{ bookclub dish } The Beach Trip

At the suggestion of my sweet neighbor and fellow bookclubber, Jocelyn, I have decided that our book club books + dishes need sharing.

Because, yes, it is nice to talk about books.  And visit with friends.  And get out of the house once a month.  But, my oh my, do we ever eat well!  Lately, it's been thematic.

Take, for instance, The Beach Trip, by Cathy Holton.

It is about four friends who have not been together in the 23 years since college and join each other at one of their homes on the Outer Banks for a week.  There are familiar threads of mid-life crossroads and secrets and digging in the to past, but the plot of the story isn't so light that it can be passed off as fluff.  We all enjoyed it and had a lively discussion.

It is also the book that introduced me to the Margarona.

Delicious and dangerous, this drink is a sipper.  It seemed fitting to serve it at book club, of course.

Margaronas a la Beach Trip:
Empty 1 can of limeaid into a blender.
Fill that can with tequila and pour it in.
Blend.
Add two Coronas.
Stir and Serve with a lime wedge.

SIP.

I have never filled that whole can with tequila.  And I use Corona Light.  And I have added a third beer to the pitcher to mellow it out a bit.  Doesn't matter.  It's all good.

For dinner, Jocelyn served the following:

Mexican Chopped Salad (image via Kraft)
1/3 cup Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 tps ground cumin
1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed
2 avocados, chopped
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 yellow pepper chopped
1/2  cup chopped red onions
1/2 cup Kraft Mexican Style Finely shredded four cheese
 
mix dressing and cumin
combine remaining ingredients in large bowl. add dressing mixture, mix lightly.

and

Heirloom Tomato Salad (image via Kraft)
1 lb. mixed fresh tomatoes  chopped
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
1/4 cup Athenos crumbled feta cheese with basil & tomato
1/4 cup Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing & Marinade
2tbsp chopped fresh basil
2tbsp chopped fresh parsley

combine ingredients...

and

Chili Chicken Kabobs (via Eat Clean Diet)
Hers looked better than this and had squash + zucchini on the skewers , too.
Marinade:

• 3 Tbsp / 45 ml best-quality olive oil
• 1 1/2 Tbsp / 22 ml balsamic vinegar
• Juice of one fresh lime
• 1 tsp / 5 ml chili powder
• 1/2 tsp / 2 1/2 ml paprika
• 1 large onion, chopped into thick pieces
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
• 1 tsp / 5ml cayenne pepper
• Sea salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 1 lb / 454 g boneless skinless chicken breast*, cut into 1 1/2 inch / 4-cm pieces
• Yellow Squash, Zucchini, & Onion for skewers

I am pretty sure we all had seconds of everything.   It was so delicious and perfect for a hot summer evening.  Oh, Joc also served fresh homemade ice cream with strawberries for dessert.

Yeah, Book Club kind of rocks.

Comments

[beki]

i want to be a member of your book club!!

[chris carleton]

I wish you could!  xoxo

[Ali]

I am clearly part of the wrong book club.

[chris carleton]

I wish I could have all my friends join me.

[Aunt Fashionista]

Matt and I put a third Corona in the Margaronas also. We think it makes it just a teensy bit better. So glad you told me about them!

[julia]

The Margcorona looks like it could give the Skip and Go Naked a run for its money! Will try it this weekend before summer is over.

[Pat Sieler]

This sounds like a book club I would like to join! Yum!

[Erin]

Sounds like so much fun! We had "Redneck Margaritas" for the first time Sunday night. Same recipe except one beer and one can of sprite! Delicious!

[pretty momma]

um...yes...i really need to make this club part of my to-do list;-)

[Liz]

I think we use to call that drink a hop, skip, and go naked. Not that I ever did...

[Upsy Daisy]

Oh. my. YUM!