Bitchin' Book Club

I started a book club back in the spring of 2009.  Unfortunately, the exact start date is questionable but it was around the same time as our Bitchin' Bowling League.  Anyway, the book club has been going strong ever since!
One thing I regret every time we meet, yet I still don't do it, is not keeping a journal of every book we've read, who attended, what was served, etc.
At our last meeting we were able to list most of the books we've read. Surely we are missing a few since we are heading into our 5th year and we've met nearly every single month!

Drowning Ruth
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Whistling in the Dark
Water for Elephants
Unaccustomed Earth
Interpreter of Maladies
The Shadow of the Wind
City of Thieves
The Night Circus
Cutting for Stone
The Good Earth
A Reliable Wife
The Forgotten Garden
Alice I Have Been
Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Lonesome Dove
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Thirteenth Tale
Gone Girl
The Help
A Year of Living Biblically
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Fault in Our Stars
One Hundred Years of Solitude 
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress
Little Bee
The Great Gatsby
Life of Pi
Come Closer
The Light Between the Oceans
A Hundred Summers
The Round House
Tell the Wolves I'm Home
We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves
Defending Jacob
The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club
Object of Beauty
Thousand Splendid Suns
The Lost Years
Same Kind of Different as Me
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Taft 2012
The Shadow of Your Smile
Hunting and Gathering
Love the One You're With
The Orphan Master's Son

This year, in an effort to keep the attendance and reading rate higher we are going to meet less often, maybe every 6-8 weeks instead of every month.  We've also hooked up with the Covington Public Library and rented their book club kits.  Basically, we all got a copy of our next book, The Book Thief, with some questions all ready for us.  This will help as well since we've all had trouble getting the book in time.

So, ladies,(and Eli!) from this list could you comment on what your favorite book has been?  Also, any book that I've missed! We can report back to the library so they'll add kits with some books based on what we've liked the best.
And here's to another year of the Bitchin' Book Club!

She's here!

Charlotte Rose was born December 1st around 12pm.  Two weeks early!  The little babe was 21.5 inches long, 7 pounds 13 ounces and with a full head of dark hair. 

I'm so happy that things went so well with my sister!  She was in labor for only 3 hours, pushing for less than 1. I've really never heard of anyone, personally, having a better experience than she did and that makes me so happy for her.  She didn't go to any birthing classes or watch any videos.  She decided to let her body do it's thing and that worked for her.

I arrived once she was settled into her room and brought the proud parents Jimmy Johns.

I'm so excited to be an Aunt!

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've done it.  I've perfected my chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Chocolate chip cookies can be very personal.  I've heard some people say they like their cookies burnt, some like them with nuts, others may be partial to soft baked.  But my favorite is nice and flat, crisp on the edges, chewy and a little soft in the middle, with semi-sweet chocolate chips and a sprinkling of salt.  The salt makes these taste so grown-up and perfect.

I used the recipe from Back in the Day Bakery that a friend gave me a while back and have been tweaking things ever so slightly until I got it just right.  I made a batch for zombie club and they were devoured, I took some to work and they literally disappeared.  I had friends over this past Friday for a UK game and I believe everyone had at least two... or three!  Have I convinced you to make these yet?

Laura's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Back in the Day Bakery

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks) at room temp
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs at room temp
1 12 ounce bag semisweet chocolate chips
Coarse sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 and move the rack to the lower third of the oven.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
Sift together the flour, baking soda and kosher salt.
In a stand mixer cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar for about 3-5 minutes.
Add eggs 1 at a time and mix for just about 30 seconds.
Turn the speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture.
Sprinkle in the bag of chocolate chips.
Use a mini ice cream scooper to form heaping rounds of dough and place on the cookie sheet about 2 inches a part.  Warning!  These cookies spread out pretty significantly so make sure to give them enough room.
Pat the cookies lightly with your hand to flatten them out a bit and sprinkle each one with a little sea salt.
Bake the cookies for 13-16 minutes.  The cookies should be golden brown around the edges but still light in the center.
Remove from oven and using a spatula, transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Repeat this process until you've used all your dough. By the time the next batch comes out of the oven your cookies should cool enough to stack up off to the side to make room.
ENJOY!

