Friday, January 28, 2011

temple day & a show - Feb. 11 & 12?

So far, one person (besides me) could make it on Feb. 18 (temple trip & to see "Hairspary" in Billings), & two (maybe 3) could make it the weekend of Feb. 11 & 12. Let me know if anyone else would prefer Feb. 11 & 12.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

temple day & a show in Feb.?

Would anyone be "up" for going to a live theater performance in Billings in February or March, & then spending the night & going to the temple on Saturday?

"Hairspray" is a Broadway musical that is playing at Billings Studio Theater on Th, Fr, & Saturdays Feb. 4 - Feb. 20. Tickets are $20. I'd be interested in going to the show on Feb. 18, spending the night in a hotel, & going to the temple Feb. 19. I've seen the movie, & it's great - lots of singing & dancing; I'd love to see it live!

In March, the Billings Studio Theater is showing the play "The Diary of Anne Frank" on weekends March 4 - 19. I'd love to make a temple trip out of that one if anyone would be more interested in those dates or that play. Tickets for "Anne Frank" are $16. This one sounds really good, too.

Ward temple days are Feb.26 & March 26, but the musical & the play aren't available on those weekends.

Let me know if anyone wants to consider this, and we'll see if we can make it work!

Next Book Selection

Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe will be our next book selection.  Kayleen will be hosting.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Book Group Slumber Party a Success!

A big THANK YOU to Bonnie for such a fun time.  We had a very good discussion of the book 'My Antonia' with everyone participating.  A range of points were discussed, from her writing using a male figure as narrator, the vivid stories, the changes in Antonia in appearance and how her style of motherhood differed from that of her own mother to name a few.
We really enjoyed the culinary delights which included:  Baked Potatoes (Bonnie), Fried Chicken (Bobbi and Jennifer), Spinach Ravioli (Lorraine), Beef Stroganoff (Sharon), Hickory Nut Cake yum (Kris), Palacinky yum (PeggyAnn), Cinnamon rolls (Bonnie), brownies (Lorriane).  All the food was delicious, thank you Gals for bringing such good food you are all fabulous cooks!
After our conversation of Willa Cather's book 'My Antonia' we enjoyed a video production of her book 'O Pioneers'.  Another thought provoking exchange occurred focusing on parts of the production that allowed for comparisons and contrasts in our current times and past.
Of course since it was a sleep-over we played a fun game and then went to bed, which there were plenty of for each of us.  The country is so quiet and Bonnie's place is so remenisent of the past, being a home built in 1907,  it was easy to feel carried away in the past.  Jim Burden's grandparents home might have had the same feeling.
Jennifer and Bobbi get started with breakfast.

Around the table left to right, Jennifer, PeggyAnn, Kris, Lorraine,Bonnie and Stefanie.  Bobbi in the kitchen and Sharon behind the camera always.

Cinnamon rolls with hot chocolate and hot russian orange drink, mm good.

Cool camera feature, Smile Detector, it really works.  After Bonnie frowned the camera would only take a picture on it's own if she smiled.  I always say you always look good without makeup if you have a smile.  It is sooo true! You look wonderful, always.

Smile detector again, as soon as Bobbi smiled, CLICK!

PeggyAnn and Kris warm up with some hot beverages and conversation.
Our next book selection will be hosted by Kayleen and she has chosen 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Palacincy recipe

Here is the recipe for the Bohemian Strawberry Supreme Palacinky that I made. It made 8 crepes (I only had enough strawberries & room in the pan for 7). I did not make it in advance, as suggested. (I used it as soon as I made it.) I used about 4 cups of frozen strawberries; thawed & spooned into the crepes. (My strawberries were from a friend's garden, so they were very small). I put 1 teaspoon of sugar in each crepe (over the strawberries), & did NOT put any cinnamon on them. I used additional butter & milk when melting chocolate chips for the drizzled chocolate.

I hope to bring some tomorrow to potluck. I may hold them back to put out AFTER the kids have gone through!

Strawberry Supreme ~ Palačinky s jahodami
(6 servings)
2/3 c [150 ml] flour
2 eggs
1 c [250 ml] milk
pinch salt
4 t sugar
1 c [250 ml] strawberries, sliced
3 T "cinnamon sugar" or (3 T sugar + 1 t cinnamon) mixed
¼ c [60 ml] powdered sugar (approx.)
2 oz [60 g] or [2 bars] semi-sweet chocolate
1 T butter
1 t water
1 c [250 ml] whipped cream
Cream together sugar, salt, and eggs in a mixing bowl. Alternately add small amounts of flour and milk until all are mixed and a batter has been achieved. Set aside at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.
Heat oil in a fry pan. Pour small amount of batter into hot pan while constantly rotating pan to spread batter into "crêpe." Cook until set. Turn once and cook another minute until golden. Remove from pan to cool. Continue cooking remaining pancakes (sic).
Down the center of a Palaèinky lay a line of sliced strawberries full length, but only about 1/3 of its width. Sprinkle some cinnamon-sugar over berries. Fold the uncovered portions like flaps over the filling to create a flattened tube. Melt chocolate with butter & water in microwave. Drizzle over top of each berry-filled roll and then decorate the length of the dessert with a squiggle of whipped cream using a pastry bag and large diameter die or with caned whipped cream. Place more chopped strawberries across dessert to add a splash of color.

Lightly dust some powdered sugar across the top of each dessert.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Book Discussion & Overnight at Bonnie's Bed & Breakfast

Hi All!
Just a note about our plans for Friday evening and Saturday morning. Please plan on meeting at 5:15 at the Church. We will leave PROMPTLY at 5:30pm. Sharon is willing to drive her van out to Bonnie's and can fit 7 (counting her). Right now Sharon, Kris, Bobbie, Peggy Ann, & Jennifer are planning on staying overnight FOR SURE. Because Bonnie and a couple of the rest of us have a busy schedule on Saturday our plan is to be ready to leave about 9:00 am after eating Bonnie's delicious breakfast! Please contact either Sharon or Kris to let us know if you are coming with us or if you need to leave after the book discussion and are bringing your car so you can return home. Right now we can all fit in Sharon's van. Can't wait till tomorrow! Should be a lot of fun! Girls Night Out! WooHoo!!!


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Discussion for My Antonia

The date for our discussion of the book 'My Antonia' by Willa Cather will be Friday January 14, 2011 at 6pm at Bonnie's house.  You can bring whatever you want, since she thought there wasn't much reference to (appetizing) food in the book.  We will also be watching a movie after our discussion.  'O Pioneers' another work by Willa Cather.  A carpool will be arranged if rides are needed.  See you there!
 

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

My Antonia

I haven't gotten to the wolves yet, but now I'm looking forward to it!

I'm wondering if we have a date to plan for for our next book club meeting? I need a goal to work for! Plus my month is filling up and I want to get this VERY IMPORTANT DATE on my calendar! I think (?), though I'm not 100% sure, that this was Bonnie's book choice so when you get this Bon, perhaps you can start thinking about when you will return from your wanderings and plan a date for our get-together! Can't wait to see you all!

Kris

WOLVES!

HAS ANYONE GOTTEN TO THE PART ABOUT THE WOLVES YET???? YIKES!
For those of you who haven't read it, I won't give a spoiler. But I visited the Saskatchewan museum during Christmas break, and they had a diorama display of wolves. The information presented in the diorama included the notation that, in the winter, different wolf packs that would normally keep away from each other sometimes band together in huge packs as large as 40 for hunting.
INTERESTING!
I haven't found anything else online to verify or disprove the possibile truthfulness of Pavel & Peter's story!