never experienced hardships in that way and I admire Evelyn for keeping such an optimistic attitude despite her circumstances. She really loved words and putting them together. I especially liked how she said that swearing was the sign of a lackluster vocabulary and a stunted imagination. I agree! I also like how she encouraged her children to try new foods and believed it was a sign of intelligence if you were willing to try something new. In general, I thought it was a fun book.

Lisa: I have totally enjoyed the book. I agree with Micah that her entries a may be a little dated in the joke department. However, considering the thousands she must have written, she did pretty, darn well. (Are fake swear words a "sign" too?) I was pleased that her vocabulary only stumped me a couple of times. I just think she was an amazing woman with an equally amazing attitude and stamina. Ten children I could not do. I also liked in the afterward (haven't finished the book, but have read the afterward). So often we wish something different then what we have. In this case, Betsey wished it for her mom-- a better life. Then she thought maybe the life her mom had, though far from perfect, was still good in its own right. May we all look back on our own lives and feel the same. I just really admire that despite astounding challenges, Evelyn found joy in the journey- and taught her children to do the same.


Recipes

Micah: Rosemary Bread
(Before you make it, do a search on you tube to see how to do a "no-knead" bread. It's really easy.)

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
Mix together and let steep for 30 minutes or more.
In a bowl add:
3 c flour
½ tsp yeast
2 tsp salt
1 ½ c + 2 Tbsp water
Rosemary mixture

Stir together with a wooden spoon. Cover bowl and let rise 12-24 hours. Dump dough on flour coated board. Rub with flour and fold over twice. Cover and let rest for 15 min. Rub flour onto a cotton towel, place dough on towel. Shape dough into ball, place on towel, seam side down. Rub flour onto ball, cover with rest of towel. Let rise for 1 ½ hours.

After 1 hr, place in an oven proof pot with lid in the oven and preheat to 450 degrees.
Put dough in hot pot, seam side up, place lid on and bake for 30 min.

Becca: Persimmons

Ann: Creamy Cucumber Soup. It's only 173 calories per serving which can't be beat.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1 Tbsp lemon juice
4 c peeled, seeded and thinly sliced cucumbers, divided
1 ½ c vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 avocado, diced
¼ c chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
½ c low-fat plain yogurt
Preparation
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 1 to 4 minutes. Add lemon juice and cook for 1 minute. Add 3 ¾ cups cucumber slices, broth, salt, pepper and cayenne; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and cook at a gentle simmer until the cucumbers are soft, 6 to 8 minutes.
Transfer the soup to a blender. Add avocado and parsley; blend on low speed until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Pour into a serving bowl and stir in yogurt. Chop the remaining ¼ cup cucumber slices. Serve the soup warm or refrigerate and serve it chilled. Just before serving, garnish with the chopped cucumber and more chopped parsley, if desired.

Robyn: Boston Cream Pie
1 round yellow cake layer (8 or 9 inch)
1 c cold milk
1 pkg (3.4oz) Jell-O Vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 ½ c thawed Cool Whip
1 square (1oz) unsweetened baking chocolate
1 Tbsp butter
¾ c powdered sugar
2 Tbsp cold milk

Cut cake into 2 layers with serrated knife. (instead of this I put the batter into two round cake pans). Beat 1 cup milk and pudding mix with whisk 2 min. Stir in whipped topping. Let stand 5 min.

Stack cake layers on serving plate, spreading pudding mixture between layers.

Microwave chocolate and butter on HIGH 1 min. Stir until chocolate is melted. Add sugar and 2 Tbsp milk; mix well. Spread over cake. Refrigerate 1 hour. Refrigerate leftovers.

Karen: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
(I've been told this is a Weight Watchers recipe--you can eat double!)
1 box of Spice cake mix
1 15 oz can pumpkin
chocolate chips, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix together and drop into balls on greased pan. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

Business
November book: Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice & Redemption by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton.

December chooser: Robyn