Halloween

My favorite holiday is Halloween.  Candy, costumes, scary movies!

I was going through some old photos and found this gem.  I think I was some kind of sexy cat/mouse?  Really Mom?  Look how short my pleather skirt is!  Haha!

This year Abbey and Mike threw their 2nd Annual Halloween Party and it was so fun.  I helped them with the party last year since it was also Abbey's 30th birthday but I'm so glad they've decided to continue the tradition.

I went as Wendy Peffercorn from the Sandlot.  Mr. Louisville was my date and went as Squints.

Julie and Andy

Mike as Lieutenant Dan and Matt as Bob Ross.

I didn't see my sister or brother-in-law but they sent me pictures of their costumes and OMG.  Kudos! 

Molly as Zombie Mom. Frightening!!

Ryan as Si from Duck Dynasty.  Admittedly, I've never seen the show but he looks pretty legit.

Now, it's time to start thinking about next years' costume!   

Nashville, a timeline!

I went to Nashville!

3:30pm 2:30pm - Arrived in Nashville. Learned that Nashville is actually an hour behind. 

3:30pm - I met up with Eli where he's living and met Harley and Max, the Germans (Shepherd). 

4:00pm - Had a drink and a snack at ML Rose.

5:00pm - Met up with Mr. Louisville at Pub 5.  His friend, Sterling meets us a little bit later.

7:30pm - Eli's roommates, Josh and Lauren, pick us up and we go to The Pharmacy for supper.  I ordered the Stroganoff Burger per the reccommendation of our server.  Eli ordered the Bauernworst.

7:45 - Wished I had ordered the Bauernworst.

10:00pm - Back to their house for box-o-wine and strange You Tube videos.

11:00pm - Attempted to go to the Stone Fox but scoffed at the cover charge.  Walked to ML Rose for a nightcap.

12:10am - Had the cabbie drop Eli off and then went back downtown to meet Mr. Louisville and his friend at Robert's. The Chris Casello Trio was playing. Fantastic.

Sometime after 2am - Called it a night. 

My friends are 30

It's happening.  30 is happening.  Not for me!  Yet.  Haha, but my friends are slowly but surely crossing into their third decade.  Last week two of my closest friends, Tyler and Kevin, turned 30.  The three of us have been through a lot together and I wanted to do something special for them.  So, what's more special than inviting them over for a home-cooked meal?  They are both single dudes living alone so lord knows what the eat every night.

Tyler & Kevin

I made Smitten Kitchen's mini meatloaves with a tomato glaze and brown butter mashed potatoes with a side of plain ol' broccoli.  The recipes are in her cookbook, which is my favorite.  For dessert, apple cake!  Also from her cookbook.

Looks perfect, right?  Unfortunately, it wasn't.  I've had the worst luck with my apple desserts this season.  I made a sub bar apple crisp, now this!  One of the issues was I ran out of vegetable oil so I had to supplement with extra virgin olive oil. Also, I think when using a non-stick pan I should decresase the cooking time.  Basically, this cake was too dry to enjoy.  I'd definitely try it again because I refuse to believe that Smitten Kitchen would steer me wrong! 

Aside from the cake it was a banner night that I can't wait to do again...  They'll be 40 before I know it!  Ha!

Charlotte Rose

My sister is having a baby!  The whole family is very excited, to say the least.  Charlotte Rose should be ready for her debut the first of December and this weekend I threw Molly a baby shower.  It was a success!  Nearly every single cousin and aunt came along with a few other friends.

I served spinach and artichoke dip, cheese tortellini with a pesto dipping sauce, strawberry and pineapple skewers and three different types of sandwiches.  Chicken Caesar, turkey and colby jack and a warm veggie sandwich.  The veggie was a rip off of my favorite hot veggie sandwich from York St. Cafe.  My mom and I love going there for lunch.  It's so good!

Molly and I

I wish I was able to take more pictures but it I was GO GO GO from the moment I woke up until well after the guests left. 

Luckily, Molly's friend, Rotha, volunteered to take care of the dessert.  Not only did she bring a beautiful cake but also cupcakes, cookies, cake pops, M&Ms.  It was ridiculous!

The hard part is over (for me, at least).  Now I'm ready to meet my niece!