December Meeting

Discussion

Karen:
I hope everyone enjoyed a lovely (and delicious) Thanksgiving! It blows me away that another month has flown by. I am ashamed to say that I did not read the book this month. Somewhere between packing, moving and unpacking again, I didn't find the time, so I will not be able to really start the discussion. Reminder to Robyn to tell us all what book that will be!

Micah:
I finished the book here in Peru and I loved it. I can't imagine being in prison period...but for 11 years when you're not even guilty...and then forgive the person who put you there. Wow!!

I'm sitting here in Lima killing time while I wait for my flight to leave. I've only got about 5 hrs. This trip has been crazy!!!! I look like crap and I'm totally tired. In 2 weeks my Spanish has gotten worse...and so has my English. I'll write more and post pics when I get home.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Robyn:
I found this an interesting and inspiring book with themes of redemption and justice. Oh, I just looked at the title again..."our memoir of injustice and redemption"... Like Micah I cannot imagine one, being committed for a crime I did not do and two, forgiving the person who wrongfully accused me.

The inconsistent and often inaccurate practice of witness line-ups has been in the news before. If I remember correctly the statistics indicate witness line-ups seldom target the right person. I thought it was interesting that even though Jennifer got a relatively good look at her attacker she still failed to identify him correctly (of course he wasn't in the line-up, which complicated the process...). I think people should be held accountable for injustice, but it is too bad that in the rush to find justice there are those that like Ronald are wrongfully accused. It seems Ronald was one of the lucky few that had family and lawyers not willing to give up the fight.

Okay, I deliberated long and hard to come up with a great book for a busy month. After many sleepless nights I have decided to make you all read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Don't let the premise deter you. It is a fast read (seriously, once you start make sure you have a concentrated amount of time because I guarantee you will not be able to put it down)! I read it with my son who was crazy about it. I made my parents read it and they couldn't put it down. I stood in a looooong line in Chicago to be one of the lucky few to get an advanced reader copy of the sequel (Catching Fire)...

Since Becca has all ready read the book choice for this month, would you tackle next months?

Ann:
Oooh I'm excited about December's pic, this is one of my niece's favorites and she even has a little club named after it, something like the Hungry Group...no that's not it (but it's a good one for us!). :)

I liked the book too and really can't believe how non-judgmental Ronald was toward Jennifer. He really was completely free from 11 years of injustice because he forgave her and went on with his life. I found it interesting that the community was still wary of him for a while anyway because he had been in prison. He's a strong character.

Becca:
I didn't manage to read November's book, but I did devour The Hunger Games and Catching Fire during November. Like Robyn warned, once you begin, it is difficult to tear yourself away. "One more chapter" quickly turns staying up all night to finish!

Jenn:
Hi everyone.
I have not jumped into bookclub yet, and have over 50 messages in e-mail that have remained unread for a couple of months. I'm just crazy busy with my family. I did read 1/2 of the "Prize Winner of Defiance" and enjoyed it. Lots of funny, crazy out of control situations that I could relate to. Also a good piece for a lot of recent historical socio-economical and marital standards discussions. I wanted to comment every few days about things I had read. Could we maybe do that instead of waiting until the end of the month when I've "forgotten" my opinions. . . . . .
Anyway, I still haven't read any book club responses, not even from Oct. 31st. TIME!!!! Where does it go.

I will be leaving in 2 weeks to go to Orlando for 15 days with my little energy packed family for a Disney Christmas. . . . . Don't worrry about me too much. I'm taking a stash of "chill pills" with me. I've spent hours planning the when and how of each park so stress (and finances) are minimized.

Lest any of you think we have fallen into some money, let me assure you. . . . A-hem. No, that is not the case. Six free Southwest tickets, and 2 years worth of our vacation property exchange to get 4 bedroom 3 bath units for two weeks. Grandma Johnson, Uncle Chris, and 3 year old cousin Arron are meeting us there out of London. Still a pretty penny, but not much more than spending a few hundred dollars in "disposable plastic joy" for each child.

It will be a blast. I'm bracing for a few "disaster" sequences. But all in all, if I can hold it together, then everyone can pull it together.
Think of me.
Pray for me.
Love you all.
Merry Christmas

Lisa:
I also have been wanting to read it. In fact, I bet Mica would like it, too. He is definitely my reader. A couple of weeks ago, for turn off the TV week, he got into reading about a book about every 2 days. I think Taran reads about a book every 2 years:). Anyway, I'm going Christmas shopping today, maybe I'll get Hunger Games for Mica for Christmas, then read it first.

I also did not read the book for last month...my local library is a little stingy (well underfunded is more like it) on what it stocks- and I didn't get a hold of a copy.

Recipes

Karen:
Best Pecan Yams
4 c yams, cooked and mashed
1 c sugar
½ c butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Topping
1 c brown sugar
1/3 c flour
1/3 c butter, melted
1 c chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine yams, sugar, ½ cup melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Mix well and turn into a greased 9 x 13 glass dish. Combine brown sugar and flour. Mix well. Stir in 1/3 cup melted butter and nuts. Crumble over top. Bake 30-45 minutes or until set.

Robyn:
Cranberry Salad
2 pkgs cherry Jello
2 cups boiling water
1 large can pineapple, crushed, drained
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 ½ cups celery diced

Dissolve Jello in water. Add other ingredients. Put in 9x9 pan and chill.

Ann:
Eggnog Spice Bundt Cake
1 (18 1/4-ounce) box spice cake mix
1 (4-serving) box instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding and pie filling mix
1 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup light eggnog
1 egg
3 egg whites
1 1/3 cups toasted chopped pecans
Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a nonstick Bundt pan with cooking spray. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, yogurt, oil, eggnog, egg and egg whites in a large bowl. Mix until creamy.
Stir in pecans. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. When cool, dust with powdered sugar. Serves 16.

Becca:
Soft Ginger Cookies
¾ c butter
1 c sugar, plus extra
1 egg
¼ c molasses (black strap will provide richer flavor)

2 c flour (sometimes it needs just a tad more)
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
¼ tsp cloves

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter, sugar, egg and molasses together. Add in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves.

Roll dough into small balls (a bit bigger than a large cherry), then roll balls in white sugar.

Bake for 9-10 minutes, until cookies are flat and cracked in appearance, closer to 9 minutes for softer cookies.

Do not over bake! (They won’t be soft if over baked!)

Lisa:
White Bean Chili
1 lb boneless chicken, cut into cubes
1 onion, chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil

Saute until chicken is no longer pink

2 (15.5 oz) cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
2 (4 oz) cans green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 min

Before serving, remove from heat and stir in:
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. whipping cream

Business

December book: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

January chooser: Becca